Taco 007 and BG 10734

tossup20

Hi all, I decided to ask the long tail on this site since I see a number of refs to the equipment in the subject.

The equip is from 2008. Mostly flawless except for this sitch which has been happening for years pretty darn consistently.

Winter comes, heating calls, but this zone (in a half basement HW baseboard) wasn't used daily and could drop to 54deg. But earlier in the season calling heat in the zone would be fine for a few weeks. Then, say mid january, no heat, it seems when the temps got really cold (say mot above freezing for a few days). It might fail a few days and always seemed to recover once the cold snap broke. All other zones/thermostats are fine.

This year,in New York, its been colder, consistently, than it has been in years. But I also use the zone alot more often now, essentially daily, and set the therm to 65-6. No probs until last night. A difference, I hadn't used the zone in 4 days. The temp dropped close to 50. Called and got no response.

When this first happened, years ago, some one suggested tapping the BG to unstick it. I don't remember I think it did work then, but not since. Now Its just wait for a little warmer outside temps.

Airlocked doesn't seem to fit: I never hear gurgling, only the expansion of the baseboard as it heats.

BG opens and closes—and will dribble if left too open. The one next to it I wouldnt want to touch: packing area is coated with rust.

yes the taco is very hot, pipes too, above and below, but no hotter than the other two tacos (working fine) on the same supply pipe. the BG pipes can be hot — but the BG is above the boiler in close proximity, that line then drops to the floor and leaves the boiler room (its cold)

frozen h20 doesn't seem a prob — there's no flood.

Its been years since I got a pro mechanical opinion. But no equipment was changed and the symptom remains.

Two days ago, we lost the boiler— clogged nozzle. Regular service effort and all good. We've been consuming like nobody's business this season. The unusual cold along with advancing years the thermostat in common areas is a few degrees higher for much of the day than in the past.

The boiler will lock out. Been fine this season, until this AM. I forgot to plug in the frostking line outside. Few minutes with a hair dryer and fine. Why it chose last night (after weeks of constant below freezing temps I don't know).

Anybody have any ideas? Its the intermittent, practically predictable, nature of it that makes me twitch.

Thanks for, and hope you enjoyed, reading.

hot_rod

there is a lever on top of the red BG valves, turn it counter clockwise to manually open that check valve.

For the pumps, check for voltage at the pump. Also the valve below the pump, slowly start closing that. If the pump is flowing you will get some hissing noise as the valve shuts down flow.

the pump should be just a bit warmer than the pipe it connects. It should never be scalding hot, indicating it is locked up.

HVACNUT

Have you tried to purge the loop? I bet you get no more than a few ounces. You say its fine in milder weather, so I'd say the loop is freezing somewhere. Luckily not enough to burst.

Find the draft, seal it, and insulate the pipe in that location.