No circulation but pump is running.

Jimbo_5

Have a 3-year old Burnham 60k that has run fine till now. When tstat is calling for heat, the circulator kicks on, the supply piping is hot (150°) but return side is cold. Any ideas? All ball valves are open, system psi is 12# and I don't get it.

Paul48

Air..........Try purging.

GW

You may get silly lucky if you get the pressure up a few psi

hot_rod

What type of circa pump? Is the circulator in fact spinning?

If so, air or a frozen pipe can stop circulation.

Jimbo_5

Factory supplied black 007. It's spinning, I can feel that, but the piping is only hot for about 8' on the discharge side of the pump, pumping away from the boiler. Everything else is cold like no flow at all. I was thinking of changing the pump, maybe bad impeller? House is not cold enough to freeze, thank God.

The boiler ran fine since installed right after hurricane Sandy. I'm stumped!!

GW

Do you know how to purge?

Jimbo_5

Not exactly.

GW

Ah shoot it's very easy to do but very hard to explain, post some pics from 10 feet away and I'll try to explain.

GW

Btw seems odd you would lose prime with 12 psi. Your pump may seem ok but it may not be

Jimbo_5

Not at the boiler now, but there are 2 hose bibs before the pump, on the suction side. But none after the pump, it goes straight into the fin-tune. I will put a ball valve on the other side Incase i need to change the circulator in the future.

Odd that it ran for a few years without any problem and now is not circulating.

lchmb

try bumping your pressure up like previously mentioned...

Jimbo_5

Any ideas why it would all of a sudden get air bound? Or do you think the circulator has failed?

GW

For Better or For Worse I normally don't try to over analyze why things went wrong. 12 PSI is plenty for 90% of the homes out there. Sometimes an improper installation or startup may cause premature failure, other times it's just simple mechanics

j a_2

Is it base board copper heat like slant fin....Do you hear gurgling in the system....Site unseen its in need of bleeding....Do you normally have the fill valve open or closed. have you tried lifting the small lever on the fill valve/ back flow regulator....Often they stick closed and just need an actuation to over come it....

BornForDying

Lots of videos available online that show how to purge zones. As others have said, post some pics of your valving and we can help if you're not sure.

https://youtu.be/KZI7_UJI5LM

Steve Thompson (Taco)

Can you describe any unusual events prior to the problem? Did it happen immediately or get worse over time? Was there any work done to the system prior to the problem?

Couple of things you might want to check (if purging doesn't help):
- Give the pressure gauge a "flick" with your finger - might be stuck giving you false pressure readings.
- Is there a strainer on the system? Might be plugging or plugged up.

You can easily take the motor/impeller assembly off our 007 to inspect by removing the 4 screws - just be careful and make sure you isolate the circ (close inlet and discharge valves if you have) as water will come out of the pump casing. Replacement cartridges (rotating assemblies) are available if needed (instead of replacing the circ - IF it is a circulator problem).