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Water circ pump or aquastat or zone valves?

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Water circ pump or aquastat or zone valves? Jones 01-26-2007
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Posted by Jones on January 26, 2007, 8:10 am
Hello, all,

We have a propane-fired hot-water baseboard heating system (with 2
zones) that we don't use all that much because of its inefficiency. (We
heat mostly with wood and kerosene.) We've only used it once or twice
this season.

Today, because it was so cold and windy, I lit the furnace to make sure
the pipes don't freeze under the house. Everything seemed to work fine
-- except that the water circulation pump for the system never shuts
off.

The air temperature at the two thermostats (upstairs and downstairs)
was above where they should have been "calling" for heat. The furnace
was up to operating temp and pressure, with temp of 200°F and pressure
of about 22 psi, according to the gauge.

The propane burner cycles on and off, but the water circulation pump
never quits.

The water return lines for both zones are hot, so it appears that both
zone valves are open.

Can anyone clue me in on why the circulation pump just runs and runs and runs?

Might it be the aquastat? Could bad/sticking zone valves cause this? (I
replaced one zone valve a few years ago, but it seems odd that both
zone valves would go bad at the same time.)

Where would you experts begin to diagnose this?

Thanks very much in advance for any advice.

Jones.


Posted by Jones on January 26, 2007, 8:24 am
UPDATE: I just tried closing the four gate valves for the zone 1
outgoing and return and the zone 2 outgoing and return. After I did
that, the propane burner cycled back on until it was about 220°F and 25
psi, and then the burner shut off. Yet, even with all those gate valves
closed, the water circulation pump continued to run. This suggests to
me that the zone valves are OK and that the problem is with the
aquastat. What do you folks think? Thanks again, Jones.




> Hello, all,
>
> We have a propane-fired hot-water baseboard heating system (with 2
> zones) that we don't use all that much because of its inefficiency. (We
> heat mostly with wood and kerosene.) We've only used it once or twice
> this season.
>
> Today, because it was so cold and windy, I lit the furnace to make sure
> the pipes don't freeze under the house. Everything seemed to work fine
> -- except that the water circulation pump for the system never shuts
> off.
>
> The air temperature at the two thermostats (upstairs and downstairs)
> was above where they should have been "calling" for heat. The furnace
> was up to operating temp and pressure, with temp of 200°F and pressure
> of about 22 psi, according to the gauge.
>
> The propane burner cycles on and off, but the water circulation pump
> never quits.
>
> The water return lines for both zones are hot, so it appears that both
> zone valves are open.
>
> Can anyone clue me in on why the circulation pump just runs and runs and runs?
>
> Might it be the aquastat? Could bad/sticking zone valves cause this? (I
> replaced one zone valve a few years ago, but it seems odd that both
> zone valves would go bad at the same time.)
>
> Where would you experts begin to diagnose this?
>
> Thanks very much in advance for any advice.
>
> Jones.



Posted by Jones on January 26, 2007, 10:10 am
UPDATE #2: PROBLEM SOLVED!

I just figured out, by dumb luck, that the wires between the
thermostats and the aquastat were being shorted out by the staples I
put in with a staple gun several weeks ago to keep the wires "out of
the way" in the utility room.

Whew! I'm glad I had the sense to "check what I fixed that wasn't
broken"! That might have been a nightmare to figure out!

Lessons (almost) learned:

1. If it ain't fixed, BREAK IT!

2. Always suspect the last thing you "fixed" or otherwise messed with
as your culprit.

Thanks for your reply, Steve.

Jones.





> UPDATE: I just tried closing the four gate valves for the zone 1
> outgoing and return and the zone 2 outgoing and return. After I did
> that, the propane burner cycled back on until it was about 220°F and 25
> psi, and then the burner shut off. Yet, even with all those gate valves
> closed, the water circulation pump continued to run. This suggests to
> me that the zone valves are OK and that the problem is with the
> aquastat. What do you folks think? Thanks again, Jones.
>
>
>
>
>> Hello, all,
>>
>> We have a propane-fired hot-water baseboard heating system (with 2
>> zones) that we don't use all that much because of its inefficiency. (We
>> heat mostly with wood and kerosene.) We've only used it once or twice
>> this season.
>>
>> Today, because it was so cold and windy, I lit the furnace to make sure
>> the pipes don't freeze under the house. Everything seemed to work fine
>> -- except that the water circulation pump for the system never shuts
>> off.
>>
>> The air temperature at the two thermostats (upstairs and downstairs)
>> was above where they should have been "calling" for heat. The furnace
>> was up to operating temp and pressure, with temp of 200°F and pressure
>> of about 22 psi, according to the gauge.
>>
>> The propane burner cycles on and off, but the water circulation pump
>> never quits.
>>
>> The water return lines for both zones are hot, so it appears that both
>> zone valves are open.
>>
>> Can anyone clue me in on why the circulation pump just runs and runs and runs?
>>
>> Might it be the aquastat? Could bad/sticking zone valves cause this? (I
>> replaced one zone valve a few years ago, but it seems odd that both
>> zone valves would go bad at the same time.)
>>
>> Where would you experts begin to diagnose this?
>>
>> Thanks very much in advance for any advice.
>>
>> Jones.



Posted by Stormin Mormon on January 26, 2007, 10:15 am
The systems I've worked on, the aquastat only turns the burner on
and off, in response to the water temp.

If the circulator is running, it's cause one of the zones is
calling for heat. I used to know how to wire those, but I've long
since forgotten.

I'm also wondering, there ought to be a relay on the water pump.
To use a 24 VAC signal to turn on the 110 VAC.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
.

> UPDATE: I just tried closing the four gate valves for the zone
1
> outgoing and return and the zone 2 outgoing and return. After I
did
> that, the propane burner cycled back on until it was about
220°F and 25
> psi, and then the burner shut off. Yet, even with all those
gate valves
> closed, the water circulation pump continued to run. This
suggests to
> me that the zone valves are OK and that the problem is with the
> aquastat. What do you folks think? Thanks again, Jones.
>
>
>



Posted by on January 26, 2007, 12:13 pm


On Jan 26, 10:15 am, "Stormin Mormon"
> The systems I've worked on, the aquastat only turns the burner on
> and off, in response to the water temp.
>
> If the circulator is running, it's cause one of the zones is
> calling for heat. I used to know how to wire those, but I've long
> since forgotten.
>
> I'm also wondering, there ought to be a relay on the water pump.
> To use a 24 VAC signal to turn on the 110 VAC.
>
> --
>
> Christopher A. Young
> You can't shout down a troll.
> You have to starve them.
> .
>
yourhousenet...
>
> > UPDATE: I just tried closing the four gate valves for the zone
> 1
> > outgoing and return and the zone 2 outgoing and return. After I
> did
> > that, the propane burner cycled back on until it was about
> 220=B0F and 25
> > psi, and then the burner shut off. Yet, even with all those
> gate valves
> > closed, the water circulation pump continued to run. This
> suggests to
> > me that the zone valves are OK and that the problem is with the
> > aquastat. What do you folks think? Thanks again, Jones.

On my Honeywell aquastat, the cir. pump relay is part of the aquastat
(run on-demand-only style).

Dave


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