Heating Help

I like flexcon expansion tanks.

@ January 29, 2010 11:18 PM in I like flexcon expansion tanks.

Is the new Watts  ETX-__ expansion tank same as the HTX-__ flexcon expansion tanks?

hits and miss

@ December 27, 2009 2:09 AM in Not just coincidence . So what Is it ?

Wow it happened  again on Wednesday see  my phone only holds 50 texts and lately  I been deleting some old texts I kept thinking someday I may be called back there  this one particularly unique job  I deleted  then Thursday  he calls  needing help boiler is down it has F18 error oh it gets better also the Tekmar snow melt  may have a problem. And I don't have time. 
  Right now I must be missin it, out of sync, or not in tune, slow to learn. I think back just a couple of months and I cannot count how many times this connection with thought and reality has happened . why, I don't keep track. I know of dozen just complete obvious times and now that I may be able to see a trend or pattern I am gonna start to keep a notebook for these thoughts to record and I wonder if being connected is happening far more often than I  can account for and notice.
Oh how valuable a journal would have been . The events and trials from 15 years ago and the journey to the present recorded . So many lessons learned the hard way .
 I think perhaps we all are mysteriously connected in synchronicity or a vast human based electro mechanical radio wave grid . And ESP  may be this thought  should be great if I could learn to  recognize it .
 One reason to keep track is perhaps a lesson I need to learn  for example an F18 error is rare and it doesn't mean what  the manual says I don't get straight answers from tech support  and the F18 usually won't happen when I am at the boiler trouble shooting it cause that would be easy if I can verify the cause and fix it . well  in recent weeks this has been a trend and hopefully lesson learned .Other trends are  T-kjr 4 flash error and Tekmar snow melt controls . it has nothing to do with any manufacturer it is me that is weak and so I have plenty of room to improve. I would like to be more  synchronized and in tune, hitting  more than missing .  
 
 As for plumbers curse. nope , it maybe the right attitude, not curse. see It can be opportunity    to learn a lesson, and help some one in need then comes the reward    oh yeah fixin heat and hot water sure makes people happy again . Gerry Alder

Not just coincidence . So what Is it ?

@ December 24, 2009 1:27 AM in Not just coincidence . So what Is it ?

   Every now and then I'll be thinking of a certain customer and boiler  sometimes  I will bring it up in conversation to my boss or maybe a courtesy follow up call to customer  or its just on my mind .    I'm  seeing a pattern this year  it seems within 24 hrs that very customer  will call  and say please come and fix our heat system . 
Its all good you know  like family .
Anybody  else know what I am talking about . Is it happening to you too?
 Gerry Alder

you may understand the cork gasket if you see an older munchkin

@ December 24, 2009 12:22 AM in Munchkin 140M firing: spark electrode angle?

The cork gasket comes with the blower it really fits the model just older than yours that had the air/gas venturi with honeywell gasvalve . I'm not sure why there would even be a cork gasket there on your blower with a dungs gasvalve and swirlplate .
 I'd be surprised if it actually pitted the ceramic looks like dirty on the surface I think that you can just sand the ceramic clean and smooth on the rectification probe .   Gerry Alder

I'm just thinking

@ December 23, 2009 11:44 PM in monoflow help?

when i saw this job i wondered if it was originally a gravity flow system  because of the large supply and return pipes and if the conversion to pumps was done correct i imagine you would have to manually  vent every single radiator .  Did you put a  ball valve in above the pumps ? wonder if the pumps impeller  are plugged up   after stirring things up.
I'm so sorry if I set you up for a nightmare job .
Sometimes when you start correcting install issues other problems become more apperant.     Gerry Alder

looks normal

@ December 22, 2009 11:49 PM in Munchkin Contender Heat Exchanger

Tough to tell from your pics but to me it looks normal  . if tubes are burned they  be brown color  the shape looks normal too  as well as debri and colors for a boiler that may never been maintained  . I dont know what happen to your control. 

yup

@ December 22, 2009 11:11 PM in Which toekick heater?

Mysoninc.com

BIGGER INDIRECT IS BETTER

@ December 22, 2009 11:02 PM in min BTUs for indirect?

 Just my personal preference .  Using a munchkin 80m I used to have a triangle 40 gal with mixing valve give plenty of hot water for two shower heads  and unlimited hot water for 1 shower head  and that was ok . but after replacing the the 40 gal indirect for the second time I put in a SSU119  with  mixing valve  stpt is 135* with 18* dif,   I think  boiler  actually runs better  much more efficient  the boiler stays in high fire and supply reaches about 160* by the time the indirect satisfies. My summer time gas bill went down almost 10 bucks on this new oversize indirect undersized boiler setup  its as close as I can get to having a reverse indirect since that is what  I really wanted but there is no local supplier  for those & so this is showing a similar performance .
Gerry Alder

CHECK THE SWIRL PLATE TOO.

@ December 22, 2009 10:35 PM in Munchkin 140M firing: spark electrode angle?

