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[loneryder]

Hello all,
My dealer told me to run the pumps all the time, even in the summer when the boiler is shut down.  I don't like the idea of burning 300 watts 24/7.  Tako 009 pumps, one to garage next to boiler and one 85 ft to furnace.hot water.  I haven't been running the one to the garage but plug it in occassionally and it seems fine.  Getting ready to shut down the boiler for the summer and was wondering what other folks have done.  I saw where one guy was going to put timers on his pumps to run them a couple of hrs daily.
5036 installed early spring.

[RSI]

I don't run mine in the summer and never will.
If you are worried about it, just run it a couple minute every month or two.

[boilerman]

I agree with RSI. I've been running an OWF for over 10 years. I have never left my pumps running all summer and have not had a failure yet. I just run them for a couple of minutes one time each month.

[loneryder]

That's good to hear.  I think I'll do the same.
Thanks guys.

[MattyNH]

My pump is shut down for the summer..Never had a problem..On that note.. My pumps aren't running on oil boiler during the summer except for my hot water holding tank ( i have 3 007 pumps for 3 zones 1 for hot water)....Whats the difference!? What your dealer told you is crazy!

[johnybcold]

Good point if you run the pump in the wood burner then you should run the other pumps, I never do that, I do need to add a connection this summer so I can run the wood burner without depressurization of the house boiler

[akricky]

Hi everyone,

yep I'm new here and have been using the Central Boiler brand since 2005.  Its a 1999 year CL40.  Came with the house and heats the infloor system as well as DHW.

We really like it and have had few problems but this topic of running circulating pumps caught my attention.  Our place is off the grid which means I am always looking for ways to keep electrical loads to a minimum.  Initially the Grundfos circulating pump ran 24 hour a day.  This did not look right so I hooked up a Taco relay box which fired up all the circulating pumps only when there was a demand from one of the zones.  It has been this way since 2005 and there has been no problems of overheating etc.  Even replaced the big circulating pump from the boiler to the house with the smaller Grundfos and suffered no reduction in performance at a 1/3 savings in electrical output.

So, I was talking to the Central Boiler people recently about the faulty temp display and mentioned the pump doesn't run 24/7.  He acted concerned with overheating.  This model has the simple side draft intake and fixed aquastat that shuts off at ~ 183.  The displayed temp has never risen above 186 after the damper closes and typically only goes up to 184-185.  Maybe it is the lower quality wood we have here?  We are in AK and run this thing all year since there is currently no alternate domestic hot water heating source.  Now I'm seeing this topic and wonder if everyone is running 24/7 circulation? 

As for the OP question; is the need to run the pumps all year, according to the manufacturer and installers, to keep the pumps from seizing or are there other reasons?

[MattyNH]

My taco 007 pump is running 24/7 when my owb is fired up...Right now I'm on the off season..Pump is not on. Hasn't been on since end of May and won't  be on until sometime in Oct..5 yrs goin on six..Never had a problem. That pump on the back of all OWB's are designed to run 24/7 while theres a live fire in the boiler...With the pump not on at times with a live fire in the boiler...Yeah you could overheat the boiler..Could lead to a big mess
 For as your wood quality..I don't think it would be that it..The  damper or fan will shut when its satisfied regardless of what type of wood your burning....

[ThatGUY]

Just to qualify my next statement, I am an Engineer and kind of geeky.  I programmed into the controls for my system, a bit of code that actuates the pump or mixing valve for 5 minutes, after 24 hours of inactivity.  It saves me having to go and check on the pump over the summer.  PLEASE NOTE: Wasn't easy to program or trouble shoot, but once i got it in there it worked like a charm.

[willieG]

i have a taco 0011 this winter will be year 12 turn it on (usually) late October and shut if off some time in April. have a little grundsfos (3 speed)on the floor loop (not sure what size) only had it about 3 years but turn it off and on same as the taco 0011 never had a problem with either yet.