Hot water zone off of steam condensate

Ray Landry

I'm piping a hydronic loop off a steam boiler identicaly to the diagram in the 'hot tech topics' section of this site. I'm utilizing the condensate from the boiler, using a bronze pump, ect. My questions are: are sweat checks ok to use as flow control valves, or are flow checks preferred? should they be below the boilers water line? Thanks in advance...

DanHolohan

Flow control valves

will work much better, and yes, they should be below the waterline.

Ray Landry

Thanks Dan. Just curious, why are flow checks preffered? less chattering?

DanHolohan

They're heavier.

A regular check has a tough time stopping gravity circulation.

Ray Landry

Ok thanks. Another question for you. To wire do you always have to have the hot water zone pump come on every time the boiler fires to avoid getting a cold slug of water back? ex) if someone ran the steam for 1 hour, got the boiler up to high temp, turned the hot water t stat on, and sent cold water back on the return shocking the boiler? so basically every time you fire the steam the hot water zone has to go on too? or am I way off?

Ray Landry

Ok thanks. Another question for you. Do wire you always have to the hot water zone to have the pump come on every time the boiler fires to avoid getting a cold slug of water back ex) if someone ran the steam for 1 hour, got the boiler up to high temp, turned the hot water t stat on, and sent cold water back on the return shocking the boiler? so basically every time you fire the steam the hot water zone has to go on too? or am I way off?

Ray Landry

Ok thanks. Another question for you. To wire do you always have to the hot water zone pump come on every time the boiler fires to avoid getting a cold slug of water back ex) if someone ran the steam for 1 hour, got the boiler up to high temp, turned the hot water t stat on, and sent cold water back on the return shocking the boiler? so basically every time you fire the steam the hot water zone has to go on too? or am I way off?

DanHolohan

It's not

going to be a problem. No worries.