Adding a 2nd zone

tomz

I currently have a hot water system with three floors and one zone. I am going to put the 3rd floor on it's own zone. My circulator pump is on the return side now but I want to use a taco 007 with an internal check valve. Could I place the pump for the second zone on the supply side (pump away) and leave the original on the return? If not and I place it on the return side will the check valve work properly on the return side.

Mark Eatherton

Generally speaking...

No.



When one circulator turns on, the off circulator will still realize flow. The check valves that come on these pumps is meant to stop back flow, not forwards flow.



My suggestion would be for you to go to the SHOP button at the top of this screen, and purchase "Pumping Away " http://www.heatinghelp.com/products/Books/5/100/Pumping-Away-and-other-really-cool-piping-options-for-hydronic-systems



If you are going to go to the trouble to drain the system down to add a pump, you might as well straighten out what you've got and make it more efficient and reliable.



ME

tomz

thanks

Ok  thanks. I already own pumping away. I have huge 2" pipes that where installed in the fifties and lookin pretty crappy. My plan is to replace them with pex and individual thermostat valves on each radiator in the spring so I dont want to invest the time or money now to move the existing pump. I am just adding this zone now because it is just to cold on the third floor and the way it is plumbed I can do it fairly easily.