 DITTO what is already said The swirl plate mixes air with gas  it is mounted between the gas valve and blower from the looks of the blower picture  I bet you need a new swirl plate too .  If your not buying the 926 control the existing 925 control software can be upgraded to get the long fan postpurge  and longer flame rectification time its almost as good as a 926 upgrade.   Also I use some weather stripping to seal up the cover to cabinet and fill in any other hole and spaces  with insulation try to make it sealed tight  here is why, this is a common problem I seen with side wall venting when boiler is in standby and home is often unusually tight construction outside air easily infiltrates into home thru the exhaust and intake vents as the flow of air comes thru the exhaust, and heat exchanger it is very humid with acidic condensate  this causes the deteration of swirl plate and burner gasket early blower failure this can be compounded  with short cycling and condensate blockage . When you find the  Technician  he should have  a laptop and training  to do the software upgrade on your 925 control also check the fault history you can see total number of ignition cycles and total hours heating and do the math to get your average number cycles per hour  the lower the number of cylces per hour the better . 
That will get you started . Gerry Alder      

OJT

@ December 16, 2009 10:39 PM in Technical Training?troubleshooting Classes

If your hobby is your job  and you do whole lotta service you'll see more and have a great opportunity to learn from every one else's mistakes .

YUP IT MATTERS

@ December 16, 2009 10:10 PM in Closely spaced tees

A hydraulic separator  does it better .  closely spaced tees also need straight pipe in and out something like ten times the pipe diameter. Gerry Alder

HEAVY TANK

@ December 16, 2009 10:00 PM in Vaughn Indirect Water Heater Problem Leak

Vauhn made there water heater tank heavy on purpose . I'd just wipe my hands free of that and buy a stainless tank  and get your own warranty or a Bock has a one time life time tank warranty . who ever has to move this w.h. should get an attaboy .  Gerry Alder 

yup

@ December 16, 2009 8:09 AM in Anyone else havnf trouble with 3-speed Grundfos

 its frustrating when its  a pump i sold in'06 ( I like the customer and I take these issues personal)  then low speed quit so i click it to medium speed  so when pump failed in '08 I replaced it with a taco . I seen other grundfos pumps do it too 40-80  down to 15-58 . currently I am using wilo so far OK.
Gerry Alder 

glycol

@ December 7, 2009 10:42 PM in 2 zone, prim/sec piping, one zone must have constant circulation.

Ok  Im sorry geuss  I should specify the right glycol. Here copy and paste right out of the Munchkin manual.
Use only inhibited propylene
glycol solutions, which are specifically
formulated for hydronic systems.



Use only inhibited propylene
glycol solutions, which are specifically
formulated for hydronic systems.

Glycol??

@ December 7, 2009 7:56 AM in 2 zone, prim/sec piping, one zone must have constant circulation.

Really     glycol NOT recommended in Munchkin and most high eff.  boilers ?       
    I DONT BELIEVE YOU!
Gerry Alder

Keep it simple .

@ December 5, 2009 9:16 AM in 2 zone, prim/sec piping, one zone must have constant circulation.

Why are you avoiding using glycol?

multifunctional buffer tank

@ December 5, 2009 8:54 AM in Water storage tank for hot water boiler

I like the idea of a buffer tank for hydraulic separation dirt and air separation   there are many reasons and applications to consider the proper use of a buffer tank.   Gerry Alder                  [url=http://www.pmmag.com/Articles/Column/7b4f1edc2471b010VgnVCM100000f932a8c0]http://www.pmmag.com/Articles/Column/7b4f1edc2471b010VgnVCM100000f932a8c0____

hydraulic seperation/buffer tank

@ November 22, 2008 6:59 PM in condensing boiler not condensing

http://www.pmengineer.com/Articles/Article_Rotation/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000166945 Mike this should clear it up hope it motivates you too. http://www.caleffi.us/en_US/caleffi/Details/Magazines/pdf/idronics_1_us.pdf I apologize for all the reading material , figure 9,10,11 on pages 8,9 shows how the mixing happens depending on how many or few zones call for heat, this is what you can do with your buffer tank. Enjoy , Gerry A

please clarify

@ November 22, 2008 10:47 AM in condensing boiler not condensing

Mike what is a fr-5? I'm also confused how you have connected the quietside boiler? I'm not familiar with the quietside just been checking it out on the web. it has 1/2" connections for dhw I think which is flow switch activated ,flows thru the plate hx. Has 3/4" boiler supply return connections and a internal pump I think.

same here too

@ November 10, 2008 11:47 PM in Does this happen to anyone else? Mad Dog

when i am done looking at the first pic i hit the X inthe top right corner take me back to post then open the next pic and so on ...

@ November 5, 2008 2:01 AM in be brutally honest please...

cool I'm jealous fun project. Why use the pump relay control you dont need it I think the Ray can do that too.

May not need priority dhw

@ October 10, 2008 2:03 AM in Indirect loop off Combination Laars Endurance?

especially if the two heat zones are high temp supply. I'm not certain but the EBP may have priority biult in sensing the dhw outlet temp drops below a certain temp the system pump would shut off like the Heat Makers did it. Also do put a mixing valve on the hot water supply.