Floor heat has plugged up zone

[sledhead]

Hi, newbie here. I am trying to unplug a radiant heat zone in of my SS bays before the snow starts flying.

I ran fish tape and ran into a block age about 7 feet from manifold.
I then got a small roto type rooter inside the 1/2 hose going to the zone and got it unplugged, but still nothing come from return line.
I then ran fish tape down and ran into another blockage at about 20 feet.
No go with rotor router or applying air to either end this time.
I then let the zone sit over night in it with Vinegar in the line, still no go.

Don't want to start digging up concrete if I don't have to.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[tdlconceptsllc]

Get a pressure washer like 4.0 GPM @ 4,000psi with a jetter tip on it see if that would work. Or compressed nitrogen at a local HVAC store with a regulator put about 500psi on it see if that would work for you. Maybe someone else with chime in. Do you have copper pipes?

 

[sledhead]

Morning, copper pipe in the equipment room and pex type hose ( the stuff they had a class action lawsuit against the company a few years back, I forget the name ) in the concrete.

 

[2Biz]

There's no way I'd put that much pressure on the pex. Only pressurize it to the rated capacity or less. You defineately don't want a busted line under the concrete. Then you will be digging it up!

Btw, how do you know there isn't a 90 deg fitting in the line? That's what you may be hitting. You sure there isn't a ball valve in the line your not seeing? And maybe it's closed?

 

[Kevin James]

You should be working from the return end of the zone that’s plugged up. What you’ve done is push the blockage further into the tubing. What’s the pressure rating of the Plex tubing? How much air pressure have you put on the return line? You could try putting 100 psi of air pressure on the return line side and work the fish tape into the supply end. Good luck.

 

[Earl Weiss]

Pressure on one side and suction on the other? Slight suction. Vacuum? Don't want to collapse tubing.

 

[Stuart]

You should be working from the return end of the zone that’s plugged up. What you’ve done is push the blockage further into the tubing. What’s the pressure rating of the Plex tubing? How much air pressure have you put on the return line? You could try putting 100 psi of air pressure on the return line side and work the fish tape into the supply end. Good luck.

I agree with Kevin, work from the end of the tubing run, but I might go with liquid at about 50# to 75# of pressure. I feel that the air pressure may leak around the plug and the liquid provides more substance to push the item out. If you are getting liquid out of the other end crank up the pressure. You may be able to get up to 150# is the max I would go. As long as liquid is flowing out the other end and does not entirely stop - the item clogging ought to come out.

 

[wash4me]

Get an infrared camera and trace the lines make sure you don't have some other problem it's very unlikely have a blockage in the concrete ....more likely a bad valve or you're just mistaken about how it runs.

 

[sledhead]

I have tried everything you guys suggested. It's not a valve problem, it's definitely a plugged line, got lots of sediment with a little rust out of the other line that was plugged a couple of years ago.
Got a 50ft snake camera off of Amazon for 30 bucks and plan on taking a look what I am up against.
I think it's probably time to bite the bullet and find out exactly where's it's plugged in the slab and cut a hole in the concrete to get access to it.
I will keep you all posted.
Thanks.

 

[wash4me]

Before I started sawing concrete I'd plumb a line to a high pressure line from a bay. It will likely open the blockage or burst the line where it's not in the concrete. I didn't say you should do this because it may not be safe.

 

[2Biz]

Try taking some 3/8 poly tubing pressurized with water and running it down the pex. Kind of like a jetter. Maybe it will bust up and blast through the blockage.

 

[wash4me]

What about acid or vinegar through the 3/8 line to dissolve the blockage? May be time to flush and clean the whole system one circuit at a time if this is the second blockage.

 

[2Biz]

I'd also be wondering how the loops are getting clogged? Open system, cast iron fittings, cast iron pump? Something is causing this. Acidic coolant maybe breaking down any cast iron in the system?

 

[Sequoia]

www.cloghog.com

Before I broke concrete, I would definitely try the "cloghog" connected to a pressure washer. This simple device clears all of my larger drains very quickly and efficiently. But I've never tried it in a small diameter hose or tubing.

www.cloghog.com

 

[PaulLovesJamie]

Did you try that snake camera yet?

I'm interested because one of my floor heat loops has never worked right - very low flow. I assume there is a crimp in the pex somewhere, likely an installation screw up IMO. I'm wondering if that snake camera could help me figure out where it is, then I could cut out the concrete and fix it.

 

[Eric H]

Did you try that snake camera yet?

I'm interested because one of my floor heat loops has never worked right - very low flow. I assume there is a crimp in the pex somewhere, likely an installation screw up IMO. I'm wondering if that snake camera could help me figure out where it is, then I could cut out the concrete and fix it.

You can get a thermal camera that hooks up to an ipad or Iphone from Amazon for about $250-300. The reviews seem to be pretty good for that price. IMO this would be a better choice than trying to get a snake camera thru a 3/8"id tube. I don't think the camera will be able to make the bends/turns.

 

[PaulLovesJamie]

You can get a thermal camera that hooks up to an ipad or Iphone from Amazon for about $250-300. The reviews seem to be pretty good for that price. IMO this would be a better choice than trying to get a snake camera thru a 3/8"id tube. I don't think the camera will be able to make the bends/turns.

Thanks, but I already know exactly which loop it is - just not sure exactly where the crimp is. The heat distribution in that loop is pretty consistent, just the flow is very low. I doubt a snake camera will help me either, but you never know.