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Once Gravity, Always Gravity?

Tom Minzenberger
Tom Minzenberger Member Posts: 6
in THE MAIN WALL
Thanks for your comments Steamhead! That sounds like good advice. I'll pitch them to the customer and post the rusults. Thanks again!
tminz

Comments

  • Tom Minzenberger
    Tom Minzenberger Member Posts: 6


    I' ran across an interesting gravity hot water system the other day. The piping system has a 3" main traveling around the basement with all the radiators being supplied with warmer water coming directly off the top of the main and the cooler return water sliding directly into the side of the main.
    I have seen this type of gravity system once before with the original boiler still in place and still doing a wonderful job keeping the home comfortable. This latest system, however, some years back had its boiler replaced, and the mechanic who did the job installed a circulator at the new boiler. I'm not quite sure, but I can't see how this can heat the home as well, from a comfort stand point, as if there was no circulator, and the boiler piped in to allow gravity flow. The customer is complaining of some areas of the house not heating as well as other areas.

    Any thoughts on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

    tminz
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,343
    That's a One-Pipe Gravity System

    which wasn't too common except in small buildings.

    My guess is the water is moving too fast thru that main, so the hot water doesn't rise to the radiators as it should.

    Try using a smaller circulator. If you have a Taco 007, try a 005 or B&G NRF-9. Slow down the flow and I'll bet it works better.



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  • Tom Minzenberger
    Tom Minzenberger Member Posts: 6


    > which wasn't too common except in small

    > buildings.

    >

    > My guess is the water is moving

    > too fast thru that main, so the hot water doesn't

    > rise to the radiators as it should.

    >

    > Try using

    > a smaller circulator. If you have a Taco 007, try

    > a 005 or B&G NRF-9. Slow down the flow and I'll

    > bet it works better.

    >

    >

    >

    > _A

    > HREF="http://www.heatinghelp.com/getListed.cfm?id=

    > 157&Step=30"_To Learn More About This Contractor,

    > Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A

    > Contractor"_/A_



    > which wasn't too common except in small

    > buildings.

    >

    > My guess is the water is moving

    > too fast thru that main, so the hot water doesn't

    > rise to the radiators as it should.

    >

    > Try using

    > a smaller circulator. If you have a Taco 007, try

    > a 005 or B&G NRF-9. Slow down the flow and I'll

    > bet it works better.

    >

    >

    >

    > _A

    > HREF="http://www.heatinghelp.com/getListed.cfm?id=

    > 157&Step=30"_To Learn More About This Contractor,

    > Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A

    > Contractor"_/A_


  • Tom Minzenberger
    Tom Minzenberger Member Posts: 6


    > which wasn't too common except in small

    > buildings.

    >

    > My guess is the water is moving

    > too fast thru that main, so the hot water doesn't

    > rise to the radiators as it should.

    >

    > Try using

    > a smaller circulator. If you have a Taco 007, try

    > a 005 or B&G NRF-9. Slow down the flow and I'll

    > bet it works better.

    >

    >

    >

    > _A

    > HREF="http://www.heatinghelp.com/getListed.cfm?id=

    > 157&Step=30"_To Learn More About This Contractor,

    > Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A

    > Contractor"_/A_


  • Tom Minzenberger
    Tom Minzenberger Member Posts: 6


    That's what I was thinking. Any chance that the Bell&Gosset 2" Flo-Control may have some trouble opening if I used either of those circulators mentioned? I might add that there have been additional zones added to the system so removing the Flo-Control is not an option.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,343
    If you have trouble with that flow-check opening

    try installing a smaller one, which wouldn't take as much effort to open. But I doubt it will be a problem.

    To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"
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    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • tombig
    tombig Member Posts: 291
    One Pipe Gravity

    I reworked one of those guys a few years back. The return tees on the 3" main teed horizontally at the bottom of the fitting. First and only time I've seen an ECCENTRIC tee. Had to be cast specifically for this application. I zoned the house so I kept the 3" as a return loop and piped new supplies for 1st and 2nd zones. Tombig
  • tombig
    tombig Member Posts: 291
    One Pipe Gravity

    I reworked one of those guys a few years back. The return tees on the 3" main teed horizontally at the bottom of the fitting. First and only time I've seen an ECCENTRIC tee. Had to be cast specifically for this application. I zoned the house so I kept the 3" as a return loop and piped new supplies for 1st and 2nd zones. Tombig
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