Heating Help

I would love to see the test Tim

@ May 25, 2012 9:39 PM in Review by "experts"

I would love to give it a crack. If it were not for others installing boilers I think I would starve. Most of my days are spent reinstalling other peoples work. I will be posting some pics soon of my latest adventures with welded tees.

are you sure that

@ May 10, 2012 12:03 PM in Anything wrong with this baseboard?

the pipes were bled of all air?

Yep I was thinking that too Mark

@ May 2, 2012 2:57 PM in PRV blues.....

That's why when it clicked he had Onyx it was time to check for "gunk".

Henry that's interesting

@ May 2, 2012 2:51 PM in Treasurer-Condo Assoc

If I can save them 30% and they have a simple system without a raise in their electric meter I am quite sure they would be happy. The reason to tear out steam is there are so few who can actually work on it and those that do know their worth.
I have replaced same make and models of boilers in 7,000 sqare foot buildings and dropped the fuel usage by 15% with proper installation and tuning.
Viva Le Steam!

One of these days

@ May 1, 2012 8:04 PM in Field trip to Boyertown foundry and Peerless factory

I am going to get to go on one of Dan's trips, in the mean time I hope you guys took lots of pictures to share. I spent my day cleaning out a Buderus GB that was never cleaned for 3 years.

Not in the state of Massachusetts

@ May 1, 2012 7:36 PM in Towel Warmer Radiator

domestic water heaters can only be used for heating if 1. the manufacter says so and 2. the run is less than 50 feet from boiler and back. If you have steam the way Gerry has it is better. Also running pipe for such a small zone is not that big of a deal in most homes.

Converting is the option used by those who can not

@ May 1, 2012 7:30 PM in Treasurer-Condo Assoc

fix a steam system. Yes they save money, sometimes, sometimes not, over steam. There is no reason why steam should not by quiet, even, and efficient.If your system is not it may not be the system but the repair techs that need changed. I consult and work all over this great state so if you want me to diagnose what is wrong with what you have then email me or call me.

We keep the public safe from

@ April 27, 2012 3:32 PM in What they do in England

explosive gases ( intended and not intended) we keep fire water and gas in check. We are obligated to do the right thing EVERY TIME we tighten a fitting or install a pipe or we risk our life and worse someone Else's life. If you do not have time to do it right then stay home and collect the dole so the professional who will do it right has a chance to go to the job. My prayers go out to the family that lost their daughter and my pity goes out to the gasfitter who lacked the sense God gave a beetle.

It depends

@ April 27, 2012 3:21 PM in I bought a house and am thinking chiller.

Dave where on the globe are you located? Cost tends to kill the chiller idea on most residential jobs. One pipe steam sounds great but why not two pipe vapor?
If you are with in say 200 miles of Western Ma call me.

Cast iron

@ April 27, 2012 3:17 PM in Baseboards: Runtal vs Heatrim vs Cast Iron

Has my vote as it gives and even heat over a longer period of time. It is also pretty kid proof, they have to work real hard to damage it at all. It costs more and is heavy to install but still my favorite baseboard heat.

time to call a pro

@ April 27, 2012 3:06 PM in laars jvs minitherm pilot but no burner

jumping out the safety equipment is a bad idea even for a test. With the proper tools a decent pro will beable to get to the bottom of this for you and get the proper parts.

Jean where are you located?

@ April 27, 2012 3:02 PM in Stay steam? Oil or Gas?

978 is the area code of parts of MA I frequent. Call me through my ad here and I would be happy to talk more about your system.

tell me more

@ April 27, 2012 10:59 AM in New American Steam Heating Assoc. looking for your support!

I would be interested in learning more about it.

may be some crud built up

@ April 23, 2012 11:42 AM in PRV blues.....

you mentioned Onyx and a flag popped up in my head to check for sludge in the system.

They are called

@ April 20, 2012 12:18 PM in Expansion couplings

an expansion compensator not coupling

Leak in the indirect coil or

@ April 19, 2012 11:49 PM in PRV blues.....

the 30 is just too small, or the boiler feed valve is passing just a little.

I feel strongly you will need

@ April 19, 2012 11:33 PM in Hacked up two pipe vapor system....

to replace the boilers. When that sprang a leak I would bet other sections are also bad, you will find out just before Christmas Mass. Be realistic the boiler has been in for 20 or more years and was not installed as it should be. Would a car last 20 years with a bad driver, cheap fuel, and a stuck emergency brake?

The pressure is not causing the expansion noise!!

@ April 19, 2012 9:08 PM in Expansion couplings

The heating of the copper is causing it.

Heat loss needs done before installing boiler

@ April 19, 2012 12:05 AM in Indirect water heater question...

since few people are willing to pay for a heat loss before they get their boiler we include it in our quote. Sizing of boilers is an exact science but the price between sizes is not always that great if a rough heat loss is done when the contractor looks over the system. Water heater sizing is based on fixture loads with common sense to what actual and potential usage is going to be. Also a smaller heater with a higher temp to keep down bacteria growth then going to a mixing valve is what I prefer to use. There was a time I would install large heaters and run low temps with no mixing valve but we live and learn. 

I hate to say it

@ April 18, 2012 11:55 PM in Anything wrong with this baseboard?

I have seen that before. the answer is not much convection going on there at all. maybe 20% of the rated output. so that 120 btu's per foot. drain it, cut it, turn it 90 degrees, and reinstall it. The crowd goes wild as the room feels so toasty now!

The expansion tank has nothing to do with

@ April 18, 2012 11:32 PM in Expansion couplings

the expansion of the piping, just the water volume in the system as a whole. running an out door set back control and constant circulation can help with expansion noises as the pipe changes less due to a more even temp that ramps up and down due to the change in the heat loss of your home. SImply the water in the pipe gets warmer as the outdoors gets colder. This also reduces fuel usage as you only heat the water to the temp you need at that time, not to max temp for a short time then off.

What is wrong with steam?

@ April 18, 2012 11:13 PM in Changing to gas - two bids, which one??

Some of the loans are written to exclude steam systems. Smith boilers are factory rated to fire on gas or oil depending on the burner used. I do service all of Mass when it really comes down to it so feel free to contact me about your system. If you click below it will bring you to my information with my phone number.I ack also stock a fair number of used cast iron radiators and I can get new if it is needed.