zoning with pumps or valves?

steve novak

I wanted to get some thoughts on how I should zone my hot water system with zone valves (honeywells) or with pumps. I currently have a monoflow system with cast iron base board and one zone. I want to break the system up into six zones. I was going to install a manifold and I just need to know weather to use pumps or valves. Also if I use vavles should I put the pump on the return or the supply side. It is currently on the return but I have heard of some people putting it on the supply is there any advantage to this?
Thanks

Uni R

KISS

Keeping it simple Steve, how about putting remote TRVs on some of the cast iron baseboard circuits? Much of the heat savings through zoning will be offset by having to supply electrical to up to six additional circulators at varying intervals.

bill clinton_3

pumps valves

Zone valves draw less current and make a more compact installation with positive shut-off to avoid thermosiphoning and ghost flow.
Multiple circulators have the advantage of redundancy: if one circulator fails, at least portions of the house can be kept warm with the others. With zone valves, the whole system goes down with the circulator.

Moral: If you have severe winters, look for redundancy so people don't freeze to death when a circulator fails. If weather is milder, zone valves are a good option. A hybrid: two circs plus zone valves for further break down.

Bill

Big Ed

Depends

Depends on the size of the zone and the new system . A monoflow needs alot of flow so I would use a circulator . Small parrell loops I would use zonevalves. With pumping away install the zonevalves on the return and install one full size flowvalve on the main supply to prevent unwanted gravity flow.

Mike Kraft_2

Hey Big Ed

If each zone has a ZV........then when it's closed no flow.So why use a flow-check?

cheese

hr

I generally

zone with valves. Larger gpm jobs I pump.

If they are paranoid about pump failure, leave a second spare on the job. At $60 this is a cheap insurance. With proper iso flanges that is a 15 minute change out.

Then again an HSI or vent damper, transformer, gas valve, etc would put you out of business regardless of pumps or ZV, so that arguement really seems mute.

ZV's with a pump with intergral check is also a nice option to prevent backside ghost flows.

hot rod



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Big Ed

Welcome back Mike

The flow valve prevents any currents within the single supply as well as a full flow gravity if one of the Z valves is stuck open or does not seat . I was trained from the service side as you can see..


Mike , I heard you were off line for a while, end up buying a new computer ? New web address I see...