Circulator

whitetale · Post by **whitetale** » Sun. Oct. 04, 2009 10:46 pm

Hello,
I have a k4 keystoker,it is over 20 year old, this year when I fired it up get my up stairs loop to heat up, I have bleeders on all wall heaters and I still can get water or heat. my thermostate is starting the main blower motor and I got power at the cir motor, it acts like it is working. If it is working the way it should,i would be getting air or water at my first heater? If I was air locked?
Has anyone had to replace their cir pump? Is there a way to test them?

Robby · Post by **Robby** » Sun. Oct. 04, 2009 11:40 pm

I am no expert! On my system there is a pressure gauge. When circulater pump comes on the is a pressure increase, pump is before gauge. I would assume the opposite is true if pump was after gauge. The differance is quite noticable, 3 or 4 lbs.

Robby

whitetale · Post by **whitetale** » Mon. Oct. 05, 2009 7:09 am

I have no pressure on the gauge,I Can trip the pressure relief valve and I get nothing, I have a Fill-Trol Expansion tank on it, can they go bad and not let the cold water supply come in to my system? I can replace what I need , the dealer I got the stove is no longer around.

coalkirk · Post by **coalkirk** » Mon. Oct. 05, 2009 8:05 am

If you have nopressure on your guage, I don't think the circulator is your problem. It sounds like your low on water. Your pressure reducing valve could be bad, a valve could be shut, etc.

whistlenut · Post by **whistlenut** » Mon. Oct. 05, 2009 8:22 am

Don't run the circs dry. You have a supply pressure problem for sure. The fill and backflow device must be damaged. Sure the valves are on? Unusual, but perhaps a seasonal shutdown has caused the valve to stick. Solution is going to be simple, relax....after the circs are shut down. The mechanical seals will fail if run dry. Possibly that will already be a problem.
Good luck.

whitetale · Post by **whitetale** » Mon. Oct. 05, 2009 5:09 pm

Yes the circs where dry and you are right about fill and backllow is not working, I filled the systems and I just started the fire, bleed all that I could and will do it again when the water gets up. I need a new Fill- Trol Expansion tank, I don't know if they make one like I have.

whitetale · Post by **whitetale** » Mon. Oct. 05, 2009 5:36 pm

They do make it, 109 fill-trol. The tank is holding air, has anyone put a Automatic fill valve replacement valve on their old tank and is it worth it?

whistlenut · Post by **whistlenut** » Mon. Oct. 05, 2009 7:02 pm

I knew you would have resolved the problem by the end of the day.....now you can sleep better. Didn't require a $150.00 service call either!

Razzler · Post by **Razzler** » Mon. Oct. 05, 2009 7:29 pm

Do you have well water or city hookup? Around my area they are known to go bad, hard water will rust them fast.

Thats why its best to have a manual fill also.

jim d · Post by **jim d** » Mon. Oct. 05, 2009 10:40 pm

in a pinch you could take a washing machine hose dub female and go to the boiler drain one end and silcock other end and fill slowley &carefully keeping an eye on the pressure gage

whitetale · Post by **whitetale** » Tue. Oct. 06, 2009 5:35 pm

That is what I did, I took a hose and got to female fitting and filled it up and I did sleep better.
I want to thank everyone for their help