Wondering if I have a circulator pump problem

[tommyo]

How can you tell if a circulator pump is bad, on a gas forced hot water heating system?

 

[NHmaster]

Hold onto the pipe directly above it with the thermostat calling and the boiler at temperature. If you say ouch the circulator is working.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[hj]

pump

If the pipe is cool when the circulator is off and hot when it is running, then the pump is probably working, but even that is not a good indication tnat it is working PROPERLY.

 

[Jadnashua]

Most circulator pumps have very little head pressure and won't be able to push water if there's an air pocket somewhere higher up. You'd need to ensure you got all of the air out first.