Hi,
The pump running will not hurt anything except that it takes a bit of electric to run it...
Now, is the t-stat still calling for heat and the furnace just shutting down on high limit?
Maybe you have an air lock and the water is not actually circulating through the pipes, there fore you are not heating properly...
Is the pump relay stuck closed and not releasing so that the pump keeps on running...
These are a few of the common problems and what I would check right when I came to look at your system to troubleshoot it...
heatman101
I'm assuming this is a hot water boiler for heating. Typically the boiler temperature is controlled by a thermostat that senses the boiler water temperature. Thus when the water gets to temperature, the flame shuts off. The Circulating pump would be controlled by your thermostat in the living space. When you require heat, the circulating pump comes on and circulates the already warm water from the boiler through your radiators or fin tube heaters. When the water starts circulating and cools, then the boiler will restart, starting the cycle over again. If it is a large system, the pump could either run all the time, or by outside temperature circulating the loop , and then sectional thermostats would open valves for that area ( such as in apartments where you have a thermostat in each room)
The next step would be to determine if you have a line voltage thermostat (usually only on older systems) or a low voltage thermostat. (The one on your wall in the living space) If it is low voltage, then it would be supplied from a transformer, and in turn operate a relay that turns the pump on. This relay could be bad causing the pump to run.Sometimes when a relay gets old the contacts may arc, and cause them to stick together, although usually the fail open. Another possibility, is that your system is wired fail safe to heat. In this case if the thermostat would fail, the pump's default condition would be to run. So test the operation of the thermostat.
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Hi there,
The problem I am having is that even with the thermostat turned off the pump is still running. I had to turn the breaker off at the wall panel in order to shut off the pump. Yes it is a hot water boiler system, sorry I hadn't mentioned that previously.
I want to express my thanks to you and funoldman. I located the problem...It was two out of three zone valves not functioning. Replaced them and woohoo now have heat.
Thanks so very much for your help. It was two out of three zone valves that weren't functioning properly. Replaced them and now have heat.
Great site. Very generous of you to take the time to help.
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