John Siegenthaler, P.E.

Taking the easy path

The Glitch & The Fix, February 2017

February 27, 2017

An installer pipes up a two-zone, low-temperature radiant floor heating system to a conventional gas-fired boiler, as shown below.

Examining the effects of flow reversal in circulators

Unique design concepts sometimes require components to operate in non-standard conditions.

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

February 17, 2017

There are hydronic design concepts in which flow must pass backward through a non-operating circulator, perhaps thousands of times over the life of the system.

When is flow reversal practical?

Increasing heat output.

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

January 18, 2017

Flow reversal is possible in a P/S system, but is it practical?

12 things to look for in hydronic installations

The Black List.

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

December 11, 2016

A ‘dirty dozen’ things that point to trouble ahead.

It represents the manufacturer’s recommendation for installing a two-zone system.

Following instructions for installing a two-zone system

The Glitch & The Fix, September 2016

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

November 17, 2016

A schematic, very similar to the one below, appears in a manufacturer’s installation manual. It represents the manufacturer’s recommendation for installing a two-zone system. Can you identify at least five things that could be changed to improve this system?

When and how to use reverse return piping

In many hydronic systems, there’s a need to divide the overall system flow into equal streams that pass through several identical components.

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

November 16, 2016

When — and when not — to use reverse return piping.

Options for achieving hydraulic seperation between circulators

Keeping the peace.

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

October 5, 2016

Twenty years ago, the contemporary approach to prevent interference between simultaneously operating circulators in a hydronic system was primary/secondary piping.