SylvanLMP
Easiest way to balance out a poorly designed system is as follows.
1- Use a ball valve or a balancing cock (Brass valve like a gas valve) that you can throttle down the amount (volume) water leaving a particular zone.
By slowing down the return your allowing more heat/volume to go to the starving zones
When I do multi zones with one circulator I use a temperature gauge on the RETURN water of each zone.
Then I run the system to full demand and adjust the valves by the return temperature thus assuring the system is completely balanced for the heat loss of each zone.
Once it is set I remove or lock in place the valve handles (balancing valve) so no one can tamper with it.
Another simple fix is to install a good quality non electric zone valves with a remote sensor to fine tune each room rather then rely on a thermostat.
Hydronic heating is the simplest heating as it is very,very,very forgiving as most heating guys have no clue to being able to size a system properly.
So if the boiler is to small these jack legs just boost the temperature If the boiler is too big so what the owner pays the fuel bills.
Harold is completely correct as you do not want your return delta to be over 20 degrees as we do not like to thermo shock the boiler.
Also running the circulator constantly is the way to go If your stand by losses are not to high, (INSULATE the piping)
If you do decide to hire a “heating guy” or ask for his/her license Or what “Formal training” have they had.
If your in doubt you maybe better off with a licensed stationary engineer rather then just a plumber dabbling in heating.
Most of the stationary engineers I worked with are pretty sharp when it comes to on going training.
If you have any questions please feel free to E mail me.
