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Circulator Pump Question
bubbyt
Member Posts: 6
(homeowner) -- Boiler is Weil-McLain - Circulator Pump is Bell & Gossett SLC-30 . I have a home that is 2000 sq ft downstairs, with an upstairs of 1800 sq ft. Only the downstairs is currently heated. Will this unit pump water up to the upstairs with the existing circulator pump (please suggest a size pump if not). Planning on installing Slant/Fin Hydronic Baseboard How much pressure is on the 1/2" copper lines that run through Slant/Fin Hydronic Baseboard? I would appreciate your advice . Thanks much. bubbyt
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Comments
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The answer really depends upon how many btus the pump has to deliver. Once that is known, then the head (flow resistance) of the system needs to be known to select the correct circulator. There may be other factors, but generally speaking, that circulator was good for about 10 gpm @ 10 ft. of head. That's translates to about 100k btus on an average system. Again, not enough info for a scientific answer. That pump has also been discontinued.
The pressure in a typical residential hydronic system should not exceed 25 psi; the boiler relief valve is set for 30 psi.Bob Boan
You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.0 -
This isn't rocket science - I would just try it.0
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Slant/Fin makes baseboard with 1/2" pipe thru the fins?All Steamed Up, Inc.
Towson, MD, USA
Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
Oil & Gas Burner Service
Consulting0 -
Yes......Sorry, had to locate it again..........http://www.slantfin.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/BaseLine-2000-Catalog-Sheet-816.pdf0
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Also for the OP -- it isn't immediately obvious, but the pump doesn't actually have to lift the water to the second floor -- the pressure difference -- head -- which it is working on is determined by the length and size of the pipe and all the fittings, and not by how high it has to go. The system static pressure -- that's the job of the expansion tank -- is what make sure that the second floor radiation has water in it.Br. Jamie, osb
Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England1 -
That's a lot of pressure drop. Is the existing baseboard 1/2" also? If so, are the various units connected in series or parallel?All Steamed Up, Inc.
Towson, MD, USA
Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
Oil & Gas Burner Service
Consulting0 -
So long as the new baseboard loops are of no higher pressure drop than the existing loops you have the circulator should work.
As been said elevation has no bearing on the circulator size.0 -
The boiler has a 1 1/4" diameter pipe (supply and return) that runs from the existing downstairs boiler under the floor until it connects to the 1/2" at floor level and up into the existing baseboard. The connection would be in a series as it makes a loop around the perimeter of the home and connects to the baseboard in each room.0
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Are you saying it's piped like this?
Bob Boan
You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.0 -
yes0
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Or is it like this?
Bob Boan
You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.0 -
Ironman....it is piped like your first diagram.
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If it were mine I would pop the covers off all the baseboard and confirm that there are no extra pipes run above or below the heating element. (Good time to clean fins also).
If it is piped like the first diagram what size it between each baseboard heater? That would be a very different piping design indeed.
The second is a very common set up, 2 tees for each baseboard.0 -
1/2 " pipe between each baseboard. How do you clean the fins, blow them out?0
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I had to laugh Bob. My cousins wife was out of town. Left him a nice clean house. Better be like that when I come home were the last orders.
So he thought it would be nice to do some "extra" cleaning while she was gone. Pulled the fridge out looked at the dust. Hmmm I'll just hook up the air compressor blow it out. After he crawled out from behind the fridge he about had a heart attack when he saw where all the dust went.
I think the air compressor trick along with a shop vac sucking as you are blowing would work pretty well.0 -
thanks to everyone for your input on this matter.0
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If it's piped like that, it's a poor design that would be restrictive to flow. I've been doing this for 45 years and I've never seen anyone choke 1 1/4" down to 1/2" in a series loop.bubbyt said:Ironman....it is piped like your first diagram.
You would be doing well to 2 gpm which = 20k btus.
Bob Boan
You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.0 -
And why would they have returned the loop with 1 1/4" after the choke down of 1/2"??
bubbyt, can you see the fittings below the floor where the 1/2" drops down and then goes to the next baseboard?? How about some pictures.
For cleaning, the combined use of a good shop vac and compressed air used at the same time controls the dust pretty good.0
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