FINDING A LEAK

Jack Ames

A friend has an old home home in Alexandria, Virginia which
was originally heated with fire places in each downstairs room. About 1950 or so, a gas-fired hydronic system with
MONOFLO fittings and a radiator in each room was installed.
It has only a partial basemrnt underneath the living room
where the boiler is located. Steel distribution piping runs from their to an inacessible pipe trench beneath the dining room to a concrete slab on grade beneath the kitchen.
The owner thinks he may have a leak in the distribution piping in this slab because the ceramic tiles in the area where the pipe is located are very warm.
I propose putting a water meter in the make-up line.
If there is a leak, it should show up as consumption on this meter. Does anybody have suggestions as to what meter
to use? Will any standard water meter work OK?
Assuming there is a leak and because repairing that leak will mean tearing up the kitchen floor, can anyone
recomend a good product for sealing that leak internally.
If so, how should this product be installed in this hydronic system with black steel pipe? If and when this burried pipe has to be replaced, what type of piping is recomended? If type K copper, how should it be joined to the existing steel pipe?
Incidentally, some plumber who obviously did not know what a MONOFLO fitting was, abandoned 2 pairs of MONOFLO fittings and repiped the raditors served directly between the supply and return mains. Could this explain why 1 of the 2nd floor radiators is not getting any heat at all?
Thanks for your input! The plumber did at least one thing right. He installed a Spirovent air separator along
with the new boiler and circulator pump.

Al Letellier

leak finder

a standard water meter measure in hundreds of cubic feet, which is the way most water districts bill for usage. It would take a long time to measure a small leak. Pressure is always the best way to make sure of a leak. Build system pressure to just under the safety valve rating and isolate the supply feed (don't leave it alone or closed if no low water cut off on the boiler). a leak will show up via pressure drop. Next problem....find the leak. We sometimes use air pressure to find a leak. A stethescope will help find the general area. Them you have to dig it up if in a slab. Most likely you will have to replace some or all of the piping. Most leak can't be repaired will liquid sealer, and remember, all the pipe is probably in the same condition. Type K copper or PEX is the only thing to use in a slab or underground and I would go with PEX if possible. Good luck

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jerry scharf_2

Is there a leak

Jack,

there might be a leak or not. If the metal pipes are running bare through the concrete to radiators, it could be straight conduction through the slab.

I agree with Al, a water meter probably wouldn't work. What I would do is shut off the make up water and see if the system holds pressure during operation. Make sure this is done on a weekend day and someone is checking the pressure continuously for the first hour then every hour after. Talk the owner through it and have them do it. Save yourself the work and the trip.

jerry

Michele

Hydrolevel's VXT

I am just a homeowner whose new boiler seems to be taking on too much fresh feed also. I am going to look into a product Dan H recommends in his book, "We got steam heat." (Page 132). It is the Hydrolevel VXT - an electronic water feeder that measures how many gallons of water enters the boiler. You might want to look in to it too. www.hydrolevel.com. Am not sure of its cost though.