kickspace heaters

[jpcarp53]

I have installed a kickspace heater and have not (unfortunately) installed a monoflow tee. How many do I need? Can I simply reduce the pipe size between tees to half inch pipe? Will this have the same effect as a monoflow tee installed on either the supply side or the exhaust side? Thanks, Jpcarp53

[finnegan]

If you have a monoflow system and you cut into that system and installed regular tees instead of monoflow tees, you will not get the proper performance. For each radiator (or toe kick heater) you will need two monoflow valves. They must be oriented properly and should not be placed too far apart (I forget the recommended maximum distance).

[jpcarp53]

Thanks. I did install regular tees (about 5 1/2 inches apart, the same distance apart as the inlet/outlet on the kickspace heater) and the unit does not heat up enough to activate the aquastat. I will install the required tees forthwith. Thanks again for your help. jpcarp53

[hj]

In most cases you only need one Mono-Flo tee if the unit is above the main, but since you only have 5 1/2" between the tees you may need two to create the proper flow resistance to force water to the heater. The flow resistance between the tees has to be at least the same as that through the heater's piping.

[jpcarp53]

Thanks. I'm planning to install two tees. The heater is above the main by about 9". As a matter of practical interest only, if one were to reduce the pipe size between the tees for the kickspace heater, (since two 1/2" pipes are approximately 89% of the cross sectional area of one 3/4" pipe, which is the size of the main) would the net effect be the same as using the monoflo tees?
Just for discussions sake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jpcarp53

[hj]

Not exactly because a Mono-Flo tee is designed to divert the proper amount of water for that size branch, but a reducing tee might try to divert more water than the kickspace heater could accept and degrade the entire system.