Heating Help

Clarification

@ November 18, 2005 3:07 PM in Burnham Boiler Casting Problems

Thanks for the clarification Glenn. Is this (boiler prtection) a big issue on the smaller residential boilers? Neil

Prolong Period of Time

@ November 18, 2005 2:09 PM in Burnham Boiler Casting Problems

Glenn: What is considered prolong period of time for low temp return? I think all boilers should have the boiler protection built to avoid this. I have been to numerous family/friends houses and seen the direct piping with no bypass or boiler protection, including my house. Are all these boilers prone to failure soon due to lack of protection or, protection is only needed with high mass systems? Neil

Tim

@ October 31, 2005 12:31 PM in kick plate heating

What brand unit do you have? I like the Turbonics ... T4/5, problem is the fan turns on when it senses the water at 137-140, and durning the shoulder months my water temp is at 130 and much less where the kickspace will be installed. Unless I change the temp sensor. Neil

Thanks

@ October 28, 2005 3:15 PM in Aqustat l8148

Very informative ... thankyou Neil

ODR

@ October 28, 2005 2:54 PM in Aqustat l8148

How does the ODR ties into all of this? easy? What is considered low/medium mass, when I completely drain my gas boiler I drain 10 gallons. Neil

Limits

@ October 28, 2005 1:51 PM in Aqustat l8148

Ron: Thanks for the explanation. Why is it called triple aquastat? The low limit of for the circulator and the high limit if for burner, where is the 3rd? Would one just replaced the current high limit aquastat with this new unit and wire accordingly? Neil

understanding Some more

@ October 28, 2005 1:05 PM in Aqustat l8148

Ron: Just to get some more insight of the triple aquastat. You said this turns off the circ untill the boiler reaches temp (doesnt the boiler reaches temp quickly due to no circulation? ) and when the boiler reaches temp, it then allows the circ to turn on, at this point, isnt the system dumping cooler water from the emitters into a now hot boiler? isnt it better to circulate cooler water with a cooler boiler contents than the above due to the operation of the triple aquastat? Neil

Distance

@ October 21, 2005 9:23 AM in Problem with Monoflo system

The smaller the distance between supply and return the lower the flow. Radiators above the lines can be spaced as close as 6 inches (this I read here on the Wall). Radiators below the line needs to be spaced at least the width of the radiator. Now your DR radiator is above the line, so you can space less than the width of the radiator. NOW, since the radiator is second on the line, depending on the size of the radiator the orginal installations would have space the Ts closer in order to balance the heat output (the water is hotter since closer to boiler) you follow? Are you good at soldering copper? and know how to drain and refill your system and remove air from the system? Neil

Re-pipe

@ October 21, 2005 9:15 AM in Problem with Monoflo system

Dany: I have a split level from the 50s and the monoflo is well balanced, except for the mst bath which was remodel before I took ownership and they replaced the convector with regular BB, I then replaced with a Buderus Panel Rad. I have a Series 2 gas boiler (Burnham) very nice and simple. After installation I became educated on controls and heatloss etc. Should I do it again I will go with the Buderus. I added the Tekmar 256 control and thus have nice uniform and comfortable heat with almot 90% constant circulation. One problem I had with my system that I fixed this summer was the valves on the convectors, they turn 45deg to throttle the flow, all were leaking, and I needed all of them in the open position. So I replaced all the valves, actually took them out and piped straight into the convector. Flow is better as some were stuck in semi close position, which you should be aware of as well. You main problem as you said the "hacked" radiator is first on the line and started with 1.25" line to 0.5" line then back to 1.25" is a big NO NO for monoflo. You can email me off line if you need to talk more about this. In order to keep the dinning room convector you have to plumb with mono Ts like the other convectors. One thing I did to help my house was upgrade the envelope, I sealed all the windows, around all the doors, replaced all the wooden basement windows and seal/stud and insulate the basement. Then I added R25 insulation to the attic to total R50 (this made a big difference in my gas bill). I did all the work so the savings was even greater for me. Good luck and if your boiler is 30 yrs old, first fix the envelope, then a heatloss (we can do this easily with the free s/w I got from here) and THEN size a boiler for your system and of course balance back the monoflo system. If you need a pro, I got one from here for my brother who installed a Buderus system and the work they did was ART!!!! Neil

