Well little update. While I can't do much anywhere else, I have been concentrating on the utility room and getting my hydronics finished up. I will post pics first and then at the bottom provide additional information. I think I did a fine job, given that I have never soldered before or done anything with copper. Time will tell how good of a job I did if I get any leaks...
So the system is mostly done, it just needs to be filled and tested for leakage. I actually filled the floor loops yesterday with ~145 litres of 35% glycol, but run out to fill the rest of the piping above the manifolds, so dumped the rest into the auto-feeded and will pickup more on Monday. So far I only have 2 leaks..and it was on the first two loops. After I got those leaks I quickly tightened those connections, as well as all others, and haven't had any other leaks after that. I am most worried about the copper stuff, so we will see if that's all good or not. Area around the pump is the most questionable for me, as it was the first two valves and I am a bit afraid of a cold joint there, as I soldered those with a flame that was too weak. I went and got a stronger burner after and all other valves vent much better...but I am hoping I didn't overhead the valves there and damage the seals....we will see.
I will explain the few components of the system for those who are curious. The brains of the operation is the green box in the middle, it is the Taco Zone Valve controller. All of my thermostats throughout the house connect to it at the top. Each thermostat controls a zone (bedrooms, master, living, garage), and out of the bottom the connections are made to Zone Valves, which open as the call for heat arrives from that zone. As the valve is opened, it tells the pump to start circulating the glycol, and also tells the boiler to fire up to heat the glycol. The glycol is heated and makes it's way to the top copper distribution rail, which has an air eliminator in it's path to remove air from the system (it's a closed loop system). As air is removed, the glycol makes it's way the zone valve(s) that are calling for heat, and the glycol goes down to the manifold, through the floor, back into the return side of the manifold, and via the bottom return rail back towards the furnace to reheat the fluid. Before it makes it's way back, it hits a dirt collector (under and close to the gray tank looking thing), where it collects any dirt in the system, and has magents to attract any ferrous metals. The entire system is pressurized to about 12psi by the feeder below (the think with a tank full of glycol), which keeps the pressure in the system and adds fluid as necessary to the system. The gray tank on there is an expansion tank, it's purpose is to absorb the extra pressure as water expands when heated. Without that tank, the system could blow the pressure relief valve, which would spew glycol all over the floor. You can see the two vertical white pipes going down on the left wall, that's for pressure relief valves should they ever open. One is for central heating and the other for domestic hot water. There is also a small white cannister looking this on the left wall, this is a condensate neutralizer, which takes the acidic condensate drips from the boiler and makes them more neutral, before draining it down the drain. The HRV unit just above will also tie into the same drain pipe for it's drainage later, but doesn't need any neutralization so it's just a straight shot down.
And the final, and perhaps the most important thing...the cat passthrough has been cut out. I decided to do this now since it's all messy with drywall shit everywhere, so might as well add to it. In the future at finishing I will install the little surround, which will lead them into a small room just for their litter boxes ect.
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Originally Posted by heavyfuel
