Low pressure switch for radiant

[Burl]

I had a situation in the garage the other day, one of my pex tubes going into the manifold had leaked and the pressure had gone to zero. The boiler had shut down, as it was supposed to, and the pumps were still good after the episode, which I believe was just luck. Does anyone have a pressure switch on their system that will shut down the electrical part (the pump(s))?

 

[Firebrick43]

Put a low water cutoff higher than the pump

 

[Jim greengo]

Check someplace like johnstone supply,or a boiler supply place.

 

[86turbodsl]

You can run with less than positive pressure if you keep the pump impeller submerged. All i worry about is keeping the boiler wet. Low water cutoff is the ticket there.

 

[finn]

Not my shop and house radiant systems have a low water cutoff.

 

[Burl]

I don't really have a boiler-type boiler, but more of a demand-type heater, Hydrosmart. Looks like the low water cutoffs have a probe that is submerged. Is there a pressure type of switch?

 

[86turbodsl]

I don't believe so, pressure is usually maintained by a pressure regulator / backflow valve and house water pressure.

 

[Firebrick43]

I don't really have a boiler-type boiler, but more of a demand-type heater, Hydrosmart. Looks like the low water cutoffs have a probe that is submerged. Is there a pressure type of switch?

an electronic low water cutoff has nothing to do with a "boiler type boiler"

Its just a probe in an appropriate sized and placed tee. If it has water covering it the relay is held, if not, it opens and cuts power to what ever is hooked to it, weather its the "boiler" itself or the pumps or both. Just pay attention to amp ratings. Older styles were a float switch instead of a capacitance type sensor.

I ended up choosing a hydrolevel SV170 due to reviews and amp ratings but there are several other manufactures such as taco as well.

Supplyhouse.com has several models and brands.

 

[Bondo]

Does anyone have a pressure switch on their system that will shut down the electrical part (the pump(s))?

Nope,.... I don't,..... My last house had an auto-fill valve that added water at anything below 12 psi,.....
It worked great,.....
I blew water lines from the outdoor wood boiler a few times,.....
I built it myself, 'n ran it with common water from the oil boiler/ baseboard system in the house,.....
I'd isolate the systems with ball valves, 'n fire up the oil burner, til I got the repairs done,...

In this house, I built this system 'bout 10 years ago, as a rental, so even though I have the auto-fill plumbed in, I put a ball valve ahead of it, 'n it's never been opened, as I pumped the system fulla antifreeze,......
Didn't want my in-floor radiant ruined by a tenant,.....

It ain't leaked a drop yet,.....
I eyeball the gauges whenever in the boiler room, 'n they're still at 12 psi,.....