Line

@ October 20, 2005 3:16 PM in Problem with Monoflo system

Dany: Taking out that unit will help ... a ranch or split level? If you are thinking of throwing out any convectors I am looking for one of the covers for the small units. They are called convectors and they DO put out a lot of BTUs. Is the dinning room convector the first on the line from the boiler (meaning hotter water). Outdoor reset is very nice especially in mild weather like now where you can keep the water at 140 instead of 180. Tekmar have nice products and they are a few others, I added a Tekmar 256 to my system and love it. Where in Eastmeadow? I grew up on Merrick Ave in Barnum Woods. Neil

A little Question

@ October 20, 2005 12:56 PM in start up

You said your system will be ready in a few days, who is installing it? To me, the installer, be it you or a professional should be able to start it up. Neil

Long Island

@ October 20, 2005 12:55 PM in Problem with Monoflo system

I am a homeowner, with Monoflow and boy did I educate myself on its operations, air etc and I cleaned up most of my system as well. Do you have convectors? Recessed wall convectors? I am in Bellmore, where are you located? Going from 1.25" main to 0.5" inline for the dinning room heater is causing flow problems. Flow is critical for monoflow system. Actuall to think of it I love my monoflow, when designed correctly and balance give off great uniform heat and when coupled with an outdoor reset. Neil

@ October 12, 2005 2:18 PM in \"Free\" boilers from the gas company

I agree Fred, for me was the trouble of removing a 550 UST with previous owner and given the fact gas is higher, I wanted low maintainance and worries about tanks in basement or freezing or refilling. For me was mainly preference. Neil

Long Island-NY

@ October 12, 2005 12:16 PM in \"Free\" boilers from the gas company

Keyspan use to do that a while back, sometimes they have the boiler for $299. Last September when I swithced from oil to gas (new owwner/old system) I received a free Burnham Series 2 from Keyspan. Neil

Fundamental

@ October 12, 2005 12:13 PM in Thermocouple - Yearly Srvc

Tim: I am not trying to perform my own services, but just trying to undertand what is needed to keep the system healthy. Now, if the bruners are cleaned, and you have sufficient air for combustion, on GAS BOILERS, what can change to degrade efficiency and or safety? I had a company here on Long Island installed my Series 2 last September, and while the plumbing and gas piping was excellent the technical area was lacking. They installed a Tekmar 256 and the damn circ would only run when the boiler fire :( Had to rewire the entire system. I did my own heat loss calculations etc. very difficult to find good companies I tell ya. Neil

Burner

@ October 12, 2005 9:05 AM in Thermocouple - Yearly Srvc

Tim: Thanks for your feedback, I was looking at my gas boiler, now with oil I know the filter, nozzle etc to be serviced yearly, but with gas (besides the thermocouple) I can only see the burners being cleaned and blown out and of course the combustion test. But from what I have read on this forum and talking to plp. not a lot of folks have the combustion equiptment. Neil

Homeowner

@ October 11, 2005 4:20 PM in Thermocouple - Yearly Srvc

I am a homeowner with a one year old Burnham Series 2 gas boiler. How often should the thermocouple be changed, dont want to wait for it to die and be stranded. Also what yearly service should be done to the gas boiler as this post is similar to the oil service thread. Thanks for the input, Neil

Secure

@ September 23, 2005 10:42 AM in Air Flow - Convector

Was thinking of securing it with liquid nail ....... Neil

Air Restriction

@ September 23, 2005 10:13 AM in Air Flow - Convector

I have in wall convector cabinets on a hot water system. Some of the walls are not that well insulated. I would like to add say the 1/2 inch foam panel with the reflective foil side facing in and mount on the panel inside to help keep the hot air generated by the convector from being sucked in from the cold wall cabinet. Is this a good idea or would I affect the volume of the cabinet and thus the output? Neil

Great Idea .....

@ September 21, 2005 8:08 AM in Convector

Bob: I like your idea and may do so with my wall recessed convectors, would the say 1/4 inch thick foam affect the flow of air/ volume of air moving thru the convector etc? Neil

Phil

@ September 16, 2005 3:55 PM in Thread Leak in Cast Iron to Bronze Valve

I was the culprit to raise the dead here Phil :) Is that Patchogue on LI? Neil (Bellmore)

Phil

@ September 16, 2005 3:47 PM in Thread Leak in Cast Iron to Bronze Valve

> Boy did this thread take a wild time warp
> trip!