Heating Help

And

@ April 10, 2013 1:36 PM in BumbleBee question

How about a cast-iron boiler, and not a mod/con? Would the results be an overheating HX?

Hmmm

@ April 10, 2013 1:26 PM in BumbleBee question

If you were to do that on the primary of P/S wouldn't you overheat the HX? The instructions are clear that sensor placement is very important.

Paul

@ April 10, 2013 10:20 AM in first drop header

What's going on with the returns, and shouldn't they be connected below the water line?

smihaila

@ April 8, 2013 11:13 PM in Control options with Vitodens 200 WB2B (Vitotronic 200 + Vitotrol 300)

I'm curious as to how long you would think that the boiler should be shut off for? The boiler would be attempting to provide just enough heat to compensate for the loss from the structure. It can't be more efficient than that. You would be interfering with that, causing the sytem to cool, and then cause it fire higher than normal when it restarted, and sacrificing efficiency. It is not a snapshot, it's a dynamic process.You seem to think the boiler would over-heat the house, and that is just not the case. You keep applying "Old School" thought processes to this new technology.

re:service

@ April 5, 2013 6:16 PM in How often should the boiler limit switch be reached?

Is the boiler oil-fired or gas? Soot reduces efficiency. Annual service is a must. If you can't remember exactly when it was serviced last, you may be only getting 50% out of the boiler. A gas boiler can easily get 1/16" of soot a year, and that's a 4.5% reduction alone. Oil would be worse still.Your fuel dollars are going up the chimney.

COM

@ April 5, 2013 1:23 PM in Thermostat C wire to "COM" on Taco SR502?

There's only 1 transformer, so the COM has to be the same for all the 24v connections. Beyond that, I'd have to read the thermostat directions, and if it called for it, I'd use that COM connection.

OK

@ April 5, 2013 12:30 PM in Thermostat C wire to "COM" on Taco SR502?

I don't see 3 wires at the thermostat, and I also see new( modern) wire at the switching relay and old cloth covered at the thermostat.If there is 3 wires at the thermostat, make sure whereever they spliced the old and new , they connected all 3.

Misconceptions?

@ April 5, 2013 11:07 AM in How often should the boiler limit switch be reached?

       The thermostat is just a switch that operates the relay in the aquastat,just like a light switch in your home.In your home the "hot" comes from the breaker panel to a light switch, then to a light bulb, then returns to the panel as a neutral,forming a circuit. In an aquastat, the 24 volt "hot" comes off one side of the transformer, then goes to one side of the relay coil. Then the wire goes from the other side of the coil to one "T" connection. From that "T" connection the wire goes out to the thermostat, through a set of contacts, and returns to the other "T" connection, and finally to the common connection of the transformer.
       If my description is hard to follow, draw it on a piece of paper.

Sounds

@ April 5, 2013 9:55 AM in How often should the boiler limit switch be reached?

It sounds like it's not radiant. How many wires do you have to that thermostat? When was the last time the boiler was cleaned and serviced?

Valves

@ April 2, 2013 12:20 PM in filling the system

      You need valves on either end of the attic loop to isolate it from the system.Then you fill it with a garden hose, two actually...one filling and the other out to the lawn or drain. Make sense? Static system pressure of around 15-18 should keep it full, and a means of removing air automatically would be a good idea.
     Your test by opening the valve is flawed. Put a straw vertically in a glass of water, then put your thumb over the top of the straw and lift it out of the water. The water will stay in the straw until you remove your thumb.

This One

@ April 1, 2013 3:44 PM in Need Help With Honeywell Relay

Part #51 
http://residentialparts.usboiler.net/gas/independence.php

This One?

@ April 1, 2013 3:34 PM in Need Help With Honeywell Relay

http://titaniccontrols.com/honeywell-r8222k1000-spst-relays-great-price/
Sorry, I see that's a 1014....but that's what comes back for the search.

Many

@ March 31, 2013 7:20 PM in 275 gallon tank piping question

Old tanks have been burst in basements by a driver using fast-fill on an old tank with a small vent.

heatpro

@ March 31, 2013 12:39 PM in Help identifying what I've got

I just think he would be better served by bringing in a pro, and let him go over the system. He has options, and there may be other things wrong in the system. He may opt to just fix the issues related to comfort, and that's fine. I think the operative is "qualified". They need someone, such as yourself, that can make the system comfortable and efficient.

Finite Oil Reserves

@ March 31, 2013 9:18 AM in US shale gas to heat British homes within five years

The only argument among the scientists, is how long the oil will last. They all agree it will run out.They were arguing 25 to 35 years, long before the rapid modernization in China began. It would seem that those countries that rely on it the least will be in the best position as we approach and pass that threshold.Have you heard the expression " Stupid like a fox"? Why should the U.S. deplete its reserves? Let the middle east, and other areas run themselves out of oil first, and we come out on top.

What will it do?

@ March 31, 2013 8:23 AM in Help identifying what I've got

       I'd suspect it adversely affects hydraulic seperation.Because you can get away it on most,or many jobs doesn't mean you can ignore the rules.Whether it's affecting the performance of this system....I don't know. Is there air in the system, that's not being removed, because the scoop is not plumbed correctly? Is there backflow prevention on there? Would the system benefit from a control upgrade with ODR?
       Where do you start? If you have one tire on your car that is bald every 5000 miles, do you just keep changing the tire? Or buy 10 tires because you get a better price?
       I'm just a Machinist, you are the HVAC professional. I just don't troubleshoot that way.

Read This

@ March 30, 2013 3:23 PM in Help identifying what I've got

http://www.comfort-calc.net/primary-secondary_piping_tutorial.html 
In addition, you would get a properly functioning air removal device. Yours, as plumbed, will not work properly. If you choose, you can eliminate 2 of those circs, and zone with valves. There are many possibilites that you would have to discuss with the contractor.

Important

@ March 29, 2013 9:29 PM in 275 gallon tank piping question

Fill and vent of equal size.

Austin

@ March 29, 2013 8:49 PM in Help identifying what I've got

You really need to get a pro in there to help with the near boiler piping,upgrading the controls, and adding necessary radiation. They will do a proper heat loss and make sure you don't freeze your arse off. In the mean time, anything you can do to tighten the envelope in those cold areas will help. Add insulation, have the sills foamed, new windows, whatever you can do. Where are you located?

Yep

@ March 28, 2013 9:47 PM in Just Don't Get Modcon Boiler Pump Charts!

Taco Delta T circ, or Taco Bumblebee

Small Stuff

@ March 28, 2013 9:28 PM in Help identifying what I've got

The distance to the elbows. The scoop is useless piped there. No backflow.

Slim

@ March 28, 2013 9:07 PM in Help identifying what I've got

That circ is on the return.