I repiped my boiler

Tom Elam

I have been struggling to get the air out of my baseboard heating system for the last two heating seasons. With your advice I read Pumping Away a few months ago and realized what the problem was. The plumber that installed my new boiler used too much of my old piping. The zone circulators were on the wrong side of the point of no pressure change. Since the job was 2 years old I felt it was too late to expect the plumber to come and correct his error so I decided to pipe it up my self. I upgraded to a Spirovent Jr and B&G Check-Trol isolation valves while I was at it.
If there is anything obvously wrong with the way it is piped please let me know. I'm trying to get the system squared away now so it will be ready this fall.

Chuck Shaw_9

Nice....

WM puts out great instructions. Its a shame that you, as the homeowner, have to read them, and fix the install. Nice looking work.

Chuck Shaw

Brad White_79

Nice indeed, Tom!

I particularly like the use of PVC pipe to support the expansion tank. Far better than the wok ring I used in a pinch -and is still there. Like you, I use the flexible braided hose for tank connection. I also like how the HWS pitches down away from the Spirovent toward the circulators, allowing the air to stay high for venting.

In "Homey Piped 1", may I offer some suggestions?

1) The HWR coming in from the right in black iron? I would install a bronze ball valve where it meets the copper for dielectric and physical isolation. Same on the right side with the returns coming in from the foreground.

2) The low points upstream of the circulators- you might consider a drain valve there. Any low point of consequence and on the isolated sides of any valves you may add. Saves you from taking a shower.

3) The two returns join in a bull-head tee. If flow rates are modest this may not be an issue but could cause noise and turbulence at high flow. I suggest the larger volume coming in from the right be an elbow and the lesser volume coming in from the left be into a tee downstream of that elbow. Minor point; may not be an issue.

Given your prior air problems, don't let that detract from the immense improvement you have wrought!

Overall, very impressive- it must feel really good to have that come out of your hands. I bet you cannot wait for winter to start so you can fire her up! Well, at least once anyway

As Chuck said, too bad you had to fix the first install. I would send the photos to the contractor in a friendly way and bring them along.

My $0.02

Brad

gerry gill

you do nice work..

much better than the before pictures..

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Unknown

what a differrnce!

What a huge difference, sadly that the homeowner had to correct this, can you send the "so called installer" the bill for ur education and installation ? Wondering why "installer" won't come back out... Was he really a "plumber" or handyman that all pipes are just pipes? Otherwise, good job!

Weezbo

musta been the coffee trigger

Sheesh. i edited the sentence with a couple commas ..Wango! it doble posts

Weezbo

Very sharp *~/:)

the example you provided is easy for anyone to see.

have you considered zoning in the future? if so, you could increase your degree of control and add a greater degree of freedom .......... you did add some aesthetic value to that boiler room and you likely eliminated the "air" problem it had, with the spirovent, pump and expansion tank repositioning.

Good for you.

Tom Elam

Boiler Repipe

Thanks for the complements, I spent some time on this project and tried to do it right.

I never even thought about the dielectric issues prior to starting the job. The original plumber had the copper tied to the steel pipe after the air scoop. Like a dummy I followed his lead. Is that why the B&G Ckeck-Trol isolation valves are made from brass, DUH. It wouldn't be hard to add a valve to the 1" return on the right side. However adding valves from the returns on the left side would be a problem. I would have to lower the return header. That would involve moving alot of stuff around. Will I have problems down the road with leaks if I don't address this issue?

I have run the circulators for the system check out and to purge air. I didn't notice and noise comming from the T where the returns tie together. I may have dodged the bullet on that one. I will repipe it the way you suggested if I do move the return header to add bronze valves.

Thank you for looking at this for me and the suggestions.
Thats why you are the professionals.
Tom Elam

Tom Elam

Boiler Repipe

Someone from the company that installed it is coming out tomorrow because the plugs on the heat exchanger are leaking. I printed a copy of B&G's Zoning Made Easy, Rules of Thumb for the Non-Engineer Installer. I hope it's the same man that installed it. It will be interesting to see if he notices anything different. I am going to give him the copy.

Thanks,
Tom Elam

Brad White_9

Dielectric Issues

The bronze isolation flanges are an asset in this regard. There was a thread on dielectric isolation on the Wall in the past two weeks I believe.

Cast iron and copper is more forgiving than steel and copper. Most fittings are cast or malleable iron (same difference electrolytically speaking) so may not be as much of an issue if the coupling is iron. More of a problem if steel pipe, male, screwed into a copper female socket. (Any man will tell you that can be expensive

I would say that what I mentioned is the "ideal". Many installations are like yours for years with no problems. The concept as discussed in that thread is that there is something else in the system that is being attacked, not the joints. Just keep an eye on them.

Yes if no air noise nor turbulence noise, I would not worry about the bullhead tee. Just departure from the ideal. Sometimes admitting defeat over minor pedantic issues is wonderful, especially when you have done such outstanding work to correct a long-standing problem. I hope your spouse appreciates what you have done here!

Brad

Couderay

Repipe

Looks good nice to see a homeowner take charge and fix it himself. Good luck on your new piping job.