Heating Help

I don't see where..

@ September 6, 2012 5:59 PM in Pricey plumbers

he's complaining about the quality, only the cost.
His last line is priceless..

"Indoor plumbing at such a price is a luxury I'll have to reconsider."

Maybe someone could quote him an outhouse. And a water pump in the yard.
"The pump don't work 'cause a vandal stole the handle"
I still lived in Northwest Indiana in 1980, working at a factory. I drove down a two lane highway the same time every morning, through corn fields, pastures and the occasional farm house. There was a good ol' boy who had a working outhouse in his backyard. How do I know it was "working?" Because at the exact same time that I was driving to work, every day, rain, shine, or snow, the good ol' boy was "using" it, with the door wide open, smoking a cigarette.

At least he was regular.

The house is still there, the outhouse, and probably the good ol' boy, is gone. I think of him every time someone complains about indoor plumbing.

I disagree..

@ April 19, 2012 12:19 PM in Effect of 1/2" PEX Section on Baseboard Loop

Stuff like that makes people hate radiant heat and put in forced error.

Pipe dope

@ January 23, 2012 4:52 PM in ProPress vs NIBCO vs Xpress

If you ask "what pipe dope is best?", twenty people will answer with twenty different answers and twenty different ways to do things.

Each person has a particular brand of dope and tape and style of sealing fittings that works best for them, in what they do (not all the same). The pipe dope and tape I use has never failed me, so I do not want to try anything new. Trying something new might not work and I don't want to "un-pipe" something to fix a leak, when what I have and what I do, does not leak.

I have used ProPress for years, all sizes. Never had a leak. Why would I ever try another brand of press fit? Only to save money, as far as I can tell. I have to look at the money saved (and trying something new at a customers house, would you want your house to be my test lab?) and compare the money saved to the cost of fixing it if it doesn't work like the stuff I know works.

The guys that use ProPress will swear by it. The guys that use the other stuff will swear by that. It might boil down to who is in your area and what support they offer.

I tried ProPress in my house first, then my Mom's house (god love her) and that's all I ever use and all I recommend, to those that ask.

Funny no, sad yes.

@ January 11, 2012 11:05 AM in Want a laugh?

I see worse than that on a weekly basis.

I find it sad.

For all of us who have a proper hot water heating system and appreciate the benefits of hydronic heating, there are many that have systems just like that one shown in that thread. These are the people that hate hydronic heating and rip out all of their radiators.

I had a lady ask me how could such a nice guy such as myself be involved in such a "despicable" form of heating as that provided by a boiler. Her words. She had a system just like that one shown.

When I advertised on this site, I'd get calls from diyers in my area that were assisted by others on this site in building their own system. All were worse than what you refer to.

I find it a shame and I believe it brings us all down.

How far apart?

@ December 12, 2011 10:30 PM in new TT Solo 60 propane, yellow flame?

What is the real difference in height between the boiler and outside exhaust point?

You said three feet?

Or is it really seven feet?

Just wondering.

Questions..

@ December 7, 2011 5:24 PM in Question for homeowners

Dan,
   What are your son-in-laws' feelings on the vehicle the contractor drives?

The cost of the electronic devices is a drop in the bucket compared to vehicle costs. I see some would not prefer to see a contractor pull up in an Escalade. Would a Yugo make anyone feel better?

Your son-in-law wants someone to use a tape measure? OK, when I take all of these measurements back to my office, does he expect/want me to do an old fashioned, long-form, paper Manual J? Has he ever seen one of these, and does he realize what is involoved with that? Or would the use of load-clac software violate his views?

Would he pay for the time it takes to accomplish this?

ProPress

@ December 3, 2011 12:44 PM in solder stains on basement floor

   I take great pride in my solder joints. I also take great pride in keeping a customers' home and boiler room clean.

   My use of ProPress goes behind cleanliness. Several years ago, I had to solder multiple copper lines buried up inside of some 120 year old solid-as-a-rock oak joists. It was the end of a long day and I was ready to go home. It dawned on me there are certain dangers to holding an open flame next to wood that is so old and dry.

    That was the last time I used my torch. I bought my ProPress kit the next day. While most customers will never understand or appreciate it, none of my work involves having an open flame inside their home. It's a minor detail to be sure, but some plumbers would look at splattering solder all over a job as being a minor detail as well.

