Baseboard Heat not working downstairs

tymatr · 03-12-2009, 12:22 PM

I have a boiler system with two circulators, one for the upstairs and one for the downstairs. The downstairs has two branches and one of the branches is getting hot water fine (the shortest one), but the longer one appears to fail to get hot water past the first register.

Could it be clogged? If so, how would I clear the clog? I have no bleeder valves on this part of the system on any register.

Thanks!

**beenthere** · 03-12-2009, 02:40 PM

look for purge valves near teh boiler on the return piping.

tymatr · 03-12-2009, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beenthere

look for purge valves near teh boiler on the return piping.

Yes, I have those for each the downstairs and the upstairs section. When running, the water near this valve is very hot (as one section of the downstairs is working).

**beenthere** · 03-12-2009, 04:04 PM

You probably have air in teh section not working, and need to purge it.

tymatr · 03-13-2009, 03:40 PM

This seems to make sense to me.

The downstairs circulates in three sections: the main floor and two much smaller regions. As an experiment, I turned off one of the smaller sections and was able to get the heat to the rest of the downstairs.

If I need to bleed the air out of the downstairs, would it make sense to put a self-tapping saddle valve on one of the registers or is there a more effective way? I do have purge valves on the return to the boiler, but wouldn't that drain the whole system?

**beenthere** · 03-13-2009, 04:48 PM

Not if they are set up right.
And the proper isolation valve is installed between the purge valves and the boiler.

SULTINI · 03-18-2009, 08:48 AM

Sounds like you need balancing valves installed on the return lines that way you can control flow to the different coils.

tymatr · 03-18-2009, 11:34 AM

I think that this makes sense to me. I have valves that can isolate the sections, on the out and in. So you're saying I should just open them a little rather than the whole way? I haven't tried that.

**beenthere** · 03-18-2009, 02:40 PM

If they are ball valves. They are not balancing valves and should not be used as such.

Good chance they are just isolation valves, and not balancing valves.

SULTINI · 03-18-2009, 05:56 PM

If you have valves on the inlet and outlets try this just for a test.
On the lines farthest from the circulator open them wide on the lines closest to the circulator leave the inlet line open all the way and close the outlet/ return water line until it almost closed and see if the heater farthest away gets any hotter, if it does then you can use a ball valve to limit the return water you don't need to buy expensive balance valves for your application. Or you can just close the valves closest to the circulator inlet and outlet and see if it forces more water to the one farthest away.

**beenthere** · 03-18-2009, 06:01 PM

Is this a new install, or renovation.

Or, has this been installed for a few years, and only giving trouble recently.

If just a recent problem on an existing install. Its not a balance problem

phntah · 03-19-2009, 09:33 AM

sound like air to me.

I had a similar problem and after resolving the situation it inspired me to actually replace my baseboard heaters with Pensotti Steel Panel Radiators, at least in my downstairs. It really simplified the look of my first floor, they are wall hung and sit about 4 inches from the floor and look quite nice. also, they are much more efficient. I bought them online at a website called www.hitechheat.com

good luck