Heating Help

Here is a

@ February 14, 2013 7:40 PM in Do these Gov-Board (or Burnham Baseray) radiators comes apart?

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Do these Gov-Board (or Burnham Baseray) radiators comes apart?

@ February 14, 2013 2:02 PM in Do these Gov-Board (or Burnham Baseray) radiators comes apart?

We have a Governale Gov-Board radiator that is indentical to Burnham Baseray. One section seems to be leaking. Radiators is only 5 yrs old. Do these tend to come apart easily so I could change a section myself? Thanks. Dave

We live in a large apt building

@ February 13, 2013 3:18 PM in brand name for baseboard steam radiator (looks like Burnham)

with 200 apts. not sure what would cause it to fail. Just got new boiler a year ago.

So, do I

@ February 13, 2013 12:09 PM in brand name for baseboard steam radiator (looks like Burnham)

Need to just replace whole radiator? I guess there is no recourse as it is out of warranty.

When I called Governale,

@ February 13, 2013 10:57 AM in brand name for baseboard steam radiator (looks like Burnham)

They were not helpful. She basically said it shouldn't have failed but is out of warranty. Guy at supply house said he didn't expect it, but "sometimes they leak."
Don't know what else to do except either get new radiator or repair old. Here is photo.

Would it be possible

@ February 13, 2013 10:04 AM in brand name for baseboard steam radiator (looks like Burnham)

to rebuild radiator with push nipples between parts that were leaking? Are these rebuilable like older radiators? Thanks

Governale Gov Board

@ February 12, 2013 4:23 PM in brand name for baseboard steam radiator (looks like Burnham)

So I was able to read the name. It is Gov Board by Governale. Back in 2008, we had replaced a leaking one with this new one.
Now, 5 yrs later, it has a small pinhole leak coming from inside one of the slotted openings.
When I called the company, they said they only offer a 1 yr warranty. I would think cast iron should be warranted for 10 yrs minimum!
Will this tiny leak continue to get larger, or should I just wait to see? Currently, a drop of water will come out and dry before it even runs down the front.
Or is there anything repairable in it? The saleman mentioned a seal.
Thanks
Dave

brand name for baseboard steam radiator (looks like Burnham)

@ February 12, 2013 10:11 AM in brand name for baseboard steam radiator (looks like Burnham)

We have an old radiator that looks like the Burnham Baseray with oblong slots. It has so much paint on it that I cannot read the name. Does anyone know the brand? It looks alot longer than Burnham. Thanks

Water temps for hydro-air

@ October 22, 2011 10:14 AM in Water temps for hydro-air

Hello,
We have a Hydroair system with a gas-fired boiler and a buffer tank. The buffer tank has its own aquastat and is the only device that can cause the boiler to turn on. Currently, I have it set for 170 degrees for the hydroair system.
The boiler has a high fire burner and an operating burner. I have the high fire set to only operate when the outdoor temps are below 20 degrees and have had no problems over the previous 2 winters.
I have the operating water temp for the boiler set at 180 degrees and the high fire set at 160. So high fire burner will only come on if inlet water temp in boiler is less than 160 (and outdoor temp is less than 20), and boiler turns off at 180 degrees. Buffer tank stops calling for heat at 170 degrees.
I am trying to make the system as economical as possible while balancing comfort. Does anyone have advice as to what would be good numbers for each parameter?

Thanks
Dave

Lochinvar EBN300 boiler continuously cycling on and off

@ October 17, 2011 5:33 PM in Lochinvar EBN300 boiler continuously cycling on and off

We have a Lochinvar EBN300 boiler which is piped to an Ergomax buffer tank. When the ergomax thermostat calls for heat, the pump pumps water from the tank to the boiler and also trip the tt switch on boiler. I noticed the boiler seemed to be cycling alot. I went downstairs and looked at the temps.
The Ergomax thermostat is set at 160 degrees. The boiler operating temp is set at 180. The Ergomax was calling for heat, and the temp of the water was only 140 degrees. The boiler would come on and gas burner would light. Gas burner would stay on for 10 seconds and shut off. Boiler would go through purge and start right back up again.
I know it can't be wiring of Ergomax to boiler, because when I turn Ergomax thermostat down, everything stops running and boiler shuts off.
Pump is operating as is flow sensor as they will not allow gas burner to light if malfunctioning.
Temp gauges on boiler piping show inlet temp of about 140 and outlet of about 160 when boiler is running.
Any other ideas?
Thanks
Dave

It is a Zonefirst MSR actuator

@ October 7, 2011 8:24 PM in Warm air seeping out of hydroair vents

for the damper. I turned the master bedroom thermostat up high. The damper was not open. I then twisted the actuator a little, and it opened on its own. I did not hear anything like binding metal on metal. Not sure what was binding. Is either the actuator or the damper supposed to be lubricated? If so, what should I use? Thanks.

