1 pump per zone?

[gogolf0401]

So Blue Ridge said I'd have to have a separate pump for each zone. I've also heard that you can use 1 pump and a different valve setup or something to limit flow to zones you want a little cooler/warmer.

What have you guys done?

 

[finn]

Seperate pumps for each zone.

Word on the street is that separate pumps are more reliable than zone valves, but I have no experience to support or refute that claim.

I did loose a Taco circulator pump in a rental, and my nephew just replaced one too, but that's not of any statistical significance because everyone I know has pumps in lieu of zone valves.

 

[dfiler2]

It really depends on the system, a zone is an area where the heat is controlled. For example if you had a thermostat in the kitchen and living room and a thermostat in the bedroom you would have a 2 zone system. Each area might have several PEX loops or several radiators. I've never heard of pumps or zone valves being better or worse that the other, they just serve different functions and many times you need both.

What type of heating system do you have?

 

[gogolf0401]

It really depends on the system, a zone is an area where the heat is controlled. For example if you had a thermostat in the kitchen and living room and a thermostat in the bedroom you would have a 2 zone system. Each area might have several PEX loops or several radiators. I've never heard of pumps or zone valves being better or worse that the other, they just serve different functions and many times you need both.

What type of heating system do you have?

It will be a 3 zone, maybe 4 zone setup. Don't have a boiler yet. Will be laying the pex this weekend so I need to finalize my layout. Just wondering if I'll need to plan for separate pumps or if zone valves will work just as easy. I will have 3 manifolds, 3 loop, 2 loop and 8 loop. Is it necessary to have a separate manifold per zone? Or can I run 2 zones off of the 3 loop manifold, with 1 loop for one room and the other 2 for a bigger room?

 

[Jlbc212]

I heat my three floor house with forced hot water. I have six zones and one circulator pump. The circulator pump is the original, 22 years old. I've replaced the motor head on all the zone valves, but only because of failure of a micro switch inside each. It takes only a couple of minutes to change out the zone valve motor head.

 

[dfiler2]

Generally speaking you need a set of manifolds for each zone. I just did a 2 zone and because the tubing was all below the pumps I used 2 Taco 007 priority circulators. It makes it simple because they have a built in transformer which allows them to be controlled by a 24v thermostat connected directly to the pump.

 

[Jackfre]

Assuming you are running this primary secondary, you need a circ for the primary loop and one for each zone. Cost wise that adds up compared to zone valves. I think I'd go ZV's and have a spare head or two for them on the shelf for future use. It is common that circ/zone systems are way over pumped.