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System Circulator questions

northlakes
northlakes Member Posts: 95
in Gas Heating
The Grundfos circulator (hydronic baseboard, mod-con) I currently have has been wired for constant on, my assumption has been that previous owners were concerned about pipes freezing, so they removed a zone valve to keep the perimeter loop moving (which contains a pipe run in a concrete trench crossing a garage door threshold.) 

Feels like this pump is starting to make more noise than before and I’m considering getting a back up as follows: 

old pump Grundfos UP 43-75-F

new pump Taco 0012-F4

I don’t know if the pump is getting too much wear from continuous use, I turn off in summer but back on in fall and it runs until spring. When/if I replace the pump I’m considering adding some kind of OD temp sensor + relay that will run the pump continuous below certain temperature, but allow it to run intermittent on heat calls above that temp. 

Anyone done anything lIke this? 
Mad Dog_2

Comments

  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 23,518
    That is a fairly large pump, what size is this system, or boiler?

    Anytime you are running flow you are consuming $$
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
    Mad Dog_2
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 16,597
    Yes you can use an outdoor temp control to operate the pump when the temp is below 35 or so.
    MikeAmannMad Dog_2
  • northlakes
    northlakes Member Posts: 95
    hot_rod said:
    That is a fairly large pump, what size is this system, or boiler?

    Anytime you are running flow you are consuming $$
    It’s 3 floors, (2 above boiler about 2500 sq ft. above and 1500 at boiler level, 2 floors above are perimeter loops only) boiler is IBC VX199.  I don’t like wasting money on electric but a frozen/busted pipe could cost us far more…
  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 5,345
    northlakes said:
    hot_rod said:
    That is a fairly large pump, what size is this system, or boiler?

    Anytime you are running flow you are consuming $$
    It’s 3 floors, (2 above boiler about 2500 sq ft. above and 1500 at boiler level, 2 floors above are perimeter loops only) boiler is IBC VX199.  I don’t like wasting money on electric but a frozen/busted pipe could cost us far more…
    How often do you loose power for extended times. 
  • STEVEusaPA
    STEVEusaPA Member Posts: 6,505
    How about some pictures/piping diagrams and what controls on your system.

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

    northlakesMad Dog_2
  • northlakes
    northlakes Member Posts: 95
    pecmsg said:
    northlakes said:
    hot_rod said:
    That is a fairly large pump, what size is this system, or boiler?

    Anytime you are running flow you are consuming $$
    It’s 3 floors, (2 above boiler about 2500 sq ft. above and 1500 at boiler level, 2 floors above are perimeter loops only) boiler is IBC VX199.  I don’t like wasting money on electric but a frozen/busted pipe could cost us far more…
    How often do you loose power for extended times. 
    Almost never lose power for more than a few minutes. I will get some pics of the equipment. 
  • northlakes
    northlakes Member Posts: 95
    edited September 2023
    STEVEusaPA said:
    How about some pictures/piping diagrams and what controls on your system.
    @STEVEusaPA it’s a primary secondary with individual boiler circ and a system circ which is the one I want to get a replacement for. ZVC 4 zone using 3 zones now and assume I can use it to control system circ relay as well. System circ currently hardwired with on off toggle switch  



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