Supply vs. Retun piping
#1
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Supply vs. Retun piping
I am currently replacing a 50 yr. old hot water baseboard heating system in my home with a new Weil McLain Ultra 80. I can mount the new unit on the wall directly above the supply/return lines to the system, however, the lines are on the opposite sides as the new boiler. Does it matter, on a closed loop system, which line is supply and which is return?
#3
In some cases you could probably reverse the flow, but there are a few reasons not to.
First, if you have ANY MONOFLO aka VENTURI TEE fittings in the distribution piping, NO, you can not reverse the flow.
Depending on how the piping runs, the original installers may have installed manual air bleeds at specific points in the system. If he knew what he was doing, those would be installed at the points that air is most likely to collect in the system, usually anywhere the piping turns to go DOWN there will be an air bleed.
If you reverse the flow, now those bleeders will be located where the flow is coming UP, and possibly, no air will collect there. So, you could be left unable to bleed any air pockets...
You've also got items such as 'air scoops' and 'flow check' valves that won't operate properly with flow reversed.
The answer is MAYBE.
But, understand what WHO is saying also... follow all manufacturers recommendations regarding installation.
First, if you have ANY MONOFLO aka VENTURI TEE fittings in the distribution piping, NO, you can not reverse the flow.
Depending on how the piping runs, the original installers may have installed manual air bleeds at specific points in the system. If he knew what he was doing, those would be installed at the points that air is most likely to collect in the system, usually anywhere the piping turns to go DOWN there will be an air bleed.
If you reverse the flow, now those bleeders will be located where the flow is coming UP, and possibly, no air will collect there. So, you could be left unable to bleed any air pockets...
You've also got items such as 'air scoops' and 'flow check' valves that won't operate properly with flow reversed.
The answer is MAYBE.
But, understand what WHO is saying also... follow all manufacturers recommendations regarding installation.
#4
Normally the heat goes to the warmer rooms first than cooler rooms such as bedrooms. The installing contractors did that to take advantage of the 20º delta-T of the system. Reverse it and rooms which you have adjusted to being warmer or cooler will reverse.