5 zones with 3 pumps

tim smith

It sounds like either the telestats on manifolds are not working, wired right or just not present. Hopefully someone in your area, ie heating person, can come out and fix in an efficient manner.

Susan Johnson

thermostats heating more rhan the designated zone

paid contractor for 5 zones; 5 thermostats; 3 pumps...one pump controls the living room, one controls the kitchen, and the third pump is supposed to control 3 additional zones: (1) 2 small bedrooms (2) 2 small bathrooms (3) master bedroom and walk-in closet. the manifold for these 3 zones is in a closet near the zones.

the open loop system uses potable water. the Rinnai Tankless water heater is the 'boiler' and heats the domestic hot water. this project was contracted for in December, 2005. the zones are not discreet. any zone thermostat calling for heat also heats one of the small bedrooms. the bathroom thermostat zone calling for heat sends hot water to the kitchen, living room, the same small bedroom, and the 2 small bathrooms. the master thermostat calling for heats sends hot water to the kitchen, living room, small bedrooms, bath-rooms as well as the master and closet.

the contractor refuses to guarantee that his company will fix it. he also stated that if they did come and 'try' to fix it, i could not be on the premises while the servicemen were there. after 30 months of wrangling, i'm giving up on the original contractor.

i will hire another company to fix the problem. do you know which
elements could be causing these problems? i'd like to know what the next
company needs to change.

thank you,
susan

Kent_3

Susan,

the zone valves in your system are probably the European type. If you are reasonably comfortable with mechanical things, turn all the thermostats way down so you're sure they don't come on, then try looking at the valve of a zone which seems to heat when there is any call for heat. On the front of it there is an unassuming little pointer that should be pointing to a certain mark when the valve is at rest. If it isn't, one should hold the upper (boxy and probably silver) part of the valve while turning the knurled ring-nut that attaches it to the brass part below. You'll have to experiment, but turning it one way or the other will make the pointer line up with the mark. Repeat this with the rest of the valves. When you're satisfied with this, run the system. If it still acts up, it's probably wired wrongly and shouldn't be an expensive fix. Let us know how it goes.