Heat not working in part of the house. Baseboard pipe frozen?


  #1  
Old 01-25-11, 08:44 AM
L
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Heat not working in part of the house. Baseboard pipe frozen?

Hi,

I have Water boiler/Baseboard heating in my house. This morning I noticed that only the baseboards along the South walls of the house were heating but the baseboards along the North walls were cold. The heat was fine last night. The issue is only on the 1st floor. Basement and 2nd floor heat is working fine.

I called a local Plumber. He said that a part of the pipe might be frozen and he said that it might be expensive to thaw it out. And he added that the pipe also could thaw out by itself and he adviced me to turn off the heat in other parts of the house (this I don't understand how it will help). So I told him that I will take a chance today/tomorrow and see if it thaws out by itself, else I will seek his help.

I have setup electric heaters in the rooms that are cold.

My question is what can I do to help the pipe thaw out by itself.

Last couple of days were unusually cold. That's why I am opting to see if the pipe will thaw out on its own. Should I just have the Pro come over and try to thaw it today only?

Thanks in advance.
 
  #2  
Old 01-25-11, 09:19 AM
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How many zones do you have??
What is the make and model of boiler?
What does the temp and pressure say at the boiler gauge?
How are the heat emitters pipped?? Loop, Common feed and return....ect

This info is needed to help. Take pics if you can. Thawing is expensive from a plumber.

Mike NJ
 
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Old 01-25-11, 10:38 AM
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I have 3 zones in the house, one for each floor.
The boiler is Utica AGB 150. It is around 20 yrs old.
The pressure is 14psi & temperature is around 150F.
I don't know enough to answer your question about the emitters.

Here are a few pics

Pictures by learning2paint - Photobucket
 
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Old 01-25-11, 10:48 AM
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Never mind. I resolved it. I stuck a running hair dryer under the baseboard. After an hour the heat started working.

thanks
 
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Old 01-25-11, 10:49 AM
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Your pics did not post. You need to post to photobucket or a free imaging website and post the link here.

You may have one loop for each zone, monoflow, or two pipe system. But the area that you do not have heat at may be a seperate zone. Is it? If so it may be just a zone valve or circ gone bad.

Are there 3 zone valves??? Or 3 circulators????

If you piping is the second two pics you could have a frozen condition. If the first, and a frozen condition, that whole zone would have no heat.

I would leave the heat on. and let us know about the zones. The heat will help.



Or this type.



Or a two pipe.



Mike NJ
 
 

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