Heating Help

I'll echo John's post

@ May 23, 2012 8:27 PM in Hallmark Furnace Issues. Looking for advice.

Does this have an "A" coil, is it a belt driven blower? and so on. Much more info needed. These newer units were much better than the older Jomar type furnaces. Why the Riello? Packaged unit i'm sure, but not needed on warm air furnace JMHO.

I see

@ May 21, 2012 8:37 PM in air in heating pipes

no way that you can isolate zones. The supply is showing no positive shut off, cant see the returns, but they might have a gate or ball valve. By shutting off only the return, the supply will still feed a leak on an upper floor, etc. You need to have some valves installed to troubleshoot this thing. If the feed is left on, and is set to maintain 12-15 PSI, it should stay at that pressure all the time. I would also look into a faulty boiler gauge.You may have 2 problems

are you

@ May 21, 2012 6:34 PM in air in heating pipes

isolating supply and returns per zone? What type of zoning, circs, zone valves. If this is a 2 story home, I would also see if the feed and return are routed thru an outside wall. Insulation is like a big sponge. You can have a leak for a long time and you'd never know it. I would also like pics of your expansion tank, piping, gauge,zones, etc. What is the lowest, and highest pressure readings?

can't put my finger on it

@ May 18, 2012 8:43 PM in trouble with a new system

but something about that piping doesn't look right. 

that looks to be

@ May 18, 2012 8:28 PM in DE-Knuckleheading, Upgrading & Converting a Slant/Fin Liberty

a straight coupling Hap. Those nipples don't come out of those boilers too easily, and to continue on with 3", that's how I would do it.  Frank would only pipe it as it should be

just for the record

@ May 18, 2012 12:36 PM in DE-Knuckleheading, Upgrading & Converting a Slant/Fin Liberty

late 80's was my last JO/JOT install. Between their weight, size, and cast leaks at that time, I started using WB models. The Slant Fin, around here anyway, came thru with Carlin. Bad combo. I like Pensotti as of now, but try to keep it American when I can. I bet that EZ gas works the best on those.

your usual quality work Frank

@ May 18, 2012 8:32 AM in DE-Knuckleheading, Upgrading & Converting a Slant/Fin Liberty

I wouldn't have spent much time on that particular boiler though. I would take a Peerless JO over one of those any day. Definite lack of, or poor maintenance here, but gotta say they are not a pleasure to clean and set. Great job, and the conversion will make a difference for sure

I would first

@ May 17, 2012 3:26 PM in Wiring Honeywell Primary R7184U

Is this a boiler, or warm air?  If my mind serves me right, this is a pre/post purge option control. Limit is powered by B-1, and L-1 is live all the time for a post purge. If only a B-1 connection, both Limit and L-1 need to tie into B-1. Orange is motor, Blue is ignition (if you want interupted). Purple is for an oil valve. You need one to have a pre/post purge. I'm thinking, as it has been law here for decades to have an oil cut off valve, so never needed to do this, but I would say that you will need to turn off your valve on/off delay by setting the dip switches. I think that will work for you. Worst case scenario, add a clean-cut pump also, and use the wonderful features of this control.

it also depends

@ May 11, 2012 8:59 PM in TheBostonChannel.com

did the family ventilate the home before the test was done? I can't see that even the dumb and lazy would ignore any co readings with liability in play. Lack of training perhaps? Who knows what really happened here. I agree Frank, you can't fix stupid, and that also goes for the homes occupants. We all see and hear of dumb things that people do in their homes that cause co. It is nothing new. Thoughts and prayers go out to them

I would say

@ May 11, 2012 8:49 PM in Monoflo System Compatible Radiators

you have the best that money can buy, and you can run lower temps and be comfy. Copper fin baseboard is a last resort. It may be common and inexpensive, but in your case you would need a high output and a much longer run to make up for the loss of the radiator. That is an old house, and may not be that tight. I would have a pro check it out, and offer some alternatives. 

pics would help

@ May 11, 2012 8:42 PM in Anything wrong with this baseboard?

Frank raises a good point. Sounds like it is piped OK. You have 2 zones, 1" branches off to feed both 3/4 zones, and the same as it returns to the boiler, if I understand you right. Also how is this zoned? Circs, zone valves? Taco 571's can only partially open when a call for heat. You could have these. Also what thermostats do you have? Anticipator or cycle rate set to match zone controls? Pics, pics, pics please 

good reason Mark

@ May 11, 2012 8:36 PM in boiler feed on or off?

Sometimes no matter how hard you try, $hit happens to good people, and I regard you as good people. Some people also take advantage when things like this happen. Everything becomes priceless. 

gotta agree

@ May 11, 2012 3:41 PM in boiler feed on or off?

The only time I consider leaving the auto feed off, is when the system has antifreeze. Other than that, there are strong arguments for both, but I prefer it on. 

no doubt

@ May 10, 2012 10:11 PM in Anything wrong with this baseboard?

the fins facing as they were is not a benefit. Is this a monoflow, zip, or split loop?

7 year old Burnham

@ May 10, 2012 10:08 PM in air in heating pipes

be it cast iron,  I would pull the cover off the right side and look for leaks, or look in the chamber for dripping. Any crawl space piping, or heat pipe embedded in concrete?

what I'm seeing

@ May 10, 2012 10:16 AM in Anything wrong with this baseboard?

is a rug that is not allowing air to pass under the baseboard. Slant Fin is not all that when it comes to baseboard, I would go Haydon if you plan on replacing it. 

Peerless trip

@ May 2, 2012 9:23 AM in Field trip to Boyertown foundry and Peerless factory

I went there about 5 years ago thru Sids. I was a trip well worth taking, and I agree Mpj, buy American. Yes they don't always compare to Europeans, but shouldn't charity begin at home? Charlie, if you deal with Sids, ask them if they are making the trek this year. It is great to see from start to finish.

it will

@ April 29, 2012 6:13 PM in Manually opening Erie zone valve sends power to the end switch?

make for a split second, but that's it. The end switch will not be active in the manual position. Why did you do that? Is there an issue?

word of advice

@ April 29, 2012 6:10 PM in Return Air Duct: Incline Necessary?

i wouldn't add a return in the basement, if that is the what you have in mind. No better way to create a negative pressure in a building other than an exhaust fan

maybe

@ April 29, 2012 9:47 AM in oil fired hot water run with out water

but I would be leaning more towards a coil or circulator flange gasket leak

thoughts and prayers

@ April 21, 2012 9:10 PM in Sad News - John Brooks

going out to his family and friends

no need for appology

@ April 20, 2012 7:47 PM in Riello burner with New Yorker boiler?

you had questions, and hopefully someone can answer them. You have a good combo, just needs a qualified tech to work on it and set it up. Rieloo is a good burner, but is overkill on that boiler. In other words, you will gain nothing by having one installed for you, and a refurbished one to boot does not sound tempting to me. That was actually a Sussex boiler, and originally came with a Wayne Blue Angel. They are so-so. If it is doing what you need it to do, and consumption isn't off the charts, like Eddie said, invest in fuel saving controls.