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Author Topic: Timer on pump  (Read 4555 times)

Chugger4030

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Timer on pump
« on: February 28, 2012, 05:01:36 AM »
I am taking care of a eclassic 1400 while the owners are away for the month. They have a propane furnace to heat the house and at first we would run the pump on 1400 24/7 but the propane furnace was going through way too much propane. So we put a simple analog timer to just run the pump on the 1400 for a half hour each day and that keeps the eclassic boiler at 60f to 80f by the time the pump turns back on 24 hours later. This method cut way back on the propane usage, but was wondering if there was a better way to keep the eclassic from freezing other than glycol.
« Last Edit: February 28, 2012, 05:06:08 AM by Chugger4030 »
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muffin

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Re: Timer on pump
« Reply #1 on: February 28, 2012, 08:46:53 AM »
Would there be a way to use a strap on thermostate to engage the propane only when the water got below say 35F or something?  Then just let the pump run 24/7.  The moving water should buy you some addiitonal margin and help keep it all uniform.
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RSI

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Re: Timer on pump
« Reply #2 on: February 28, 2012, 09:13:04 AM »
Is the propane furnace forced air? If you put a bypass on the heat exchanger you shouldn't have it use so much gas. You can adjust it so there is just enough water going through it to keep it above freezing.
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Chugger4030

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Re: Timer on pump
« Reply #3 on: February 28, 2012, 09:43:11 AM »
The heating system is hot water baseboards and the owb is direct plumbed to the propane boiler no heat exchanger. There is a ball valve on the return side to the owb i wonder if closing that to the point where it was just barely open and left the pump on would be more efficient?
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RSI

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Re: Timer on pump
« Reply #4 on: February 28, 2012, 10:11:45 AM »
That would probably help. Make sure some water is moving so you don't burn up the pump.

Putting a bypass from the supply to the return pipe before the indoor boiler might be a better option. That way you will have more water flowing but it won't be pulling heat out of the propane boiler.
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Chugger4030

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Re: Timer on pump
« Reply #5 on: February 28, 2012, 01:15:22 PM »
So a T and a ball valve on the send from the owb somewhere before the propane and T and ball valve on the return to the owb to create a bypass. How would this keep the owb above freezing?
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RSI

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Re: Timer on pump
« Reply #6 on: February 28, 2012, 04:55:16 PM »
To keep it from freezing open the valves a little so it will still trickle through the gas boiler.
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Trint

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Re: Timer on pump
« Reply #7 on: February 28, 2012, 05:30:23 PM »
Quote from: Chugger4030 on February 28, 2012, 01:15:22 PM
So a T and a ball valve on the send from the owb somewhere before the propane and T and ball valve on the return to the owb to create a bypass. How would this keep the owb above freezing?

I have the bypass inside next to the boiler and it loops thru some unisulated pex to gain a little heat from the room.
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North Central Ohio