Heating Help

Flare fittings

@ April 2, 2013 8:16 PM in brazed fittings ok for oil line?

Makes no sense to connect or lengthen a supply line with anything other than a flared fitting. 

power vent

@ April 2, 2013 8:13 PM in Failing Aquastat?

How is it wired? Sounds like they are using B-1, and the fan prover is not always, or delaying the power supply to the primary control. 

Arcoliner

@ April 2, 2013 7:47 PM in American Standard Arcoliner Hot Water Boiler Maintenance

Unfortunately this boiler will maintain temperature for the side arm coil. You can go down to 50 degrees for the house thermostat, and that will keep the green pump behind the boiler from running more often. The big red thingy is the side arm tankless water heater. I have seen a lot of different burners on this boiler, never a non flame retention Wayne. If this boiler is still in operation come next heating season, or maybe sooner, I would update the burner, chamber, and baffle the passage ways. They are a tough old bird, but not economical. Also, there should be an auto feed somewhere.

Mel

@ March 31, 2013 10:24 AM in Rattling sound

I have personally never heard of that being an issue with them, doesn't mean that it is not possible, but I think you have a bad install and been getting bad service and advice. What model is this?

PRV

@ March 31, 2013 10:16 AM in Ferrous nipple used after a backflow preventer

I use brass also, but I must say that it is more of a quality issue with valves nowadays. I still have cast B&G's, and Thrush out there that still perform better than the 1156's that are replaced yearly for many reasons.

ditto

@ March 31, 2013 10:12 AM in Happy Easter

Happy Easter to all. Enjoy the day

backflow

@ March 31, 2013 10:12 AM in Backflow preventer with vent

I too have seen too many fail as Ron is talking about. It's the vacuum relief side that is failing, not water flowing in the wrong direction. There is one that is notorious, and 9D comes to mind. Years ago here, a simple check valve was the norm, then someone suggested breaking the vacuum in the domestic. I see where Charlie is coming from too, but that is not what Ron is talking about. The vacuum side is what's failing, so why not be able to go back to a check valve and separate vacuum breaker? There is, or should be one in the home if there is a water heater.

vent pipe size

@ March 30, 2013 9:53 AM in 275 gallon tank piping question

yes Paul equal to or larger than the fill, and 1-1/4 would be the the nor.m. There are quite a few requirements for tank installs here.

piping

@ March 29, 2013 7:19 PM in 275 gallon tank piping question

Your 1st section of question have me baffled. Is it a total of 5 feet up and out of the building, or 5 feet out? Secondly, a fill should never be piped higher than a vent, in case of overfill, etc.   2nd, the pitch should be slight only. That is enough to direct any condensation to the outlet. Any more than that, it will end up in the far corner, and stay trapped.   3rd swing joints are a good idea, but only code here for underground, or flood zone.  4th is to have it set up as one pipe. That is all you need, especially when it will be gravity fed.  As usual, it needs to be installed to code, and inspected. All shut offs, manual and thermal, should be present, a protected/secured fuel supply line, vent alarm, gauge, an approved filter, and flare fittings to name a few. These are mostly Mass rules, which are among the best. Where are you located?

I must say

@ March 16, 2013 10:52 PM in oil furnace runs for two sec

Argo is not my favorite. I would consider replacing it. Chances are that when one or all the zones call for heat, the Z-R circuit is making and breaking. I would consider Taco

shipping

@ March 16, 2013 10:48 PM in oil furnace runs for two sec

That is a piece of cardboard for shipping only to keep the weight from slamming against the seat until it is installed

trap

@ March 16, 2013 9:19 AM in mixing valve issues

the trap will help to prolong the life of the internal element. Sounds like you need a flow restrictor, or a new coil. What temp is it maintaining?  Pics?

short cycle

@ March 15, 2013 9:09 PM in oil furnace runs for two sec

The zone that has no relay will now have no heat. It could be the thermostat causing this. Also, the LO limit is for your coil. The boiler will maintain what the low is set for. The HI limit is just that. The burner will turn off at that temp when there is a call for heat. I see they have wired this for ZR-ZC. That was a plus. Try connecting the thermostat to another circuit. Remove the T-T wires, and try it. The heat will not go to that zone, but it may help to troubleshoot the thermostat. Also thermostat location for that troubled zone?

Ice

@ March 13, 2013 1:18 PM in 275 gal oil tank basic basement install advice

You may be misinterpreting that "law". If your tank is replaced, it may be only with a double wall tank. I think that has become the norm lower Cape. I only deal with upper Cape, and that has not been a thing yet. They can't "make" you replace your tank prematurely. 

just a thought

@ March 10, 2013 9:59 AM in Ideas on Quieting a Carlin EZ Gas Conversion Burner

and Steamhead might be able to shed light on this, but can the boiler be switched from top flue to rear flue?When I install those, oil only, I prefer rear flue. They are quieter, and have a lower stack temp

chances are

@ March 10, 2013 9:46 AM in help with harvey whipple

you have a washer that has come off, or the screw head is lodged in a flow restrictor. I have seen coils plug to a trickle, but never no flow at all unless something has come undone. Can you post some pics?

why

@ March 10, 2013 9:40 AM in weil mclain oil boiler help please

are vehicles usually compared to heating equipment? I can almost understand the logic, but give me a 1957 Belair, but I'll pass on a 57 American Standard.

also

@ March 3, 2013 5:35 PM in PLEASE HELP!!!

just read your other post. Probably 1/2" shaft/bearing size. There is also the possibility that it is 5/8", 3/4". If the original bearings had no oil cup, than they are Lau bearings.

replacement parts

@ March 3, 2013 5:32 PM in PLEASE HELP!!!

they are all available. Probably pillow block bearings. You would need someone to replace the shaft and both bearings. It is an oldie, but parts are universal for the blower

"A" tubes

@ March 3, 2013 10:05 AM in free to good home

Got that right Ice. When Ford first bought the Magic Heat boiler line, they swapped out Beckett for Carlin, and the "A" tube. The 3 tack welds would let go, and then the sooting began. They also added a baffle to the flue collector, and rotated the tankless coils mounting. You can run Hollows in the standard tube bellow .75, but still nothing like an AF with a 80 degree hollow in a short chamber. Now EZ-1 can handle more of those retro fits, but those days are pretty much gone.

also

@ March 3, 2013 8:34 AM in free to good home

poor choice of burner for that American Standard Arcoleader, or Burnham-America. Carlin does not do well on those. Beckett AF in those, Arcoliner, Oakmont, etc. Chances are, the steel chamber was removed, and somebody didn't use a wetpac to build the front. Ditto on the Starfire front metal plates. What were they thinking?

go back in time

@ March 2, 2013 6:36 PM in weil mclain oil boiler help please

to late 70's, early 80's. Early models had Wayne burners. Those were even worse than Hart & Crouse