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Circulator pump

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Nick L. in Vt
Nick L. in Vt Member Posts: 87
in THE MAIN WALL
check your aquastat settings to see the difference in your hi limit and lo limit, and what the differential is. if the system has large freestanding radiators, the large water content will cool the boiler fast. also want to know your systems spec for firing rate and whether it is still at that point. find alot of oil fired systems downfired incorrectly

Comments

  • Layman
    Layman Member Posts: 2
    Circulation pump

    We have a hot-water, radiant system (old house, circa 1920s). Two questions:

    1. When the thermostat turns on the boiler, the boiler turns on appropriately. The circulation pump will turn on, but only stays on for about a minute and then turns off. It turns on and off intermittently, much more off than on. Any idea what's causing the problem? Do we need a plumber or an electrician?

    2. The house has an addition built in the 1980s. The radiators in the addition do not heat up nearly as much as the original radiators. Is this usually a repairable problem, or is it just "overtaxing" the system?

    Thanks for your help.
  • Layman
    Layman Member Posts: 2
    Circulation pump

    We have a hot-water, radiant system (old house, circa 1920s). Two questions:

    1. When the thermostat turns on the boiler, the boiler turns on appropriately. The circulation pump will turn on, but only stays on for about a minute and then turns off. It turns on and off intermittently, much more off than on. Any idea what's causing the problem? Do we need a plumber or an electrician?

    2. The house has an addition built in the 1980s. The radiators in the addition do not heat up nearly as much as the original radiators. Is this usually a repairable problem, or is it just "overtaxing" the system?

    Thanks for your help.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 1,160
    Could be normal...

    Could be it's not.

    Some older systems have what's referred to as a dual stat. It functions not only as a high limit to the operating temperature of the boiler, but also cycles the pump on and off to avoid letting the boiler see too cool of water for too long, which causes the boiler to condense, which it's not made to do.

    Does the pump eventually turn on and stay on?

    If yes, then it's probably normal. If no, you might have some bad wiring or a bad pump motor going off on its internal thermal limit.

    If you're not comfortable working with things that can hurt you (gas, oil, electricity) then call in a pro, just to be safe.

    ME
  • Timco
    Timco Member Posts: 3,040


    1) Do you have only one circ? Zone valve or controler? Check voltage from the controler and see if it is steady while the circ stops. If so, bad circ. If power is intermittent, bad controler. If you have isolation valves or flanges, no draining and easy swap of the circ. Otherwise, a drain, fill & purge situation.

    2) Could have air in them, or under-sized runs. How do they tie into the system? Own circ? 2-pipe or loop? Try bleeding, then check system pressure.

    Tim

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
    Just a guy running some pipes.
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