Why doesn't my pump doesn't shut off?

George_40

I had a super-high efficiency boiler installed and I'm curious to know if the pump ever shuts off. My contractor informed me that when its cool outside the pump will always run. It is controlled by a sensor outside that is suppose to adjust the temperature of the water and increase or decrease the amount of energy required when it is running but my question is if all the rooms are achieving the temperature I set them at (I know this because they installed a box that shows me if they are on or not with little lights) then why won't the pump ever stop? Isn't that a waste of energy? I could say the energy is my only motivation but truthfully it is the slight noise and vibration I hear when it is quiet. I also touched the pump and its real hot. My contractor tells me not to worry for there is a valve that prevents the pump from failure in the event all the rooms stop wanting heat. Any guess?

D

Timco

Sounds like you were set up with 'constant circulation' which is very efficient. The water is always moving, and being topped off so to speak. If not that, then you have nice, long calls for heat, not short cycles. Modern pumps use very little power, and being hot is fine. Likely just water temp. You have 'outdoor reset' which is very good. sounds like you were taken care of. As for the vibration, I hang a sheet of plywood first then mount to that to help with vibration.

Tim

Derheatmeister

Questions

Ditto to Timco

More Questions:

Which boiler do you have? Viessmann,Triangle??

Is this a retro(replacement) Install or a new construction?

What kind of heat emitters do you have? Baseboard; Infloor Radiant in concrete; Staple up ;Panel rads?

Is your house reaching temp in "Mild" outdoor temps and the Circulating pump keeps on going?,Or: at what outdoor temp does the "Pump" turn off? 70F?? (WWSD)

What size Circulating pump do you have Make, model?

Is your bedroom located above/next to the Mechanical room?

Are you a Lite Sleeper(any noise will wake you up)?

Do you have Thermal gains i.e. Sun?

How well is your house insulated?

Where is the out door sensor located?

As per the "Pump", yes they can get real hot and that is normal for a "Semi modern pump".

The "Newest"(20 + years old) Modern pumps that just made it to the US market in the last couple of years use even less power and do not require the Bypass valve, they also do not make as much heat and noise! you may be able to "Up Grade"
check the pioneers of this!! >>> Wilo <<< ,Or Grundfos . also Taco is in to it now.

Some of the "Newest Pumps" in Europe are even based on (WWSD/Setback)Which i think your boiler takes care of now! but i think that they are not on the US market yet.....

Your setup may be fine but some times depending on the system lay out and requirements it MAY be in need of some adjustments i.e. the valve and the WWSD(warm weather shut down)BUT!! I am not on site to judge this!

hope this helps..Heatmeister.

George_40

Always running!

The boiler is a Viessmann, the "retro" is an existing 1950's home newly renovated and heavily insulated and with modern glass. I have in-floor radiant installed on top of old floor. As far as I'm aware, the pump has not stopped since it was installed a month or so ago. Many times I've checked to see and all the different rooms were at the temperature it was set at. I only know the pump is red and is the only one that moves the heating water around. My room is on the second floor and not a lite sleeper. What is the WWSD and how do I convince contractor to fiddle with it? When will the pump shut off? What temperature does it have to be outside before this happens or is it something that can be "set"?

D

Timco

Many boilers have WWSD (warm weather shut down) built in to kill the enitre heating call (not your domestic water if your boiler makes your hot water), and is set to the outdoor temp you want a heat call to end. Not sure if Viss has this built in, or if you have a separate outdoor-reset. Your pump is red, so it is likely a Grundfos, which means hot is just fine. A picture of the near-boiler area piping would help us figure out why it may be humming and if the bypass valve is needed at all. Many here would gladly critique your install and piping layout. You may have too large of a pump, or if it is a 3-speed, you may be able to just switch it to a lower speed to see if that helps without hurting anything...

Tim

Derheatmeister

WWSD

If it is a Viessmann Vitodens 200 then you have the WWSD (W arm W eather S hut D own) build into the boiler..

The two Knobs on the Control panel with the Sun and the Moon are for the Day/Night temperatures that will shut down a call for heat...Check page 11 in your "Operating Instruction & USER'S Information Manual" I have got the 02/2005 version

The instructions are pretty detailed ,this is a very good boiler and the possibilities are endless.

Maybe your shall sit down and read these so that you get a better understanding of your Great boiler.(One of the Best boiler you money can buy)

It is kind of like the Instructions that tell you where the Spare tire/Fuses on you car is..

Just remember the settings on the Sun /Moon Knobs as you turn the Knob the LCD display will show you the temps that the "Room"(WWSD)will go to minus couple of degrees..Just lower them! you can all ways put the Knob back to the way Installer has set it up !.

Lower/Higher settings MAY cause discomfort depending on your Insulation/Structure/Heat emitters/Layout..

or it may just work fine!

Again i am not on site so i do not know the situation and what was set in the "Deeper programing" of the boiler's controls.if your Installer needs help he can always call Viessmann in Rhode Island ,the # is on the back of the Instructions.Viessmann is very good at what they do and want you and your Installer to be happy with your Investment/Installation!

As Timco said some PIX may help!

Hope this helps..Heatmeister

[Deleted User]

Huh?!?!

Greg Gibbs, the Senator, told me that WWSD stood for What Would Sean (Smith, our employee) Do...

Now I am REALLY confused :-)

ME

Joe Mattiello

Apparently, the system pump as no other way of energizing with a demand so I'm assuming the plan was to let the pump run. If you're using a boiler reset control, modulating the boiler, the system pump can not turn on and off with the boiler. An alternative is to let the system pump run continuously.

Rich L.

DON'T CHANGE THE SPEED

with the pump running. Per Grundfos (the pump manufacturer) damage may occur. There should be a little "box" on top of the pump. On the top of the box is a little pointer, if it's a multi speed. Pump speed is changed by moving the pointer with the pump off. 1 is slowest speed, 3 is highest speed.

Are any of your zones overheating? It seems as though there should be some kind of control in there to shut the pump off if everything's satisfied. Even if it's designed as a constant circ system.

Pictures really would help.