botched install

tim smith_2

Service call on system not heating at some radiators in small apt. bldg. Our service guy tried flushing air out to get system to circulate, would not in a few apts. Then he looked at piping at boiler and found that outlet of boiler was piped to return lines of old gravity overhead feed system. I arranged to go look. Yes in fact it was piped this way and pump was pulling from main supply riser and into boiler then out to returns. Hacked up job. I told customer the first thing we need to do is correct flow in system, move pump to outlet, switch supply and return connections to boiler and add some isolation valves. To his frugal dismay he agreed. We completed pipe changes yesterday at boiler. Will see what this does for circ. There are some other strange pipe changes that prior contractor did in attic branch out piping that we can't see due to the attic space was finished. I think customer is hoping the nominal work done yesterday will be the be all and end all. I would not count on it due to all the mods i can partially see in attic but he can hope. ps. this is a one pipe downcomer with tees off for each radiator. No reduction between tees at rads. ??? maybe orifice washer in upper tee where supply takes off to radiator for pressure differential. Any comments appreciated.

bigugh_4

Ole reverse return ????

Could that have been the Dead men's installation ? I too hope the contractor just before you did not screw that up. I wonder if you will have to throttle that circ pump some to get the proper flow through that system.