Converting gravity heating system to zoned circulation

HappyHomeowner

good morning guys, a while back I seen a episode of this old house where someone converted their old water radiators to an individual individually zoned manifold with a hot and cold water return. I can’t seem to find that episode anymore and was wondering if anyone here could assist. I’m willing to pay if someone is willing to design me a system so I can at least explain it better to my local heating guy he doesn’t seem to understand what I wanna do. Basically want to convert the radiators from steel to pex to a manifold that has individually zone control for each room of the house I want to keep the radiators where they are and use the existing lines in the basement to connect to the manifold. I don’t really want to tear up all the walls in my house.

Rich_L

I've converted many a gravity system to pumped systems on boiler replacements but never with zoning to radiators. That's a very intriguing idea and would be a fun project! I see no reason why that wouldn't work, though you'd want to be sure your installer knows what's needed and how to do it. This is a multi temperature zoned system I designed and installed for in floor radiant a few years back.

clammy

What you would like to do is commonly called a home run system . In most cases its done w o2 barrier pex or pex al pex tubing . As for zoning for each radiator there is plenty of manifold choices from plenty of manufactures uponor ,califee among others and of course if you are going to zone it room by room then you will be adding actuator heads to the manifold and having to run thermostat wiring to control them or have the supply valves changed to thermostaic radator valves is another opt . In most cases it would be a little cheaper to use 2 manifolds one for the 1 st floor and 1 for the second instead of mirco zoning each rad .Personally if your local heating guy is not experience and seems clueless you may be better off finding some one who has a few under there belt and know exactly what this really entails aside from just tossing some pex and manifold in there s alot more to it then that and most usually find out when issues start . Get manifolds w external flow setters they cost more but they work ,be sure the system has been flushed and a magnetic dirt separator has been installed . You can go to the califee website and it full of information to help you .Again you may be better off finding some one who is more familiar w doing these type of piping arrangements and everything that come along w it not only so it works properly but also that the boiler is protected if there is a danger to prolonged low return temps .

peace and good luck clammy