Steve
Joined on January 12, 2008
Last Post on April 15, 2013
Recent Posts
Yale University
@ April 15, 2013 7:38 PM in Yale University
If you are ever near Yale check this out. Notice the cool radiator too.http://artery.wbur.org/2013/04/15/rais-craft-bosto
Get a patent
@ April 9, 2013 11:00 AM in More efficient water heater.
You do that and you will be a billionaire.More efficient water heater.
@ April 5, 2013 6:16 PM in More efficient water heater.
Or so he claimshttp://www.gizmag.com/cold-water-heater/26941/
Colorado Monoxide Case Moves Toward Trial
@ April 4, 2013 4:39 PM in Colorado Monoxide Case Moves Toward Trial
http://www.jlconline.com/liability/colorado-monoxide-case-moves-toward-trial.aspx?utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=jump&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=JLCNL_040413&day=2013-04-04Main vents
@ March 30, 2013 5:46 PM in Radiators spitting water immediately after insulating pipes in basement
Have you determined if the main vents are working and/or of sufficient size? Also was her boiler ever skimmed?Pics
@ February 27, 2013 4:10 PM in How to regulate temperature? 77+ deg. in bdrmm & 70deg. in livrm
Can you post some pics of the boiler and piping. Also can you draw a map of the pipe and apartment bld layout.Radon
@ February 25, 2013 4:11 PM in 100 yr old Steam Boiler Coal-to-Oil Converted - Replace or... Help?
You should have the house tested for radon. If it comes up positive there are ways to mitigate it out of the house but they are not cheap nor should they be skipped. Hopping a leaky house takes care of the problem is short sighted. Also the radon needs to be vented out of the basement not thru the house.Yes deep energy retrofits are a bit absurd. However there a re things you can do that will help a lot. Insulating the attic is the biggest bang for your buck. Before this is done all gaps and cracks should be sealed with foam. The space between the chimney and framing should be sealed with sheet metal and firestop foam. I covered my attic with 12" of cellulose and it made an immediate difference, think about adding 14". Home Depot gives you the machine to use free when you buy the insulation from them. I would not recommend fiberglass batt. It is difficult to install perfectly and air can move thru it reducing its effectiveness.
Get an energy assessment done. They usually bring a inferred camera and it is a real eyeopener to where the problems are.
http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/Residential/Programs/Existing-Home-Renovations/How-the-Process-Works/Comprehensive-Home-Energy-Assessment.aspx
http://www.energysavvy.com/topics/home-energy-efficiency-in-new-york/
Insulation
@ February 25, 2013 2:52 PM in 100 yr old Steam Boiler Coal-to-Oil Converted - Replace or... Help?
Replacing the boiler will definitely save money.However the warnings of moisture problems if you insulate are based on limited info and myths. Moisture is a complicated subject. Air sealing is the main tool against moisture problems. Getting the house insulated and air sealed will reduce the size of the boiler you need.
Where is the house located? Many states have no interest loans to upgrade boilers and/or insulation.
The following link has lots of info that can help.
Post some pics of the house, boiler and piping.
http://www.buildingscience.com/search?SearchableText=moisture
True
@ February 18, 2013 12:54 PM in Your ride is almost ready
But this is strictly steam forum. Figured the steam heads would find it interesting.Your ride is almost ready
@ February 18, 2013 12:17 PM in Your ride is almost ready
http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/148416-are-steam-cars-poised-for-an-epic-comebackWater surging
@ February 17, 2013 10:49 AM in water level in steam boiler keeps droppping and triggering LWCO
is a likely culprit. You should do a thorough skimming of your boiler to get all the chemicals and oils out of the system. Your boiler will be much happier. Just an FYI there could be other problems going on. Post pics from different angles of your boiler and some pros here might be able to give you some additional advice.http://www.heatinghelp.com/forum-thread/135204/Will-skimming-fix-classic-steam-heating-problems-new-gas-boiler
What is it?
@ February 1, 2013 9:23 AM in What is it?
From the North Bennett St web site. They are moving into the old printing building in Boston.In case you missed the facebook post of this image, this equipment is under the stairwell in the basement. The plan is to leave it as an artifact of the old printing plant. When it was posted on facebook under the headline ‘What is it?’ Several people responded. Some ideas:
compressors for an old pneumatic zoning system for heat
vacuum pumps used to keep plate films in register
steam powered electricity generators
http://www.nbss.edu/about/news/a-new-home-for-nbss/index.aspx?utm_source=February+2013+News&utm_campaign=February+NEWS&utm_medium=email
Pic 6
@ January 29, 2013 3:33 PM in 9 residential
I noticed a gorton ven in the pic. The small round silver thing. Probably either a C or a D. Kind of odd to see it there. You should take it off and see if it still works. Not where they normally go.http://www.gorton-valves.com/specify.htm
Should be a vent on each run
@ January 27, 2013 4:23 PM in Main Vent valve replacement, cold side very cold
Unless you have a counter flow set up you should see a vent on the end of each return. Not at the farthest radiator.You got it right
@ January 22, 2013 2:22 PM in No pressure? (and a few other questions)
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-yiddish-handbook-40-words-you-should-know/Yes that plug
@ January 22, 2013 11:55 AM in No pressure? (and a few other questions)
Next to the pigtail.You should see some performance enhancements. It should help a little with drier steam and less bouncing of the water line.
If you do it it should be done when the boiler is cold and not running. It should come out as a very slight trickle over a number of hours.
Option?
@ January 22, 2013 11:21 AM in Smallest steam boiler
Maybe if you got a boiler with a tankless option you could put the excess load into a water heater/ storage tank.Pitch
@ January 22, 2013 11:18 AM in 9 residential
If the pipes are hanging from floor joist you should install the lolly columns under the joist instead of the pipe. Or add some pipe hangers in some key areas and then install the columns under the joist.I'd bet some donuts
@ January 22, 2013 11:10 AM in No pressure? (and a few other questions)
that header needs to be redone. A pro will chime in with an opinion soon. The Q of venting the mains depends on the volume of each loop. What size are the pipes and how long is each loop?I would also be willing to bet the boiler has never been skimmed. If the header needs to be redone then skim after, if not do it now.
Main vent placement
@ January 21, 2013 10:45 AM in Main vent placement
I have heard hear before that the ideal place to put the main vents is about 3' back from where the return drops. What about putting the main vents just after the last riser? Some loops have quite a few feet of pipe after the last riser and I do not see the need to fill that part of the main quickly when it is in a sense just a drip return. This might also reduce the number or size of the vents needed.Your thoughts?
vintage ad
@ January 5, 2013 5:09 PM in vintage ad
Found the image on this web site.http://vintage-ads.livejournal.com/tag/1870%27s
