Replace wet return with dry, reroute, chop, or condensate pump?

2x_Tom · April 2017

So I have a system with a badly leaking (zero condensate gets back) wet return under a finished basement.

Option 1 is replacing it as piped. It's going to require replacement of all the tile (can't match what's there) then hopefully getting under a tub without having to remove it or damaging it.

Option 2 is, is it possible to turn the end of the mains around, pitch back towards the boiler then drop to the floor in the boiler room about 15' from the boiler? It's 6' below the steam main and a couple feet below the water level at the boiler room floor.

Option 3 is (this is one I'm leaning towards) rerouteing them along a wall in a lower part of the basement (still finished) then telling the carpenter to figure out how to hide them. The only issue here is the line won't be level, it will have a low point. At least the new return will have a way to clean it and get yearly maintenance, something the old one lacked. This will also lower the return line by about a foot. I don't think that will matter though.

Option 4 is a condensate receiver at the end of the mains. Getting power to it and a 3/4" line back to the boiler shouldn't be too big a deal.

Jamie Hall · April 2017

Option 3. A wet return can go up and down and corkscrew all over the place, so long as everywhere along it is below the boiler water line. It also helps at the various bends to use plugged T's rather than elbows, though, so you can clean the thing out when you need to...

JUGHNE · April 2017

As Jamie said.
Where are your main vents now?
You could lay the wet return on the floor against the wall.
An inverted "U" shaped wood box could cover it and then a wall stood on top of it.
But provide accessible cleanouts, valves etc to flush with garden hose occasionally.

jumper · April 2017

Avoid pump if you can.

Steamhead · April 2017

Jamie Hall said:
Option 3. A wet return can go up and down and corkscrew all over the place, so long as everywhere along it is below the boiler water line. It also helps at the various bends to use plugged T's rather than elbows, though, so you can clean the thing out when you need to...

JUGHNE said:
As Jamie said.
Where are your main vents now?
You could lay the wet return on the floor against the wall.
An inverted "U" shaped wood box could cover it and then a wall stood on top of it.
But provide accessible cleanouts, valves etc to flush with garden hose occasionally.

jumper said:
Avoid pump if you can.

This.

Danny Scully · April 2017

You can use baseboard covers to conceal as well. I've done this with great success.

JUGHNE · April 2017

Danny, great idea. Would you consider using actual BB htrs to heat the finished basement. Just use fillers & blanks to make it continuous. Perhaps 1" or maybe still too small? Depends on the connected EDR load for the wet return I suppose.

megajennyposts · April 2017

Cleaning the pumps always helps with the pump.

2x_Tom · April 2017

Thanks for the replies.
I'm not sure where the main vents are or if their are any. The basement is finished so nothing is exposed. I'm going to cut some holes in the Sheetrock where I think they should be on Tuesday and find out.
I'll be going with the third option I think and rerouteing the line then trying to hide it. I'm going to leave basically purge setups on either end so you can always connect a hose and force water pressure from one boiler drain to the other and flush it.
I like the dummy baseboard idea, some Slant Fin 80 covers will hide just about anything.

JUGHNE · April 2017

The typical boiler drain might have only a 3/8" passage way at best. I usually take them out of everything that mush be drained or flushed and replace with 3/4" full port ball valve with hose adaptor.
Often just getting the small boiler drain to drain let alone pass debris is a major part/time of the flush process. IMO

2x_Tom · April 2017

Well I ended up repiping it in 1-1/4" copper through walls, channeling a poured staircase and going exposed through the boiler room. The pictures were before I sleeved it through the masonary and added support to it in the boiler room. It's been a few days and the systems running great. I was a little nervous their would be a drip into the wet return somewhere in the finished basement but I lucked out on that one.

2x_Tom · April 2017

Fred · April 2017

Looks Great! Be sure you don't drive a nail or screw through it when you replace the drywall. Nail guards might be wise.

Steamhead · April 2017

Agreed- nice work! And make sure you leave access for the valves and drains in the walls.

EBEBRATT-Ed · April 2017

real nice! Obviously you have some experience with a torch and a roll of solder

Replace wet return with dry, reroute, chop, or condensate pump?

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