Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.

Circulator Pump Question

Options
bubbyt
bubbyt Member Posts: 6
in THE MAIN WALL
(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

Comments

  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,376
    Options
    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.
  • MikeSpeed6030
    MikeSpeed6030 Member Posts: 69
    Options
    This isn't rocket science - I would just try it.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,832
    Options
    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
    Consulting
  • Paul48
    Paul48 Member Posts: 4,469
    edited October 2016
    Options
    Yes......Sorry, had to locate it again..........http://www.slantfin.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/BaseLine-2000-Catalog-Sheet-816.pdf
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,280
    Options
    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 England
    Zman
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,832
    Options
    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
    Consulting
  • Gordy
    Gordy Member Posts: 9,546
    Options
    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.
  • bubbyt
    bubbyt Member Posts: 6
    Options
    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.
  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,376
    Options
    Are you saying it's piped like this?
    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
  • bubbyt
    bubbyt Member Posts: 6
    Options
    yes
  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,376
    Options
    Or is it like this?
    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
  • bubbyt
    bubbyt Member Posts: 6
    Options
    Ironman....it is piped like your first diagram.
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,061
    Options
    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.
  • bubbyt
    bubbyt Member Posts: 6
    Options
    1/2 " pipe between each baseboard. How do you clean the fins, blow them out?
  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,477
    Options
    That works but it makes a real mess if there is a lot of dust. I'd use a brush and a vacuum to control the mess.

    Bob
    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
    Gordy
  • Gordy
    Gordy Member Posts: 9,546
    Options
    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.
  • bubbyt
    bubbyt Member Posts: 6
    Options
    thanks to everyone for your input on this matter.
  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,376
    Options
    bubbyt said:

    Ironman....it is piped like your first diagram.

    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.

    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.
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,061
    Options
    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.

Categories