Vent Placement Questions

Chris Burt

What kind of vent should I place at the high spot of Hydronic floor system? I need to vent the air after adding a second story addition.I have an expansion tank/ air scoop setup and it does not seem to be doing the job. I was reading here about different types of Spirovents and am not sure where to place it. The pump is located in my basement on the return side of the system and the airscoop is on the supply side.Can someone help with who, what, where and why.

Steamhead

Move the pump

so it pumps away from the tank and air scoop. This will allow the scoop to work at maximum efficiency.

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Tom M.

air scoop location

Also the air scoop should have at least 18" of straight pipe on the inlet side. If it is too close to an elbow, the water and air will still be swirling and the air will not be picked off the top of the pipe. I don't think this applies to a spirovent.

Chris Burt

Pump placement

If the pump is on the return side and the vent is on the supply side wouldn't that be pumping away?

Unknown

Pump placement

Move the pump down stream of the air diverter fitting.

The air scoop will work more efficiently and the new location of the pump will increase the water pressure slightly on the heating side of the system. Additionally the pressure on the reurn side of the system will drop proportionately.

The change in pressure will cause entrapped air to move out of the system unless you have piping installation problems.

Jake

Mark Hunt

Pumping away


would have the pump on the supply side after the air eliminator and expansion tank.

While most boiler manufacturers are now sending their boilers with the pumps disconnected, for the LONGEST time they were mounted on the return. Easier to package that way.

If you move the pump as directed and have at least 18" of straight pipe to the scoop connection, your problems may go away.

I use Spiro-Vents on all of our hot water installs and pump away from the boiler. Since I started doing this I have NEVER had an air problem.

My customers are pleasently suprised when their systems run noise free after a boiler replacement.

Hope this helps!!

Mark H

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Maurice Pickett

Spirovent Location, etc.

Locate the Spirovent near the outlet of the boiler and the pump near the outlet side of the Spirovent. The Spirovent has a FPT tap in the bottom to accomodate your expansion tank. In addition, provide a Spirotop (which has a 1/2" FPT bottom connection) above your highest convector. In some cases more than one Spirotop may be required depending on your piping configuration. Note- Your pump and expansion tank can be located on the inlet side of the boiler but the prefered location is the outlet side.