Baseboard Not Working

[khairoon]

I have an older home with hot water baseboard heat. Two of my four upstairs units do not get hot. I have water at the units, but no hot water curculating through them. Ive bleed the air from both many, many times with no results; I only get cold water? Ive even given some thought to putting a small circ pump in the lines feeding them??? Has anyone tried this?? Help???

[Ken]

: I have an older home with hot water baseboard heat. Two of my four upstairs units do not get hot. I have water at the units, but no hot water curculating through them. Ive bleed the air from both many, many times with no results; I only get cold water? Ive even given some thought to putting a small circ pump in the lines feeding them??? Has anyone tried this?? Help??? As a masterplumber, I would suggest that you consider the root of the problem….maybe its a design problem. Maybe there are some other plumbers here that would like to comment also.

[Ken]

: : I have an older home with hot water baseboard heat. Two of my four upstairs units do not get hot. I have water at the units, but no hot water curculating through them. Ive bleed the air from both many, many times with no results; I only get cold water? Ive even given some thought to putting a small circ pump in the lines feeding them??? Has anyone tried this?? Help??? : As a masterplumber, I would suggest that you consider the root of the problem….maybe its a design problem. Maybe there are some other plumbers here that would like to comment also.check mono-flo Ts for correct installation, you may need to add a second one.

[Ken]

: : : I have an older home with hot water baseboard heat. Two of my four upstairs units do not get hot. I have water at the units, but no hot water curculating through them. Ive bleed the air from both many, many times with no results; I only get cold water? Ive even given some thought to putting a small circ pump in the lines feeding them??? Has anyone tried this?? Help??? : : As a masterplumber, I would suggest that you consider the root of the problem….maybe its a design problem. Maybe there are some other plumbers here that would like to comment also.: check mono-flo Ts for correct installation, you may need to add a second one.Kenny b. What does the mono-flo Ts do for the system? I beieve I have one just along side of the boiler.

[Ken]

: : : : I have an older home with hot water baseboard heat. Two of my four upstairs units do not get hot. I have water at the units, but no hot water curculating through them. Ive bleed the air from both many, many times with no results; I only get cold water? Ive even given some thought to putting a small circ pump in the lines feeding them??? Has anyone tried this?? Help??? : : : As a masterplumber, I would suggest that you consider the root of the problem….maybe its a design problem. Maybe there are some other plumbers here that would like to comment also.: : check mono-flo Ts for correct installation, you may need to add a second one.: Kenny b. What does the mono-flo Ts do for the system? I beieve I have one just along side of the boiler.A mono-flo heating system, which I believe you have by your description is when a main supply leaves the boiler usually runs the perimeter of the structure and returns back to the boiler undiminished in size. The heating units are individually piped from this loop with a supply tee and a return tee.A standard tee would not allow circulation through the heating unit, thats where a mono-flo tee is used. Its a special tee that has a built in venturi in its run that allows the circulating water to be either pulled or pushed to the heating unit depending on the direction the tee is installed. Usually one tee is used to feed a unit above and two are used to feed a unit below. Sometimes on long restricted runs to the second floor two tees are needed. This may be where your problem is, if all units are working and you have circulation check the direction of flow on the side of the tee usually indicated by a arrow. The arrow in the direction of flow will be the return tee and reversed for a supply tee. Hope this helps, let me know. kenny b

[Ken]

: : : : : I have an older home with hot water baseboard heat. Two of my four upstairs units do not get hot. I have water at the units, but no hot water curculating through them. Ive bleed the air from both many, many times with no results; I only get cold water? Ive even given some thought to putting a small circ pump in the lines feeding them??? Has anyone tried this?? Help??? : : : : As a masterplumber, I would suggest that you consider the root of the problem….maybe its a design problem. Maybe there are some other plumbers here that would like to comment also.: : : check mono-flo Ts for correct installation, you may need to add a second one.: : Kenny b. What does the mono-flo Ts do for the system? I beieve I have one just along side of the boiler.: A mono-flo heating system, which I believe you have by your description is when a main supply leaves the boiler usually runs the perimeter of the structure and returns back to the boiler undiminished in size. The heating units are individually piped from this loop with a supply tee and a return tee.A standard tee would not allow circulation through the heating unit, thats where a mono-flo tee is used. Its a special tee that has a built in venturi in its run that allows the circulating water to be either pulled or pushed to the heating unit depending on the direction the tee is installed. Usually one tee is used to feed a unit above and two are used to feed a unit below. Sometimes on long restricted runs to the second floor two tees are needed. This may be where your problem is, if all units are working and you have circulation check the direction of flow on the side of the tee usually indicated by a arrow. The arrow in the direction of flow will be the return tee and reversed for a supply tee. Hope this helps, let me know. kenny b Kenny b: I spent some time in the crawl space today, and what you are saying is exactly correct! The two baseboard units that arent working will get a second Tee, to make sure that water reaches the units. One remaining question is: what is the likelyhood that one, or both of the units is clogged and not allowing water to circulate? Remote, but it would provide the same symptoms? Have you any experience with clogged basebord units? Ken

[Ken]

: : : : : : I have an older home with hot water baseboard heat. Two of my four upstairs units do not get hot. I have water at the units, but no hot water curculating through them. Ive bleed the air from both many, many times with no results; I only get cold water? Ive even given some thought to putting a small circ pump in the lines feeding them??? Has anyone tried this?? Help??? : : : : : As a masterplumber, I would suggest that you consider the root of the problem….maybe its a design problem. Maybe there are some other plumbers here that would like to comment also.: : : : check mono-flo Ts for correct installation, you may need to add a second one.: : : Kenny b. What does the mono-flo Ts do for the system? I beieve I have one just along side of the boiler.: : A mono-flo heating system, which I believe you have by your description is when a main supply leaves the boiler usually runs the perimeter of the structure and returns back to the boiler undiminished in size. The heating units are individually piped from this loop with a supply tee and a return tee.A standard tee would not allow circulation through the heating unit, thats where a mono-flo tee is used. Its a special tee that has a built in venturi in its run that allows the circulating water to be either pulled or pushed to the heating unit depending on the direction the tee is installed. Usually one tee is used to feed a unit above and two are used to feed a unit below. Sometimes on long restricted runs to the second floor two tees are needed. This may be where your problem is, if all units are working and you have circulation check the direction of flow on the side of the tee usually indicated by a arrow. The arrow in the direction of flow will be the return tee and reversed for a supply tee. Hope this helps, let me know. kenny b : Kenny b: I spent some time in the crawl space today, and what you are saying is exactly correct! The two baseboard units that arent working will get a second Tee, to make sure that water reaches the units. One remaining question is: what is the likelyhood that one, or both of the units is clogged and not allowing water to circulate? Remote, but it would provide the same symptoms? Have you any experience with clogged basebord units? KenI would be very surprised if that was the case, but that could be checked when you drop the system to install a second tee for peace of mind. When you purchase the new tee take some time and inspect the design, that should answer all your questions. Clearly identify your supply and return so there are no problems. good luck, let me know how you make out. kenny b

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