Off season circ pump question

Mark_14

Is it better to run circ pumps continous or shut them off during the off season? Grundfous (model 15-40 water lubed) in a shop radiant floor system. Heating Nov-Feb only.

I'm refering to life of the pumps not to the electricity use.

I'm thinking of just cycling the circ pumps once or twice a month for a short period.

TIA

hr

should be fine

to be off in the no heat seasons. that pump has good starting torque.

Water quality more than anything will stick a pump. How's yours?

I know Taco relays for one have exercise program cards if you want an automatic exercise program.

Nice piping work, by the way.

hot rod

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Mark_14

Circ pumps

Thanks hot rod, a buddy and I designed and installed the system. I'll probably regret the electric boiler but hydro power here is cheap. I didn't want any open ignition source in my shop, so eliminated gas/oil burners. The addition tees in the photos are for future solar supplemtal heating experiments.

The system holds 16 gallons, mixed to a 35% polypro glycol anti freeze/distilled/deminerialized water ratio.

So far my screw ups have been:
1. Circ pump installed at the lowest part of the plumping may be subject to crap building up.
2. No valves under the temp/pressure gauge, safety flow switch and bleader. I've got a small leak under the pressure gauge. Now have to depressurize the system to reseal it.

Oh well it was fun doing the project and I'm satisfied with my nimrod work. I've added a couple more of the progress photos.

Thanks for your input. Mark

J.C.A._3

Most Tekmar controls,

Using any kind of outdoor reset have an "exercise "option.With the pumps below the boiler, I'd recommend some kind of insurance, as to it.

I may be a bit of an alarmist having thrown out too many of the old Grundfos pumps that seemed to "fetch up", after sitting a while. NICE piping! Chris

Mark_14

Thanks J.C.A.

I'll look into an outside reset. Are you meaning an outdoor sensing thermostat? Is TEKMAR a recommended source?

Like I stated earlier my friend and I put this together with some outside engineering assistance from Radiant Engineering. The friend is actually trying to break into the radiant heat world. He has attended training seminars, read the text books and only lacks practical hands on work experience. Kind of hard to receive OJT when no one is installing systems on a routine basis. This state always seems to be behind the rest of the country by about ten years. He is basically becoming a self taught installer. My system was his first installation and I agreed to let him experiment (within reason) on the installation. There's not alot of radiant only experts in Montana. In our local area the plumbing shops all say they can do the work, but few seem to be able to answer the simple questions I come up with about proper installation. Qualified contractors are few. Note the PEX protruding through the floor; the "expert" who laid the tubing knew nothing about transitions/protection of the tubing coming out of the slab. I only learned they are recommended after the concrete was poured. I'll hope for no problems and fix them when and if they occur.

The Radiant Engineering guys (200 miles east) have been free with knowledge, advice and guidance (thanks Dale)and I decided to return the favor. I have purchased as much as practical through them. I've lurched on this site for a long time and have learned a bunch. Radiant Engineering seems to be on the mark with their designs and product knowledge.

Off the subject, the attachments are some of the reasons I live here. Front door view and abundant wildlife.

Thanks again for your input.

hr

Used to be a time

when Grundfos made the exact control you are looking for. A post purge and pump exercise module. Guess it wasn't a big seller.

I'll bet a dealer somewhere in this country has a shelf full of these controls

hot rod

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J.C.A._3

I\"m not ......

Going to say ANYTHING about my compare,(not the way that it's spelled, but an Italian phrase, equivelant to "Goomba",or.... trusted friend.) Hotrod.

He has FAR more experience in the radiant field than I could ever wish to have,and will be able to give the best advice.

I am but a puppy oppossed to his big dog knowledge.I think I stated that I'm shooting from the "old school", and saw the problems with the first pumps I experienced from Grundfos. I feel that the "pump exercise option" Is a small price to pay for consistency and system longetivity. Again, Just my humble opinion.
By the way, if the tubing is being used in continuous loops, does a simple 90° bend going into the manifold protect it any further? It makes it look nicer but is doing the same thing as the tubing coming from a bit off, to make it so.In our field....looks count.(at least I like to think so). We do this day in and out, if this was a first job by a friend, I would like him to call me. I need someone who pays attentiom to detail like him. Chris

hr

Chris

the sticking Grundfos issue goes back to the early 90's vintage circs. Next time you see a stuck Grund get a date code. Week and year of manufacture in stamped on the name plate. Pump color is also an indicator of age.

The green brand I have tried sometimes stick right out of the box! Never had a Grund do that, even back in the old days.

In all fairness much of the sticking circ problem was, and is, directly related to crummy water quality brought on by the 80 and 90's vintage non barrier PB and solar roll O2 issues.

These non barrier tubes could, and would, corrode a system in a years time. This sludge often ends up in the circs in off seasons. Very bad for a wet rotor design.

The new Brutes have plenty of starting torque to address this, although I prefer to see installers deal with the corrosion issues.

Upping the hp or startintg torque leads to snapped pump shafts. Not sure that is a good trade off

hot rod

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Mark_14

Attention to detail

Chris,

Yes, we are both detailed oriented. One of the reasons I let him experiment on my system is because I had researched radiant long before he had. I knew I would be able to look over his shoulder and "supervise" the installtion. I don't mean knit-pick put be allowed input as to the who, what, why, where. I doubt an experienced contractor would appreciate this.

Give me a phone number and I'll pass it along to him.He needs the work.