Loop system or home runs

Weezbo

existing loop vs the miles of 3/4 copper the engineer suggested?

i like the idea of home run loops ,don't get me wrong, however,..... perhaps there are other points of perspective that are being overlooked.

Joe Dickinson

primary loop or home run

I have a 3 story lime stone building, apox. 12,000 sq ft It has two copper loops. 2 1/4,,,, One runs North of boiler room, and the other runs South. The Engineer has a new system designed. In his plan, he has everything home run. Most spots where new air handlers go,, it already has a 3/4 drop from the old loop. Which by the way,,, holds 70 pounds of air,, no leaks.
Same goes for room that'll have base board heat. Part of the
building will have in floor heat. The new plan has 14 @ 3/4 copper lines running from the utility room to a closet on the first floor,,, right next to the loop. I'm told the good thing is,,, scrap copper prices are up,,,,,
To run the new copper lines,, we'll have to knock some large holes in some 2 foot think walls.

Brad White_184

Why Not

Use Pex-Al-Pex instead of copper? Even 5/8 PAP will do a fair amount without apparent fitting losses. The 3/4 is available but could beat you in an arm wrestle though.

mtfallsmikey

I heartily agree!

This is an endorsement for Brad's statment from someone who has spent an enormous amount of time "wrestling" 3/4" L copper in retro applications in 100-200 yr. old buildings! Wish we had PEX back then...even Sch. 40 PVC DWV was a miracle (geez alert!)

Joe Dickinson

So,,, I take it everyone would be OK scrapping out the "loop"
Just seems strange to me. But I'm not a pro. The loop was installed in the 1980's. The idea must be to keep all of the tekmar controls in the boiler room. I'd sure feel better buying wiring to control remotely then making short runs of copper wire and long runs of pipe. Guess I'm lucky to only have two stone walls to pass though. Now if only they'll start the install.

hot_rod

If the loop is good

and it allows you to zone properly.... hmmmm. Hard to say without seeing the installation. Well installed? Able to be insulated? History of leaks?

hot rod

Weezbo

ought to re think that whole senario.

the other thought is Lime stone is easy to cut.

i used to cut a bit of it into blocks with a hand saw .

Joe Dickinson

Maybe more zone control,, but wouldn't it also cause a slow response to each zone? It just seems a shame to have the copper primary loop,, that has been tested, and any leaky valves replaced, and has no problem holding 70 psi for months cut up in piece an hauled away. Maybe it's under sized, who knows,, I guess at least the part in the boiler room get reused. I think it'll stay,, I'm sure the next time this old building gets redone. the "new" great way will be to install a
loop,, I'll be one step ahead and have the old one still in place.

Joe Dickinson

These are 2 foot thick and almost 200 years old. rubble fill with face stones. We've gone though before for small pipes,, but 14 runs of pipe,, all going to the same closet .
We'll just have to see how it plays out,, when they start the install.