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Taco circulating pump

Mac13
Mac13 Member Posts: 3
in Plumbing
I have a Taco 006-ZB4-4 circulating heater. It gets too hot to touch and doesn't seem to be pumping. No noise and pipes are not hot beyond it. I removed it to see if it was maybe bound up but seems to turn easily. Can I get away with replacing just the cartridge or are the coils no good? How can I test it? I don't want to buy a cartridge then find out I need a whole pump.

Comments

  • Gordy
    Gordy Member Posts: 9,546
    Are you sure the system is free of air ?
  • Mac13
    Mac13 Member Posts: 3
    Should be. There was lots of water in it when I removed it. How do I bleed the air if it isn't pumping? It's all crimped pex pipes. The pump is for the in floor heat in the garage. There is a separate pump for the basement pump that seems to be working good.
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 23,108
    Hot can indicate a stuck rotor. A tap, tap, tap, flip the switch a few times may free it up.

    It could be dead-heading due to an air lock of frozen line?

    It's not unusual for garage loops to freeze if not protected with anti freeze.
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
    kcopp
  • Mac13
    Mac13 Member Posts: 3
    I've tried tapping it and the switching it on and off. No luck. I should correct myself. The piping get used to run in the floor in the garage but it had frozen on the previous owners so the ran the water through a radiant heater instead. The pipes feel Luke warm in and out. Even if there was a blockage wouldn't the pump still try to turn? There is nothing, even with the pressure bled off
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,326
    Bad capacitor?
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 23,108
    Mac13 said:

    I've tried tapping it and the switching it on and off. No luck. I should correct myself. The piping get used to run in the floor in the garage but it had frozen on the previous owners so the ran the water through a radiant heater instead. The pipes feel Luke warm in and out. Even if there was a blockage wouldn't the pump still try to turn? There is nothing, even with the pressure bled off

    I think you are going to need to pull the pump apart to see if it is jammed, broken, air locked, etc.

    The 80 w of energy going to the pump becomes heat if the system is unable to circulate, that is one reason they get smoking hot to the touch. When circulating properly they should be close to the temperature of the fluid moving through them.

    Purge valves installed? that would indicate if the system can flow. If water, free of air, circulates around by filling and purging, the last option is the pump has failed.

    If you shop around you can probably find a new pump for about the same, or less than a replacement cartridge.
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • furnacefigher15
    furnacefigher15 Member Posts: 514
    edited December 2016
    Taco - 006 - I would just get the whole pump. You can just replace the motor and cartrige and leave the old housing if that is easier, but either way its just 4 bolts.

    The new pump VS cartridge only is a very minimal price difference. Get the pump and at the very least you can rule out the pump as the cause of the problem - but Id say its 90 percent likely to be the issue.
  • stevieg
    stevieg Member Posts: 19
    Replace the circ. A smoking hot circ is a sure sign that a replacement is needed. Put some valves on each side of the circ for easy change out for the next time. this is pretty common. Good luck.

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