asdf43
New Member
Hello all! I recently ordered a 4' baseboard hydronic heater. I didn't even contemplate that it could use a non 3/4" element but when I went to install it I found that it did indeed have a 1/2" element. I contacted the company and they do not make a 3/4" element that will fit in this heater. So that either leaves me returning it and finding another one or finding another way to plumb it in without restricting the water flow through the loop.
I would like to keep the heater its a pretty high end unit. So what I was thinking is where my 3/4" pipes come up through the floor, what if instead of elbowing into the element as usual I get a couple of 3/4, 1/2, 1/2 tee connectors. Use those to connect the element to the loop and then run a second 1/2" line across the top of the element. That way my 3/4 loop will basically just split into two parallel 1/2" lines one being the heating element and then combine back up to 3/4 on the other side of the heater.
Does that make sense? Would it be a reasonable solution to this issue or should I just pick up a standard 3/4" heater that I know is going to get all rusty and cruddy in a few years?
Thanks for the advice in advance!
PS, a little calculating shows me that two 1/2 inch pipes have a total cross sectional area of 0.393 inches while a single 3/4 inch pipe has a cross sectional area of 0.442" I'm not sure that's a significant difference?
I would like to keep the heater its a pretty high end unit. So what I was thinking is where my 3/4" pipes come up through the floor, what if instead of elbowing into the element as usual I get a couple of 3/4, 1/2, 1/2 tee connectors. Use those to connect the element to the loop and then run a second 1/2" line across the top of the element. That way my 3/4 loop will basically just split into two parallel 1/2" lines one being the heating element and then combine back up to 3/4 on the other side of the heater.
Does that make sense? Would it be a reasonable solution to this issue or should I just pick up a standard 3/4" heater that I know is going to get all rusty and cruddy in a few years?
Thanks for the advice in advance!
PS, a little calculating shows me that two 1/2 inch pipes have a total cross sectional area of 0.393 inches while a single 3/4 inch pipe has a cross sectional area of 0.442" I'm not sure that's a significant difference?