Question about removing baseboard heater

[frodo]

no need to drain the entire system to make your changes. Trace the piping back to the boiler to see which feed and return connect to the zone your working on. Then turn the valve below the circulator off along with the one that feeds that zone. The feeds are on the top of the boiler with the red flow valves. After you have them off drain the water from that zone using the drain valve above circulator for that zone. To purge the air from the zone after your done connect a hose to the same drain that you used to drain the zone. Open the valve you turned off on the feed. (don't turn the return on yet) let the hose run it will force all the air out of the zone. Once the water coming from the hose looks free of air turn the drain off and open the valve on the return.

lol..........

 

[anvilman]

No need to drain the entire system to make your changes. Trace the piping back to the boiler to see which feed and return connect to the zone your working on. Then turn the valve below the circulator off along with the one that feeds that zone. The feeds are on the top of the boiler with the red flow valves. After you have them off drain the water from that zone using the drain valve above circulator for that zone. To purge the air from the zone after your done connect a hose to the same drain that you used to drain the zone. Open the valve you turned off on the feed. (don't turn the return on yet) Let the hose run it will force all the air out of the zone. Once the water coming from the hose looks free of air turn the drain off and open the valve on the return.

Ok I did a little investigation and found that the circulator in the middle runs up to the section of baseboard heater I want to demo out. You say to turn the valve below that circulator off, ok I get that. You then say to turn off the one that feeds that zone, which I don't understand. You say the feeds are on top of the boiler with red flow valves. Are the ones I circled in the pic the red flow valves your talking about? I did find that one of those red valves lead up to the first floor which is the same floor as the section I want to demo out is. I'm assuming the entire first floor is on the same loop?

In one of the pics I put arrows from the line leading up to the section I need to demo out, I'm not sure if the arrows are in the direction the water actually flows so please excuse me if it's wrong.

 

[johnjh2o]

Yes those are the flow valves. To be sure you are turning off the correct one. Turn the heat up on the zone you will be working on. (be sure the others are turned down)
The feel the lines in front of thw flow valves. The one that gets hot is the one to turn off.

 

[anvilman]

Yes those are the flow valves. To be sure you are turning off the correct one. Turn the heat up on the zone you will be working on. (be sure the others are turned down)
The feel the lines in front of thw flow valves. The one that gets hot is the one to turn off.

Ok, now on to purging the air. You say connect a hose to the same drain that you used to drain the zone, ok got it. Then you say open the valve you turned off on the feed, ok I got that. Now is what you're calling the return the valve underneath the circulator?

 

[johnjh2o]

Yes the valve under the circulator. That valve must be closed when purging.

 

[anvilman]

Ok awesome. Just one more thing before I attempt this. The pipes for this zone are threaded steel pipes? I don't believe they're copper. So what are my options here? Do I need to use the same style pipe or is there a new type of pipe I can use? You can see in the pics the type of pipes they are. Any special instructions to work with these type of pipes? Is thread tape needed?

 

[johnjh2o]

That is black iron pipe with cast-iron fittings. I would be using copper. What type baseboard do you have? Is it cast-iron or copper fin?

 

[anvilman]

That is black iron pipe with cast-iron fittings. I would be using copper. What type baseboard do you have? Is it cast-iron or copper fin?

I believe it's cast iron, not copper fin. Since it is not copper, what can I do? With the piece I need to add to complete the loop, can it be copper or do I need to use a new black iron pipe?

 

[johnjh2o]

You can use copper, but I'm beginning to doubt that it's a loop system. Most cast-iron baseboard systems are one or two pipe systems.

 

[anvilman]

You can use copper, but I'm beginning to doubt that it's a loop system. Most cast-iron baseboard systems are one or two pipe systems.

So what does that mean, if it's not a loop system does that change the procedure we've been talking about? Also, since the black iron pipe has threaded connections, does the new copper pipe get soldered on instead of threaded?

 

[frodo]

that housing , cut the caulk/paint it just sits over the pipes. pull it off

then you can see the fin

 

[johnjh2o]

The drawing you have labeled as 1 pipe is a loop system. A one pipe system is done with both feed return lines coming off the same line not looped from one radiator to the other.

 

[anvilman]

These are the lines running up to the heater in the bathroom. Could you tell from this pic of its a loop system?

 

[johnjh2o]

That is a one pipe system. All you need to do to remove one section of baseboard is cape the lines feeding it. It will have no effect on the rest of the system. That system can not be purged. There are vents on each section of baseboard that must be opened to remove the air.

 

[anvilman]

Ok I am to totally lost at this point. That picture I just posted is leading up to the bathroom. It's not the section I need to demo out. Should I still follow the procedure we talked about to drain the system and purge it of air?

 

[johnjh2o]

Show a picture of the lines feeding the section you would like to remove. The confusion is coming from you saying you had a loop system. Once I saw that you had cast-iron I realized that couldn't correct. You can not purge a one pipe system. It must be vented at each section of baseboard. The procedure for draining will be the same.

 

[anvilman]

Please excuse my ignorance, I truly appreciate your help. I've learned alot so far thank you. I did a little more investigating and I realize you're right. It's not a loop system, although the section I need to remove is part of a loop that has some baseboard heaters I need to remain. I attached a quick picture I drew up roughly showing how this section runs. The section I circled in green is the section I need to remove. The ones that aren't circled I need to remain.

 

[anvilman]

On that loop of pipe in the picture this is on part of the section I want to remain.

 

[anvilman]

Is draining this any different?

 

[frodo]

Show a picture of the lines feeding the section you would like to remove. The confusion is coming from you saying you had a loop system. Once I saw that you had cast-iron I realized that couldn't correct. You can not purge a one pipe system. It must be vented at each section of baseboard. The procedure for draining will be the same.

John wants pictures of the piping under the heater yo are taking out.

any other picture will not be of any use