reverse radiation

t. peclet

i recently took a one zone lennox boiler at my in-laws house and turned it in to a multi zone system.using the pumping away process we built a header on the supply with 4 tees.on each tee we put a ball valve then the pump then a taco swetcheck then a ball valve.on the return just a ball valve pre header.full size off the boiler to a tee for power purge then full size valve then onto multi tap header reducing in size as we go.this was a single story dwelling turned into a 2 story dwelling with a weil mclean hot water maker.so zone 1 first floor,2/second floor,3/porch,4/hot water maker..taco zone control panel w/water priority.heres the problemo the hot water is radiating back on the returns making the zones extremly hot.t'stat is satisfied in all zones ,it seems when we make water or first floor heat the water radiates up stairs making the temp hot.boiler is 90k they didnt want upgrade to bigger had a friend who new a little.my feeling is the boiler isnt big enough to hold the hot return[its about 3.5 gallon cap.]so its radiating out.please help tired of hearing them complain make it go away.p.s thought about check valves on the returns so water cant go nowhere.p.s.s first floor had existing multi pak 80 with 1in. element and main thru-out thanks

Constantin

Well...

A picture would really help here. Even better, a system diagram!

For example, from your description, it is not clear whether you're using PS-piping, etc. From the sound of it, you are dealing with thermosiphoning which can be solved with check valves or piping loops under the header (see Dan's books on this).

Lastly, how well does the boiler match the system loads? Does it short-cycle because it's now waaaay-oversized WRT the multiple-zones?

Unknown

Put the water heater zone first

Pipe the water heater zone so that the water from this zone DOESN'T drag across the whole manifold, heating the heat zone piping by gravity as it passes by beneath them. Pipe the water heater zone closest to the boiler on the manifolds.

Lost Art