Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.

Pumping towards?

TorontoCamp
TorontoCamp Member Posts: 4
in THE MAIN WALL

Is the circulation pump in my system in the return line?

IMG_5206.jpeg

Comments

  • tcassano87
    tcassano87 Member Posts: 78

    yes that’s pulling water back to the boiler, what is the actual reason for the question. Are you having issues?

  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 2,520

    Yes.

  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 24,713

    yes and that is fine. It would be best to have the expansion tank connected at one of the tees above it.

    Then you would be pumping away

    Is there an air purger under the blanket? Or just a magic trick😃

    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
    EdTheHeaterMan
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 10,277

    Also Take the paint cans away from the vent pipe. There is probably a sticker on your heater that says not to store flammable or combustible items near the boiler. It's just common sense.

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

    mattmia2bburd
  • DCContrarian
    DCContrarian Member Posts: 1,085

    Signs point to yes.

  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 6,652
    edited March 17
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1848655#Comment_1848655

    Aw, c'mon. Can't we just see what happens with the red one at least? Does the nozzle pop off and it sprays straight up into the draft regulator, or does the can split and it turns the room into a crime scene? I would like to continue this experiment. Safely of course.

    mattmia2
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 10,277

    @HVACNUT Said: "Aw, c'mon. Can't we just see what happens with the red one at least? Does the nozzle pop off and it sprays straight up into the draft regulator, or does the can split and it turns the room into a crime scene? I would like to continue this experiment."

    I could agree to this one time ONLY if we can get @ethicalpaul to video the explosion. It could be our version of MythBusters water heater experiment.

    "The Case of the Red Paint Explosion". AKA "Crime Scene or Volcano Display You be the judge"

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

  • TorontoCamp
    TorontoCamp Member Posts: 4
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1848686#Comment_1848686

    I’m hoping the black one will explode actually as it’s more in keeping with the “vibe” of the basement

  • TorontoCamp
    TorontoCamp Member Posts: 4

    Hahaha. I will check

  • TorontoCamp
    TorontoCamp Member Posts: 4
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1848694#Comment_1848694
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1848633#Comment_1848633
  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 2,520
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1848694#Comment_1848694

    It is. Especially when you read that book. But it is some of the best advice you can read. Most who are in the know will tell you that they have seen there fair share of circulators piped on the return.

    I remember reading one of @DanHolohan books or articles stating why this was a thing. If memory serves me correctly the reason was because boilers were easier to ship with the circulator mounted on the return. Hmm! Go figure.

    EdTheHeaterMan
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 10,277

    Original reason the circulators were on return pipes were the lower temperature water was better for the pump seal material.

    After President Kennedy sent us to the moon, there were new materials that could withstand that hotter water temperature that we could make pump seals out of. Since the temperature no longer matters, the only reason to put the circulator on the return is because that is the way I was taught to do it, and things like Packaging

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

    Intplm.bburd
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 12,047

    It was installed before pumping away was written….

    Intplm.
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 24,713

    Nothing wrong with pumping into the return side, some high pressure drop boilers prefer it.

    If you are using a 3 way thermostatic return valve, pumping into the boiler, allows you to also pull through the mix valve. Same with some primary secondary piping.

    Pumping away from the PONPC, not necessarily the boiler supply. Air seps and expansion tanks do not need to be married either.

    Screenshot 2025-03-17 at 3.41.26 PM.png
    Screenshot 2025-03-17 at 3.41.00 PM.png
    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
    mattmia2
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 12,047

    The biggest advantage of pumping away is that you can make the lowest pressure and highest temp be at the same place and then you can put the air separator there to get the most effective air separation. It will work ok in a number of other configurations.

    I do see numerous pictures of boiler people post here and think "pumping to".

    Intplm.

Categories