Radiant baseboard heat test pipes
Hello,
I’m looking for a way to test a heater for leaks in the base board hot water pipes. I’m at a shore house with a gas hot water heater in the attic and baseboard units in the rooms below. The house is a rancher and over the winter the heater stopped working no one was there to fix it and 12 spots throughout the house pipes burst. The one good thing about the heater failing is the water was shut off to the house so there was no water damage. I cut the pipe and repaired the holes, I hope, but before I turn on the water again to the heater I was wondering if there was a way to check the system for leaks. I tested gas pipe for leaks with a gauge and air pump, put the gauge on the end of the black pipe and put 30 lb of pressure in it if it held for 24 hours the line was good. Please let me know what the best way to do this all replies are great.
Sincerely,
Bridgetonjim
Edited 5/2/2005 9:57 am ET by BridgetonJim
Replies
Jim-
Testing the water lines is no different than gas- just isolate the piping from the boiler (either with valves, or cut and cap), put a gauge on the line, fill the system with water and pump it up. Most HW systems run in the 10-20 PSI range, so 30 PSI on the test should be plenty.
I suggested filling system with water rather than air since it's easier to find leaks. If you're concerned about water damage at any potential leaks, you can pump it up with air and locate any leaks with a spray bottle of soapy water, just like the gas line tests.
Bob
Bob,
I found 12 leaks but some of the pipe is behind walls and under the house in a crawl space I'm not sure of the condition of these pipes. The testing with air how to is the thing i'm looking for I don't understand do I cap the return pipe to the heater and put the guage at that end and put 20 psi in the line to see if there is a leak.
Jim
That's the plan- either valve off or cut/cap the supply and return at the boiler, attach a guage, and pump up the system.
Thanks bob I'm a weekend fixer and this was a real nightmare with no end in sight i will go to my local plumming store for the parts, I sure they will know what i'm talking about
Thanks again.
Jim