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zone pumps to zone valve conversion.

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hot_rod
hot_rod Member Posts: 27,065
in THE MAIN WALL

Generally the decision to zone with pumps or valves comes down to personal preference, and maybe past experiences.

When you see an installation with a wall of zone pumps, maybe 4 or more, that system is probably over-pumped. 6 zone pumps on an 80K boiler would be an example. All pumps running way to the bottom of their curve with wire to water efficiency below 20% on a common PSC type circulator.

With the acceptance and wide availability of ECM delta P type circulators, the potential to drop considerable power consumption and have better flow control over the zones could be an option.

A backup pump piped in or on the shelf could ease the worry of a single pump causing the entire system to be down.

Siggy had this thought so I built up a prototype.

Thoughts or suggestions?

Screenshot 2025-12-17 at 4.38.05 PM.png
Bob "hot rod" Rohr
trainer for Caleffi NA
Living the hydronic dream
GGrossHydronicMike

Comments

  • GGross
    GGross Member Posts: 1,773

    Was it very tricky to get the same port to port length as the pump or did you get it first try?

  • HydronicMike
    HydronicMike Member Posts: 292

    Pretty cool idea. I did something similar for flushing older systems. I made up a straight pipe with two flanges (connected to iso flanges) to flush the system, initial purge it, then swap out the blanks for circulators. To me I think it's a way to keep junk getting lodged into impellers.

  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 27,065

    pump spacers, handy for piping systems for the correct spacing

    Screenshot 2026-01-16 at 12.44.01 PM.png

    , too

    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 27,065
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1882568#Comment_1882568

    Yeah, it took a few flange brand tries:) This is where BSP threaded pipe shines, Loctite or hemp the threads and stop wherever you want.

    A copper sweat version is pretty easy to get "exact", but the sweat flanges are more$$

    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • bjohnhy
    bjohnhy Member Posts: 186

    Where do i put in an order for these?

  • GroundUp
    GroundUp Member Posts: 2,482

    Neat idea and all, but don't we need to repipe anyway to add a system circ?

  • jumper
    jumper Member Posts: 2,512

    I prefer pumps to valves, especially when pump has integral check valve. Can be difficult to find circulators small enough. Used to be positive displacement pumps sold for this purpose.

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