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converting gravity

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STEVEN MARKS
STEVEN MARKS Member Posts: 154
in THE MAIN WALL
When converting a gravity feed sytem to a new boiler with forced circulation does it ever make sense to replace the mains in basement? I understand Dans rule of thumb, original size mains / 1/2 then drop 1 pipe size. This I have done in past and has worked well. New customer had house freeze and every radiator split along with some pipe and fittings on the main. Customer is considering replacing boiler at the same time radiators are replaced. Do I replace the mains? Would you size mains to btu output of each radiator? 1 gpm per radiator? Would pipe reverse return.

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  • jeff_51
    jeff_51 Member Posts: 545
    sounds like

    you should put in whole new system if you have piping and fittings split on main also. Why not convert to baseboard, CI or otherwise. Even if you repair the main, you will still have to airtest to ensure no non visiable leaks. By the time you figure all the extra labour, I'll bet you are close to a complete repipe being cost effective. Then the whole system can be properly sized and your system efficency should impove dramaticaly
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