Aqua balance boiler system

photokynetics

I have inquired with this forum in the past about this monstrosity aqua balance boiler system that the homeowner put in and as you can see by the pictures there is an expansion tank that's just an air compressor tank and a bunch of unnecessary plumbing, i'm ready to start replumbing this but what I want is an opinion on getting rid of this boiler expansion air compressor tank thing and that air filter fuel filter housing that you see that's red, my question is can I eliminate them and just connect the plumbing together where they are currently connected through this equipment?

This is radiator type home heating system and the radiators are just little aluminum radiators in each of the rooms that a fan blows air across.

mattmia2

no idea what the red cartridge filter thig is. the compressor tank is a buffer tank and possibly a hydraulic separator. the white tank is the expansion tank. the tank gives the system more thermal mass which may or may not be needed depending on how it is zoned and the lowest firing rate of the boiler. it makes the boiler run longer cycles even if it isn't absolutely necessary. be better if it was insulated.

hot_rod

So many weird things going on.

Looks like the Aqua pulls combustion air from the room?

But so does that power vent water heater, that may cause an issue.

I think you want to run the boiler as a sealed combustion option. Vent outside air to the unit as the manual details.

Usually some separation is required between multiple side wall vents, if that is how they exhaust.

Also, looks like some PVC and CPVC tubing for the hydronics? That is not an oxygen barrier tube, so some corrosion is inevitable.

Loose the fuel/ oil filter and install a dirtmag and expect to blow it down occasionally. Check the Y strainer below the tank also, remove the strainer for inspection.

Looks like the tank is just in series with the boiler, so it may not be doing much/ any buffering. Usually the boiler heats the tank, via an aquastat, then the heat loops pull from the tank. The boiler "sees" the tank as it's load.

With all the filter devices I suspect rust never sleeps in that system :(

photokynetics

Builder said he installed that oil filter get up just because he had an extra laying around, I've got those pipes leaking a little bit where PVC meets galvanized pipe so I want to separate them and change those connections, it I'm working on it I want want to remove unnecessary garbage. I wasn't aware of PVC not being very good in this type of system when I bought this house neither apparently was the building inspector, but now that I've learned about it it's got me a little upset!

hot_rod

There may be a reason that air compressor/ buffer was added? Without some heat load numbers, zoning BTU requirements, etc, we are just guessing.

Generally it would be used to eliminate short cycling on a very small zone connected. But the boiler probably has some anti cycling, rate limiting functions that may work as well or better that that tank connected like that. Your boiler manual would detail the control options to help minimize short cycling.

What type of heaters, how many zones or thermostats? A total heat load for the home?

I think typical oil filters have a paper/ fiber element. I wonder how it holds up to water? Take it off and have a look. If the fiber is breaking down, I'd look into the Y strainer for particles. Chocking flow to a boiler like that can cause low flow lock-outs.

mattmia2

The pvc and cpvc needs to go. I would think the flow of that filter would be way too low for a hydronic system.

photokynetics

To change all the PVC will be a major project that I may have to have a professional do in the spring, because I looked and the builder put PVC everywhere up in the attic over to every radiator and every room.

As far as how many zones the major heating radiator is in the Attic where it can blow throughout the main portion of the house, and then each bedroom including the laundry room has one. I take that back not every bedroom has one but it gets hot air from the main heater so there's a total of five aluminum type radiators including the big one in the Attic. I know very little about this system but there is an owner's manual and I've been trying to study on them. As far as I'm aware of this oil filter setup was just put in just because there is a strainer down below the main boiler housing and then he's also got a whole house filter system tucked in behind all that plumbing.

photokynetics

I I really appreciate all comments and recommendations!