Geo thermal radiant flooring update

[Maxcustody]

Assuming it is staple up under the floor install, it would require you taking the ceiling material down in every first floor room to replace the second story piping. Is first floor on crawl space/basement or slab?

Walkout basement on slab, main floor, 2nd floor master and bath. 8 zones, I have blueprints, it runs the entire home

 

[Maxcustody]

deleted

 

[Maxcustody]

Assuming it is staple up under the floor install, it would require you taking the ceiling material down in every first floor room to replace the second story piping. Is first floor on crawl space/basement or slab?

No way we are doing that..................

 

[danski0224]

No way we are doing that..................

The linked article in your first post mentions a 100% failure rate.

It isn't a matter of if it will fail, but rather when it will fail, then you will have real problems.

One thing not too clear from the article is whether or not the piping itself is a problem, as only the fittings are mentioned.

It might be possible to cut out the bad fittings and leave the piping/tubing, at least for the radiant, as long as the water temperature is within the specifications and the right tubing was used.

This also assumes that there aren't any hidden splices in inaccessible locations.

Getting the system hot and using a thermal imager might help to plot out piping runs and minimizing drywall removal.

You are now aware of the issues, and it is now on a public forum on the internet. Once your home insurance company figures it out, there will be issues, according to the article.

Is there a class action lawsuit or some sort of claims process?

 

[PoorUB]

Walkout basement on slab, main floor, 2nd floor master and bath. 8 zones, I have blueprints, it runs the entire home

Wow! That ***** big time!
When it fails you are losing you main source of heat. You will need to go forced air or figure out a way to repair what you have. If you have forced air for air conditioning it would be relatively cheap to add a geo heat pump, water coil in a air handler, or gas furnace.

Not an easy deal, but you could tear out all the flooring on both floors, lay down new pex an pour gypcrete over all of it. You would lose an inch or two of room height, raise some doors, cut some off, raise cabinets, toilets.

 

[Maxcustody]

The linked article in your first post mentions a 100% failure rate.

It isn't a matter of if it will fail, but rather when it will fail, then you will have real problems.

One thing not too clear from the article is whether or not the piping itself is a problem, as only the fittings are mentioned.

It might be possible to cut out the bad fittings and leave the piping/tubing, at least for the radiant, as long as the water temperature is within the specifications and the right tubing was used.

This also assumes that there aren't any hidden splices in inaccessible locations.

Getting the system hot and using a thermal imager might help to plot out piping runs and minimizing drywall removal.

You are now aware of the issues, and it is now on a public forum on the internet. Once your home insurance company figures it out, there will be issues, according to the article.

Is there a class action lawsuit or some sort of claims process?

I have the blueprints showing the radiant heat. It is under every floor of three levels. This was only used for the floor heating, it is not used anywhere else in the plumbing system. I am not going to use the system. This is not my main heat source. There is a law suit however the time is up.

 

[danski0224]

None of the brass fittings in the OP pictures have visible corrosion like the fittings in the linked article.

Does the article pertain to potable water systems or hydronic heating systems?

A quick Google for rusty cast iron circulator points to a leak and makeup water. Pressurize the system and turn off the feed water.

Some tubing does not have a good quality oxygen barrier.

Electrolysis was mentioned. Grounding issue?

Water chemistry test?

Can a loop be taken off of the manifold to do a visual inspection of the tubing and fitting? I'd make sure that it can be isolated first.

 

[Maxcustody]

Wow! That ***** big time!
When it fails you are losing you main source of heat. You will need to go forced air or figure out a way to repair what you have. If you have forced air for air conditioning it would be relatively cheap to add a geo heat pump, water coil in a air handler, or gas furnace.

Not an easy deal, but you could tear out all the flooring on both floors, lay down new pex a pour gypcrete over all of it. You would lose an inch or two of room height, raise some doors, cut some off, raise cabinets, toilets.

***** is right, however it is not our main heat source. I do have a heat pump.

I have the blueprints showing the radiant heat. It is under every floor of three levels. This was only used for the floor heating, it is not used anywhere else in the plumbing system. I am not going to use the system. No way are we ripping everything up. I have a call into my HVAC company and they are working on my options. I may just get rid of what I have and replace with a more efficient system.

 

[Maxcustody]

None of the brass fittings in the OP pictures have visible corrosion like the fittings in the linked article.

Does the article pertain to potable water systems or hydronic heating systems?

A quick Google for rusty cast iron circulator points to a leak and makeup water. Pressurize the system and turn off the feed water.

Some tubing does not have a good quality oxygen barrier.

Electrolysis was mentioned. Grounding issue?

Water chemistry test?

Can a loop be taken off of the manifold to do a visual inspection of the tubing and fitting? I'd make sure that it can be isolated first.

All good questions. I have a call into my HVAC company and they are working on my options. I will discuss this with them. Depending on what they say, I may just get rid of what I have and replace with a more efficient system.

 

[danski0224]

I have the blueprints showing the radiant heat. It is under every floor of three levels. This was only used for the floor heating, it is not used anywhere else in the plumbing system. I am not going to use the system. This is not my main heat source. There is a law suit however the time is up.

Based upon the article, there should have been a failure by now with those brass fittings. The article seems to be slanted towards potable/plumbing, not hydronic/heating.

I suspect that there is an issue elsewhere. A leak would be the first guess.