Something else doesn't look right.....

@ August 31, 2011 11:17 PM in new TT Solo 60 propane, yellow flame?

You "modified" the gas jet??????

Please elaborate.

Two thumbs up

@ July 22, 2011 2:49 PM in Question about Heat Load Calc....

...for HVAC-Calc. There is no "fudge factor" built into HVAC-Calc.

Those that got 'em

@ July 18, 2011 5:12 PM in Wonder what it cost per hour to run this system...

     A few weeks ago, I was sitting at a light on an expressway off-ramp. In my mirrors, I saw some type of 2 seat Mercedes sports car I had not seen before. It pulled up alongside me and it was sharp as could be, very space-age looking and sounding.

    As he pulled away, I noticed he had a vanity license plate that read "I FX HRTS".
    This is the way I look at it...he's a heart doctor, right? That guy gets up every morning and cuts peoples chests' open (he might even have a lackey for that), he puts his hand on your heart, he even turns it off, cuts and slices on it, then turns it back on again. All in a days work.

   I want that dude to have a whole fleet of one-of-a-kind Mercedes sports cars.

And I also want that dude to have a clear driveway to get out of at 3 ayem if he ever needs to get to the hospital and fix my heart.

AHJ, well, let's see, um....

@ April 27, 2011 1:06 PM in 560k output for 3200 sq ft

One of the things I left out was....The homeowner told me the 83k boiler and floor heating was done by a city employee  who did boilers "on the side"

Thank you Alan

@ April 27, 2011 12:35 PM in 560k output for 3200 sq ft

It was very, what's the word....cathartic....to get that off of my chest.

I feel better already.

560k output for 3200 sq ft

@ April 27, 2011 12:25 PM in 560k output for 3200 sq ft

I commonly see 250k boilers in 1200 sq ft homes. I've seen so many 120 gal indirects in single bath homes that it doesn't even shock me anymore. I saw an 1800 sq ft split level a while back that had two 150k boilers and one 100k f/a system and they were still uncomfortable. This one surprised even me...

700,000 btu input, 560,000 output cast iron boiler. Someone decided that might be a tad too much, so they capped off a few of the burners. Homeowner wants high eff. boiler and indirect. Homeowners comments in quotes...

In my original snooping around, I asked them if they had heating problems in (3) of their upstairs rooms. I even pointed the rooms out. "Why yes, those rooms get so chilly in the winter, we can't spend much time in them. How do you know this?"

I explained that they had a converted gravity system and there were some flaws in the conversion that could be remedied now, or remedied later when a new boiler is installed. I thought that me finding this would be worth a few cootie points later.

Then I see the 83,000 btu output boiler. Used for floor heating the 750 sq ft addition. With no mixing or temp controls, unless you consider an aquastat set at 180 and wall thermostats as temp controls. Floor temp so hot I couldn't hold my hand on the floor. "We always wear shoes, anyway"

Then I see the ductwork and air handler. "So we could have a/c"
Then I see the air handler is actually a f/a furnace, 150k. "We figured we might as well add the furnace instead of just an air handler. Gives us extra heat".

Let's think about this a minute...700,000 output in a 3950 sq ft house and there are rooms they can't use and some of the rooms they can use, they have to wear shoes.

I'm sure some of you are thinking....Way to go Mike, you'll fix that right up. That'll be a good job for ya. Think again.

"This other guy is soooo much cheaper"
"You're the smartest guy we've had in here, no one else could ever tell us why we had rooms that were cold. We'd like you to do this work, if you can do it at this other guys' price"

The other guys' price was not much more than cost of materials.
I guess if you live in a house 20 years and will tolerate rooms that are too cold to occupy in the winter, the bar is not set very high for your own satisfaction. I'll try not to throw my neck out of joint, while I pound my head against the wall.

What type?

@ April 27, 2011 11:53 AM in loctite sealing thread

I only know of two types of dialectric unions....

Those that leak.

Those that are about to leak.

I never use them.

My experience has been..

