Radiant Closed Loop Pressure Loss - POLL: How often do you fill?

[papp101]

How often do you top up the pressure/fluid in your CLOSED LOOP radiant system?


Hi Team. Thanks again for all the help in my Help design my boiler panel thread.

The system had been working well, and I noticed a leak around my inline, clear Hydro Smart Wye Strainer.
It dropped from 15psi down to 11psi over 3 months, then swiftly to 5psi. I tried gently tightening it, and anything else I could do without draining a portion of the loop. I'd used Pipe Thread Compound Paste to no avail, so i'm probably in for draining it and trying again or replacing it with a brass one. I was wondering how often the rest of you top up your system? I'm sure you don't have leaks like mine, but overall was curious.
See attached image.




Thanks!

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... I put radiant in this house 'bout 10 years ago,...... It was a rental then, so I filled the system with antifreeze,......

Never had to add any, gauge is still sittin' at 12 psi,....

 

[papp101]

It was all me with help from the board here. I'm open to feedback!

Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk

 

[fitter30]

For threaded joints that have difficult leaks two go to products are a
Anaerobic Pipe Thread Sealant or x- pando ( if system can be down for at least 8 hours)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0089804A6/?tag=atomicindus08-20
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjADegQIBRAB&usg=AOvVaw2u2ix0woCY-vhlwNfFEGAR

 

[Jackfre]

If the system is clean I would ditch the wye strainer. Lots of pressure drop and if you were careful in flushing the system on start-up it is of very limited value...especially if it leaks

 

[papp101]

Thanks Fitter- I will take a look at those sealants!

Thanks Jackfire- it probably is clean now that it's ran for a few months.

Last night I used a crappy drill pump to get it up to pressure again, and the little thing could only push 10psi. But, the boiler fired up and under heat went up to 18 psi. I came out the next morning to see the boiler had stopped again, and cold pressure was back to zero.

There was almost no fluid around the fittings on the wye strainer, so I don't think that was the issue.

Other than a leak in the concrete, which I haven't noticed yet but could still be possible, what else could cause this without seeing fluid everywhere? My expansion tank was set at 15 psi when I filled it which is what I intended to get the pressure to.

Could it be that it's still purging air that has finally moved fr maybe a corner of the tubing?

I will pressurize and bubble test everything I can see next before I remove the wye.

Input is appreciated!


Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk

 

[Phantomd]

RV water pumps are typically adjustable but will automatically pressurize up to 40 psi or so. You could just stick a hose in a 5 gallon bucket and connect the other end to your accumulator inlet there.

this one is even 110v
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001FAA5Y/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[papp101]

Indeed! My cousin has a larger pump that would do, and really because I tested any my glycol concentration is a bit high, I could just thaw my hose and pump it from the house using street pressure.

Good suggestion!

Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk

 

[Briguy_123]

A feeder is probably your best solution. I have an Axiom unit on my snow melt system. I didn't use any glycol in my floor heat for this reason.

 

[fitter30]

With expansion tank what is the air pressure 10-12 lbs then run your shste. Pressure at that setting then see what happens. Pressure has to going somewhere.

 

[86turbodsl]

You have a leak somewhere. Sometimes they are really hard to find. I have a tiny leak somewhere on my house radiant, it takes months to lose pressure, but it still does.

 

[papp101]

Fitter I think you have a point. Last night, as opposed to trying to use a silly pump, I bought a cheap 100-ft hose and ran one from the basement sink out the door into the garage and connected it to the system. before, I had put my expansion tank at 15 psi. But, with the pump only getting to 10, I don't think there was any real amount of fluid in the expansion tank.

this time I lowered the expansion tank to about 7 psi. Then, I pumped water into the system up to 15 psi, then raised the pressure in the expansion tank to 15 as well.

I could definitely sense that much more water was going into the system, so I feel now I have some volume available to backfill any bubbles that are leaving. The system only dropped about a quarter PSI overnight as it was running, I'm headed out for the weekend, and we'll see what it's like when I come back.

As far as a makeup system, I like the idea of the electric on-demand pump, but I also saw this whole little get-up which seems to run at a 40 psi pressure which would be more than enough for me. And compared to an axiom system, I like the price! The only thing I could think of is that it's a piece of **** and will break soon, or, it won't react while with glycol at 35%.

Thoughts?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QZJXPX1/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk