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[Chris M.]

I am new to the forum and like the information here.  Thanks.  This is my first post and I welcome any insight. 

I am in the processof installing an owb. I have run my lines underground in a six inch pipe and insulated the lines.  My house was heated with an old coal furnace which I removed.  The system was pressurized but was dusty not to mention how many times I had to fix the fire each day. I am reworking the system and zoning with 4 zone pumps due to a remodel.  I am wiring four zone pumps to an ARGO relay.  I am building my own manifold for the pumps and plan to heat my domestic hot water.  I intend on running a pump from the furnace 24/7 through a loop. I plan to use pumps with a flow check valve to pull the heat as needed when the zone calls for it and hoping this would help to eliminate heat going through a zone when it is not on.  Here is where I need some insight. My highest baseboard run is higher than the furnace just under 15 feet.  If I build the manifold correctly, I can force bleed the 4 zones to remove the air.  However, can I leave the system unpressurized and will the system work or do I have to pressurize the system and keep the furnace loop separate because I have to circulate the water to a height higher than the furnace.  If I have to pressurize the system, I will have to buy HX, expansion tank, fill valves, and air scoop.  Kind of pricy stuff.  I have read a little on this topic but I am not convinced that leaving it unpressurized will not work.  Any insight is appreciated.  Thanks. 

[HandyMark]

My system is not pressurized and I am pumping over 20' higher than the top of my boiler. I just had to get a pump big enough to handle that much head.

[johnybcold]

My boiler is ground leave my old boiler is in the basement and it is not pressurized I had the little zone pumps that were there, outside my boiler has a taco 007 pump last year was my first year and I thing the heat worked fine but my house is two stories 10' ceilings so it is higher then the boiler. My baseboard is noisy but it was always noisy the house was built in 2006 I blame the noise on the PVC plex they used in the walls for the baseboard

[Chris M.]

Thanks for the responses. I am planning on zoning with three speed grundfos pumps. Given my situation...how much pump head would i need for this application?  Thanks again.