Apollo Forced Air Furnace, leaking water

sethfc

i know
last i saw anything leaking was during the inspection, and it was a drip. upon moving in i checked in the attic twice and never saw anything, and then (now) two days ago i noticed the PVC drain outside my house was continually dripping, so i went up and checked and thats what i found.

i might call someone to come do the job - i hear that hydronic systems are cheaper/easier to work on.

i have to work today, and i'm going to assume no one is really available today OR tomorrow, as it's presidents day.

-seth

hvaclover

Don't bet on it being less expensive than forced air...

__________________
Just slow, not stupid.

sethfc

well, if my understanding of how this system works is correct, fundamentally, its cake. it's like a radiator with a giant a$$ fan blowing through it, and a pump

hvaclover

Then whaere is the boiler portion.

Sounds to me like you have a air handler in the attic.

__________________
Just slow, not stupid.

wirenut1110

Yes, you're understanding is correct. Not sure if yours is set up this way but they usually just have a water heater that is common to the heat and domestic hot water and uses a grundfos circulating pump.

Turn off the power, remove covers to locate the leak, repair and be done.

In the meantime, if it's not super cold, I would valve it off or you're gonna have a nice water and electric/gas bill.

sethfc

yea i valved it off already

at least the ''hot'' valve.

i left the cold one open, so that maybe the cold water could sink back down into the hot water tank (and yes it is setup just as you said)

anything else??

could anyone maybe help me find a schematic?? I'd look more but i'm headed out now, the unit is a :

apollo H098674361

even a general schematic may help. to fix a leak may require brazing, right?

hvaclover

Soft soldering. Propane and plumbing solder.

__________________
Just slow, not stupid.

wirenut1110

Yes, you may have to sweat some copper but you may find the leak is at a threaded fitting and hopefully the put some onions (unions) in there.
I wouldn't disable the pump if you have it valved off.

Not sure why you would need schematics?

sethfc

pump was the first thing i shut off. i shut off the whole unit, took power away =p

i dunno, schematic would just be nice so i know what to expect.

i'm eating my dinner, then i'm suiting up so i dont get all that insulation dust all over myself

ill have my room mate take pics of the epicness :D

ill let yall know whats up with pics as well

sethfc

diagnosis successful! pics and a video coming in about .... 20 minutes :D

sethfc

results:



higher resolution image:
http://www.jacqui-of-all-trades.com/...iator_pipe.jpg

video:
http://www.jacqui-of-all-trades.com/...diator_vid.avi

let me know what you guys think my approach should be

seth

P.S. - this leak is hard to see and small, because I only had the water valve turned on very slightly. If i had the valve turned all the way on, it was spraying too much to take a picture

aarondeng

I have got a similar system "Aqua therm heating system" made by first company.

I just found that there is a 1/4" inch crack on the heating coil (radiator). And this is only about 3 - 4 years old.

The property is located in Portland OR. So is it a good idea to swap it with a gas furnace with the AC coil instead of replace the leaking radiator?

Thanks,

Aaron

beenthere

Do you have a way to vent the furnace?

aarondeng

I think so, since the existing vent for the water heater just goes through the attic to the outside, so I think I could just hook the vent for gas furnace to this vent and it should be ok?

Or maybe I should stick with the existing unit and find some one to replace the heating coil (radiator)? how much does this approach will cost?

Thanks,

Aaron

beenthere

Can't vent them through the same flue pipe.

How much it will cost for someone to replace the coil varies with area.

Just call a couple places and get prices from them.