Greetings New to the site, but looks like what I am looking for. I cant figure out how to start a new post, unless I just did it without knowing it. Here is what I got - I am a contractor widening door ways for a disabled veteran. He failed to inform me before we traveled out here for the week that he has baseboard water heat. I get how it works through all the stuff on here and am not affraid to cut and move copper lines, but on four of the doors I am widening they have baseboarrd heat in the way when I move the door opening over the 5-10 inches I need to in order to achieve the widening I need to. So I am needing to cut the lines and move them each closerby 5 -10 inches, not a ton, but I am assuming I need to shut off these vaules at the boiler??? Drain the system??? then cut the lines and make my changes??? then refill the lines - I assume this is done at the hose spickot valve by the boiler???? purge the air from each of these little screws on the 90's at the baseboards???? - then is it good????

I am in the planning stages of finished the basement around the hotwater boiler and other utilities. With this means cleaning up the pipe work, and removing the left overs from past retrofits and upgrades (old unused preasure tank still attached to the system, capped tees, etc). I'm also looking to add a gauge or two to help keep a better eye on things (and the geek inside loves gauges). Currently there is only the one dual function gauge (preasure/temp) attached the the boiler, which I question it's accuracy. I'm still in the pre-planning stages currently, but do have a couple questions. 1. For the replacement pipe, my better judgement says stay with copper (entire system is copper), but my wallet doesn't agree. Bad idea mixing materials? 2. The current setup has the fresh water feed connected on the return end going into the boiler. I thought I remember reading somewhere that it was better to connect it at the boiler exit to prevent shocking the system with cold water. Should I relocate the freshwater feed to the boiler's hot side? 3. Gauges... Currently have a dual display (temp/PSI) on the boiler, but don't trust it. I'm thinking of adding a set (temp/PSI) after the presure tank (before the zones seporate) and maybe a set (temp/PSI) at the return end of each zone (temp/PSI). The set on the zone returns may be over kill, but I'm thinking the temp and PSI readings could be indicators if there is leak issues or if one floor is burning off a lot of heat compared to the other (this is an old house/system). I'm also looking to include an hour counter for each circulation pump which on a monthly basis, could give me warning signs of I should review the t-stat schedules and or home insulation. I'll be putting these gauges into a pannel similar to the systems I've designed/worked on in process plants. Anything else I could/should monitor? 4a. Circulation pump orientation.... Currently my two pumps (one per zone) are mounted horizontally at the hot side of the zone (exit fom the boiler, after the expansion tank). I've seen plenty of pictures of the same pumps as I have, mounted both horizontal or vertical, does it make a difference? One better then the other? 4b. I've also noticed the circulation pumps being placed after the expansion tank on the hot side of the boiler, and on the return side. My current setup has the pumps installed on the hot site and the begining of the zone. Personally I think the pump on the hot side would be better, but with it on the cooler return side, it would be exposed to cooler operating tempurates (exdending their life maybe). Is there a prefered end of the zone to place these pumps? 5. Check valves... I believe (need to confirm) that my system has one check valve, installed after the two zone return lines meet back up, but before the freshwater connection. Should there be more and where would they be located if properly installed?