Water runs only when the circulator has power (=electricity). For $50 you can avoid this water from freezing when a snow storm knocked down a powerline in your street and the elctricity goes out for who knows how long.
Any outdoor installed hydronic system should have it in my opinion. Just a tought ... , better to prevent this then to fix it after the snowstorm.

What is that $50 thing?

Posted By Rosalinda on 23 Jun 2011 06:45 PM
What is that $50 thing?

The cost for glycol (anti-freeze)

Posted By radiantbarrier on 23 Jun 2011 05:28 PM
Running water does not freeze. We have installed hundreds of outdoor wood furnaces without glycol. The pump is always pushing the water. I have personally had mine for 10 years, have gone away (no wood burning) and the pump kept it from freezing as I was gone for 3 months. I live in Maine

Dang, is there an option to hit a switch and only use pump on demand? This sounds like a very large waste of energy. To what depth are the lines installed and what type of insulation is on the lines?