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Zone Heating Issues

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Ni24ck
Ni24ck Member Posts: 2
in Oil Heating
I have a 3 zone system and when one of the zones calls for heat, the other zones also heat as well but the circulator pumps don’t engage. For example...If I turn thermostat on upstairs the hot water flows through both upstairs and downstairs zones and vice versa. I have 2 smart thermostats and they are both wired correctly.

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  • Alan (California Radiant) Forbes
    Alan (California Radiant) Forbes Member Posts: 4,002
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    Sounds like phantom flow.

    Is this a newly installed system? If so, call the heating contractor back.
    8.33 lbs./gal. x 60 min./hr. x 20°ΔT = 10,000 BTU's/hour

    Two btu per sq ft for degree difference for a slab
  • Zman
    Zman Member Posts: 7,569
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    That is usually caused by a lack of check valves on the zones. Pictures would help
    "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough"
    Albert Einstein
  • Ni24ck
    Ni24ck Member Posts: 2
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    This is my setup
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 5,835
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    IFC circs on the return, upside down.
    Terrific.
    Maybe the check valves were removed.
    Take some pics from farther back to show all near boiler piping.
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 22,137
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    Usually the stickers are placed on the circulators when checks are installed, so the next person knows.

    Pumps on the supply, with checks will eliminate any ghost, or thermosiphon flow. Hot water can rise up inside a pipe, cooler water drops around it and caused a slow but steady ghost flow condition. Pumps on the returns don't give you that protection.
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • DZoro
    DZoro Member Posts: 1,048
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    Has the system ever performed properly?
    STEVEusaPA
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 5,835
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    > @hot rod said:
    > Usually the stickers are placed on the circulators when checks are installed, so the next person knows.
    >
    The Taco IFC circs come with the IFC sticker affixed to the pump. In the box theres a small black sticker that says "check removed".

    Its quite possible they were removed though, but I doubt it.

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