Warm air seeping out of hydroair vents

@ October 7, 2011 7:59 AM in Warm air seeping out of hydroair vents

Just turned on the heat to try I out this AM. The a/c worked fine this summer as far as blowing from the vents. I noticed that the hydroair coil was nice a hot, and the fan was on (Trane). But the air was only seeping out of the vents. Usually, you can hear it blowing out. We have 2 zones. There are two motorized shutters in the ductwork. One is for MBR and one for other 2 BRs.
From the look of the positions of the motor shafts, it looks like MBR one is open and second one is closed. Which is correct. But very little airflow in MBR. Filters etc are clean. Could it be that shutter is somehow binding? What are they typically lubricated with?
Thanks
Dave

I'll look into a manual vent.

@ April 1, 2011 10:45 AM in system pressure

But I always turn off the gate valve underneath to prevent leaks or air entry. The vent is not clogged. So should I raise pressure at boiler until water just comes out of vent when I open it?

I'm just not sure

@ April 1, 2011 10:37 AM in system pressure

why no air or water will come out when I press on vent. I assumed it was because the press was too low. Normally, I get a little water when I press on the needle in the valve.

system pressure

@ April 1, 2011 10:17 AM in system pressure

We have 3 hydro-air handlers. Our highest one is a good 35 feet above the boiler. One summer, about 3 years ago, we went away for a couple weeks, and I shut off the boiler. The pressure in the system dropped, and the system sucked air through the vent on the top floor air handler. So in the winter, the upper most air handler was air-locked.
I currently keep the system pressure at 24 and have had no other issues with air in system. Also, on the uppermost unit, I have a gate valve under the vent which I shut off. Occasionally, I will open the gate valve and purge a tiny bit of air out of the vent then reclose the valve.
Lately, I have noticed that the pressure of the system is around 21-22 with no obvious leaks. If I go to the uppermost unit and press the schrader valve on the vent, no air or fluid comes out. I assume that it is because the system pressure is too low to purge out of the vent.
If I leave the gate valve directly below the vent in the closed position, is there any problem with running the system at a lower pressure (20-21psi) since the system is closed? I would assume that there is nowhere for air to enter the system in the uppermost air handler.
I hate to keep adding water as it dilutes the glycol in the system.
Thanks
Dave

Not sure.

@ August 26, 2010 12:40 PM in new compressor with older freon?

The wife was there today and said that he said we had a short that somehow affected the compressor, wrecking it.

He said

@ August 26, 2010 12:18 PM in new compressor with older freon?

the compressor shorted out. It is only about 9 yes old.

new compressor with older freon?

@ August 26, 2010 10:26 AM in new compressor with older freon?

Our Lennox central air unit died (needs a new compressor). The repairman came and we need a whole new unit as the older freon is ozone depleting. Are there still parts available that are compatible with the older freon? Aren't they able to capture the freon from the unit and just reinstal it in the new compressor so we don't have to spend $4000? We did not have a freon leak, so I assum it is still fine.
Thanks.
Dave

I'll take a closer

@ April 27, 2010 2:54 PM in scorched siding under boiler direct vent

look. If it is rot, how would you recommend sealing it? I was thinking of sealing all 4 sides of termination with big temp silicone as well as sealing inner pipe to termination where it pokes inside.

How about this idea?

@ April 27, 2010 1:38 PM in scorched siding under boiler direct vent

True. The galvanized metal shield inside is pretty rusty. But the cedar shingles do look charred. I was thinking of the following: use a heat proof silicone mat cutto size under the termination. Then use high temp silicone to caulk where inner tube goes through termination and also between silicone mat and siding as well as between silicone mat and termination.

Well...

@ April 26, 2010 5:02 PM in scorched siding under boiler direct vent

I spoke with the rep from Lochinvar, and he said that the pipe within pipe setup was fine (picture without vent termination), but that the termination should indeed be spaced away from house. he did not have any ideas on how to do that though.
I'm wondering if there is anything I could purchase that would allow the termination to sit a little proud of the siding and still look good. Any ideas? Maybe one of those vinyl siding protectors that are sold separately? It has to somehow prevent water, etc from getting behind it too.

Check out page 15....

@ April 26, 2010 8:02 AM in scorched siding under boiler direct vent

That is the exact terminus we have.
http://www.lochinvar.com/_linefiles/EB-EW-I&S.pdf