Y2K and hot water baseboard heat

[colby shaddinger]

If the power goes out at Y2K, how will that affect systems with a gas boiler and an electric pump running the water through hot water baseboard heating system. And what do we do to prevent frozen pipes or other damage? Do we need to get a generator to keep the pump circulating the water through the pipes? What is the cheapest way out of this and still prevent problems?

[Gary PolvinaleParticipant]

You could antifreeze the system with propylene glycol or buy a generator. The antifreeze would be cheeper but if something would happen how to heat home and keep the domestic water from freezing? To run a gas boiler and a circulator does not require a very large generator.: If the power goes out at Y2K, how will that affect systems with a gas boiler and an electric pump running the water through hot water baseboard heating system. And what do we do to prevent frozen pipes or other damage? Do we need to get a generator to keep the pump circulating the water through the pipes? What is the cheapest way out of this and still prevent problems?

[Gary PolvinaleParticipant]

Forget about antifreeze, too much of a problem considering you are already into the heating season, however you could consider providing an 24V power supply for the heating controls and forget about the pump. The heater will provide heat thru convection in the system and actually push water thru the pump. I am assuming that you have a gas system, and at the same time you must be assuming that your gas provider has their act together enough as to still be providing you with natural gas! Maybe ou should cruise the local yaard sales for a kerosene heater just in case!: You could antifreeze the system with propylene glycol or buy a generator. The antifreeze would be cheeper but if something would happen how to heat home and keep the domestic water from freezing? To run a gas boiler and a circulator does not require a very large generator.: : If the power goes out at Y2K, how will that affect systems with a gas boiler and an electric pump running the water through hot water baseboard heating system. And what do we do to prevent frozen pipes or other damage? Do we need to get a generator to keep the pump circulating the water through the pipes? What is the cheapest way out of this and still prevent problems?

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