Posted by John Howell on January 04, 2000 at 08:52:09:
Hi Folks,
I have a 98 year old 2 story house with a 10 year old hot-water hydronic Slant-Fin boiler and radiators.
The system has two zones, one for each floor. The first floor is about 150 sq ft bigger
than the second and has two more windows than the second. All windows are high performance insulated glass.
The problem is I cannot seem to get comfortable temperatures on the first floor when the outside temp
is below 30. When the first floor radiators are touched they are warm, however when the second floor
radiators are operating, they are HOT. Temperatures on the second floor are quite comfortable with the
thermostat there strictly maintaining whatever temperature I set.
Two months ago PSE&G visited my house and recommended I replace the circulation pump as they
determined it was failing. Last week I hired a plumbing/heating company and they replaced it. In an attempt to
improve the first floor heating situation, they also replaced the zone valves, drained, refilled and bled
the system, raised its operating temp to 190 degrees and replaced both thermostats. So far these changes have
not worked and the company seems unable to determine why my heating system does not produce
enough heat on the first floor. For now I have set the 1st floor zone valve on manual, which has helped
raise the temperature somewhat.
Does anyone have some ideas or possible solutions?
Thanks,
John