The photo in Figure 1 shows a non-pressurized outdoor wood-fired furnace connected to a floor heating subsystem via two PEX tubes. It includes a cast iron circulator, a thermostatic 3-way valve for mixing, a bypass linking supply and return tubes, and an "expansion zone" for another floor heating circuit. This setup is in a multi-million dollar home. Are there any potential issues with the installation?
A project needs medium- and low-temperature radiant floor panels. The installer proposes using a mod/con boiler with a 1-inch tempering valve for lower temperatures and plans to pipe the entire system with 1-inch tubing. What potential issues could arise from this design?
The two photos below were from the same project. Flow is upward through the vertical pipe in Figure 1. Without any more details being described, can you spot at least two problems in each photo?
Take a look at the two photos in Figure 1. Do you see any installation practices that might compromise the eventual structural or thermal performance of this slab?
An installer is asked to pipe up two larger commercial air handlers supplied by a dual boiler sub-system. The building owner wants to make it possible to supply either air handler from either boiler. Can you spot some shortcomings and suggest a better way to accomplish the same objectives?
The installer is tasked with setting up a three-zone radiant floor heating system using a 5-ton geothermal heat pump and a mod/con boiler, connected through a primary-secondary system with closely spaced tees. The system includes 4 earth loops of 1” HDPE tubing, each 500 feet long, supplying the heat pump, and features underfloor tubing with aluminum plates.
A hydronics newbie decides that he can eliminate the temperature drop effect by putting all three supply-side tees upstream of all three return-side tees. If you don’t think it will work, what would you do to change it?
An installer inspects a system where an aging steam boiler supplies several cast-iron radiators. He proposes to convert the system from steam to hot water and replace the old boiler with a mod/con boiler. Can you spot some potential problems and suggest some improvements?
An installer is asked to replace two aging cast-iron boilers with two mod/con boilers, but reuse as much of the existing distribution system as possible. Can you spot several details, omissions or other quirks that will lead to problems over the life of this system?
