Condensate return pump

Jim Wy.

Where can I find a good condesate return pump ? The condensate returns to a pit and is then pumped up into the boiler. the pump must lift 9ft. and the boiler shuts off at 3 psi. We put in a high temp. 210* sump pump and it lasted less than 2 years.

nicholas bonham-carter

short lived pump problems

is this for a heating system? 3 psi is much too high

the problem may be more to do with the pump head [9ft. rise +3 psi], than the temperature.

my 55 rad system is all gravity return, and steam gets to the rads at 3 ounces pressure.

why don't you repipe with a gravity return, with the lowest pressure your vaporstat can handle.--nbc

Steamhead

That's pretty deep

Hoffman, Shipco, Skidmore and others all make sump-type condensate pumps but I'm not sure how deep they go. Do the returns come into the pit at 9 feet below grade?



Post some pics if you can.

Jim Wy.

Thankyou for the responce

Less than 3ft. below grade. 9ft. total of vertical pipe plus 3 psi boiler pressure for about 16ft.  

Steamhead

Is there any reason

the system cannot work without the pump? Do these return pipes have to handle air as well as water, or can the air be vented another way?



If your system can operate on gravity return, as nbc says, you can simply eliminate the pump. Fewer moving parts=better reliability.