Ask any heating man what is the most common cause of hydronic heating problems, and he'll tell you air! Air can be the source of all kinds of problems including unbalanced heating zones due to air binding. It is a great insulator, reducing the heat output of baseboard zones, which in turn creates higher fuel bills for your customer. It can also damage pump seals and bearing assemblies. But the most common complaint of air in hydronic systems is the gurgling, "waterfall"-like noises that result in a service call to your customer.

Did you ever think about where this air comes from or why it always seems to make its way into the bedroom zones? Click here to find out.

The latest addition to the ESP-PLUS family of sizing programs is the Steam Station. This module helps you size all the components of Steam Station inlcuding regular, traps, heat exchanger, condenstate unit, strainers... it even helps you size the piping.

Read the full Article: ESP_HX_Station.pdf

To reduce installation and operating costs in a closed loop hydronic system, consider using multiple parallel circuits. When using multiple parallel circuits, you achieve the same total system flow, with lesser flows in each of the circuits, as compared to a single pipe, series loop system. The reduced flow rates will allow you to reduce the pipe size in each of the circuits. Additionally, by splitting the system into two or more parallel circuits the pump head requirement is reduced and you may be able to purchase a smaller pump. The smaller pipe and pump sizes will reduce the total installation cost of the system. Since your system is operating with a lower pump head, the water horsepower will be reduced and this will reduce the operating costs.

Before selecting the pump, you must do a thorough analysis of the system to accurately determine the design (operating) point for your pump. The design point consists of the required flow rate at a specific pump head. In a multiple parallel circuit system, the required flow rate is equal to the sum of all the flow rates for all of the circuits. In a multiple parallel circuit system, the pump head is equal to the head losses in the single circuit with the highest amount of head loss. In a system with similar terminal units, the circuit with the highest amount of head loss is typically the longest circuit. However, this is not always true, and that’s why a thorough analysis of each circuit is required. When calculating the head loss for each circuit, you must include the head losses in the common sections (boiler, triple duty valve, trunk main, etc.) of the system in addition to the sections unique to that circuit.

After completing the analysis, the design point for the pump is equal to the sum of the flow rates in all the circuits and the head loss in the single circuit with the highest amount of head loss. If you were to sum the head losses in all the circuits, you would have an oversized pump that would negate most of the benefits of installing a multiple parallel circuit system.

Did you know that the B&G spring-type coupler is actually a troubleshooting device? That’s right! Bell & Gossett couplers were designed to break when misalignment occurs. In most cases, replacing only the coupler won’t solve the problem. A majority of misalignment problems are caused by sagging motor mounts, so be sure to replace the motor mounts when replacing the coupler.