how to heat 2nd floor?

jonny88

hi everyone,2nd floor is finished,basement is still open.i have to split house into 2 zones.original system was 1 zone,a 1 inch loop in basement feeding bothupstairs floors with monoflow tees,can i now cut the risers for 2nd floor and run a seperate monoflow loop in basement or is it possible to run a loop,my plumber wants to run a loop but it doesnt sound right as the run seems to far and a lot of up and downs?thanks

Steamhead

I'd stay with monoflow

this way you won't have to change the risers to accommodate all the flow in the loop. Be sure to run pipe between the flow and return connections for each set of risers on the original loop that will be decommissioned. This "jumper" must be the same size as the old riser connections- do not reduce it. Otherwise you'll mess up the flow.



Then Pump Away on both monoflow loops, using a good air separator, and watch how well it works.

icesailor

Split Monoflows:

Depending on how nuts you want to get over this project (spending a lot of money), here's a plan I have done many times.

If you have a Mono-Flo system on two floors, it is usually split in half. Chances are, the secondary mains are 1 1/4" screw pipe and the primary main leaving and returning to the boiler is 1 1/2" screw pipe. It could be 1". But either way, if you remove the risers to the second floor, you should remove the mono-flo fittings to remove the restriction in the mains.

You can also split the system into two zones. You will then control "sides" of the house. Almost all "One Pipe Systems" (Mono-flo) were "split" so that the heat emitters at the ends were closer to the first.

Even if you still decide to take the second floor completely off the first, it is a good idea and a cheap fix to zone the circuits. Install zone valves at the split. Add a thermostat, and wire it. You don't need any new pipping other than the added zone valves.

Your potential renovator sounds a little vague on how he will connect the second floor. In my opinion, if you have radiators, you have only two choices on piping it. Another Monoflow system or a true Reverse-Return. NOT, a direct return. And if you split that, you will end up with 4 zones.

And/or as Steamhead said, run a loop across the tees where you remove the radiator off the main.

jonny88

icesailor@steamhead

thanks for your reply,just to clarify,existing monoflow loop is in basement.1inch copper,risers to 2nd floor are half inch,i must of misunderstood in one of dans books he was talking about a monoflow system and because the tee's were so far away from the rad, they would not flow to the rad as the water would take the path of least resistance which was the tee's instead of going 20 feet up and through the rads,thanks for your help

jim_160

how to heat second zone

Keep it monoflow. You'll get good even heat, and if each piece of radiation has a valve you can  have lots of control of heat