Tee on supply?

umodjm

I just recently bought a house with a hwbb 130k BTU (NG) Peerless cast iron boiler. It's dated march of 94. So i've been mapping out how everything is connected. The house is 3400 sqft and is divided into two zones, one for each level (and none in the finished basement). The main level of the house has a tee in the supply, and another to join the two returns just before the circulator pump. This seems odd to me. Is that normal? Wouldn't the water prefer the path with least resistance? ie, whichever half of the loop is shortest maybe? The house is 40' by 28' roughly.

Zman

That is a pretty common arrangement. You are correct that it will be difficult to balance accurately. You can tell a great deal about how well a distribution system is working by observing the supply/ return temps on each section. An inexpensive IR temp reader and some tape on the pipe is a good way to read temps.

Rich_49

Zman said:

That is a pretty common arrangement. You are correct that it will be difficult to balance accurately. You can tell a great deal about how well a distribution system is working by observing the supply/ return temps on each section. An inexpensive IR temp reader and some tape on the pipe is a good way to read temps.

Best investment I ever made Zman .

https://www.hilmor.com/products/dual-readout-thermometer

STEVEusaPA

@Rich_49
Rich, how do you like those clamps?
How about the +- accuracy?
Looks like it would (should) work great.

I've been using 2 K-type clamps (I tried almost all of them) with my meter for years. They don't seem accurate all the time.
I've even clamped them on the same spot of a pipe and saw 2 different readings of 10° difference. I even swapped them and moved them just to make sure.

umodjm

Thank you!
Would the tee still be ok in this configuration? (made the lower left into it's own zone)

Tinman

Caleffi 132 QuickSetter would do the trick.

NY_Rob

umodjm said:

Thank you!
Would the tee still be ok in this configuration? (made the lower left into it's own zone)

You're going to see "ghost flow" on your existing zones because of the way the new zone is planned. And, you'll probably see "ghost flow" on the new zone when the old zones are active.

umodjm

NY_Rob said:

You're going to see "ghost flow" on your existing zones because of the way the new zone is planned. And, you'll probably see "ghost flow" on the new zone when the old zones are active.

Even if I have IFC circulators, or in my case, Flo-Cheks in place?

NY_Rob

Look at your layout... where and in which direction would you place your flow checks?

The way you laid it out... how would IFC's change anything or prevent ghost flow?

umodjm

Understood. Thank you!

NY_Rob

If you want to keep just one circulator you could get away with using two zone valves if you're still set on adding that third zone.