@ January 23, 2011 2:38 PM in A little survey

If you're talking about contractors buying equipment on-line, it costs me less to buy from my wholesalers. They support me, they'll open up for me at 4 am on a Sunday morning. Even if the wholesalers were more money, I would still support them, for what they give me...up to date training, no hassle warranty, open after hours, parts on hand, etc.

If you're talking about homeowners/diyers' buying equipment on-line...my price for the equipment to the homeowner as part of an installation is always lower than what they pay for it on-line. Every few months I go to various on line sites and price check. Every single time my equipment price is lower, as part of an install.

I have never seen a diy install end well. Keep in mind, most will never call me. They install a boiler, spend x amount of money, save maybe 20% on their gas bill and call it a success. That internet supplier is not going to be there when it fails at 4 am on a Sunday morning.

Those that I've seen could have been done by me for less money than they actually spent. It would have always worked right. There would have been a warranty and most of all, instead of saving 20%, they would probably save 40%, some save 50%.

If I were you..

@ January 19, 2011 9:19 PM in "steam radiators" used in a hot water system?

I would be more concerned with what looks like scorching on the front panel of that boiler.

When was the last time it was serviced?

Before you guys go too far..

@ December 29, 2010 9:38 AM in What is the appropriate heat source to use

I can't cite the exact code chapter and verse, but my understanding is, in the State of Illinois, you cannot use a water heater for space heating. I've seen what you guys are recommending get ripped out, due to code violation.

50 btu/sq. ft is not uncommon in my area.

Don't ream the inside

@ December 27, 2010 9:43 AM in Reaming Pex-Al

The tool is for stripping the outer layer of aluminum. It does not "ream" or otherwise modify the inside diameter of Fostapex. I can't comment on other brands, Viega is all I use.

If you're using compression fittings, just buy the Fostapex tool. I costs much less than any crimp ring type tool.

Don't forget the Pro

@ December 27, 2010 9:38 AM in Hot water Heat repairs and warranty Q

Don't just blindly start putting in finned tube baseboard, at least not without a room by room heat loass calc.

I've seen and repaired numerous foreclosed or vacant properties where the gas to the house was shut off (non payment). Cracked pipes, cracked radiators. None of it repairable, other than taking it out.

Some buildings have such a high heat loss that wall to wall baseboard is not enough to heat the space. I use panel radiators.

Made of resin?

@ December 27, 2010 9:29 AM in Reaming Pex-Al

The Viega Fostapex outside reaming tool I have is made of metal. I suppose you could use it by hand.

The small hex on each end is intended to be chucked into a drill.

I vote Testo

@ December 22, 2010 9:30 AM in Testo 327 or Bacharach Insight?

I have the Testo 330-1, with the infrared (sp?) printer. One of the best tools I ever bought. I can't speak for how responsive it is compared to others, Testo is all I've ever owned. I only see nat gas here in the Greater Chicago area.

The battery charge lasts a very long time. You can use this instrument while it's plugged into a wall outlet, so it's never been an issue.

I save the customers name and address and it prints out on the analysis. My name, phone number and e mail prints out along the bottom. I print two copies, one I staple to the customers' copy of my report, the other I staple to my copy, even though it is saved in the instrument.

I met Testos' Jim Bergman at a trade show a few years ago, one of the sharpest guys I've ever met. He has written many trade articles and has some youtube videos out there as well. I believe it's his dad that set up a web site to buy hvac diagnostic equipment from, including Testo. Send me a pm and I'll look up the address.

This might not help, but

@ September 23, 2010 9:56 PM in Pro-Press and Similar Systems

I have not used my ProPress on glycol, yet. ProPress is all I use, though, for residential boilers. All of my work is with city water. I have never had any "weepage" or streaks, drips, drabs or any leaks what-so-ever. Best tool money I ever spent.

Every system I've done, I maintain. I bought my ProPress about (4) years ago, so I have about (4) years of work that I've kept an eye on.

As far as glycol, every other contractor I've run into, I've asked what their experience has been using ProPress with glycol (since I'm aware of the thread you may be speaking of). All of them said they have never had any problems of any kind.

The main supply house I buy my ProPress from also recommends it for glycol use. The way I look at that, for the big volume they sell, if there were any glycol problems, they would know about, it. And, they would not be telling me it's OK to use if it wasn't.

I hope that helps.