Heating Help

This brings back memories

@ February 24, 2012 7:43 AM in Using a shell & tube heat exchanger as a steam generator.

From 2000 - 2005 I was in charge of a facilities plant that used High temp hot water to create steam. There is a lot of math and engineering in the design of these systems.
High temp hot water was delivered to my building at 375'F and 270psi. 18inch welded pumps delivered the HTHW. not sure of the flow rate.
The Steam generator was in fact a shell and tube exchanger. I had 5 of these beasts to maintain.
As someone else here mentioned safeties safeties safeties.  The rate of expansion is controlled by the flow of hot water into the steam generator. Double safety blow off's piped high above the boiler room were ther to insure the rate of expansion was kept safely.  These steam generators had a 8 inch steel steam exhaust to the manifold. I was asked to maintain 21 psi steam pressure.
As for a home brew unit, I would have to say "DONT TRY THIS AT HOME" To much could go wrong in your design and equipment.
Once during a safety check one of the high pressure safeties blew off. I looked around and of the 4-6 guys in the boiler room before, I was the only one left taking the boiler out of automatic and  bringing it back down. nearly had to change my pants. 
Good luck and let me take out th insurance on you and your family if you do decide to nest one of these in your basement

ITEM SOLD

@ February 9, 2012 8:30 AM in Bacharach PCA 25 for parts not working

sorry this item is sold

Bacharach PCA 25 for parts not working

@ February 4, 2012 8:29 AM in Bacharach PCA 25 for parts not working

I have a Bacharach PCA-25  Model 24-7190. It does not work. Some one allowed it to get wet. But...... The carcas may be a great source for parts for someone. The sample hose assembly itself is worth 250 (mine is missing the yellow thermocouple end but the thermocouple works except for that item.)  The Black case is rugged and very clean.  I'm looking for $75.00 and I'll ship it to you. I will try to attach some pic's
contact MRHEAT1@aol.com
       845-473-4660

Power venter's

@ October 24, 2011 8:02 AM in Tjernlund blower wheel disintegrated?

I have had very similar luck with powervents if they are not used year round. If the boiler or furnace is for heat only.   You would think the price for a stainless blower would be less than replacing it numerous times. Oh and good luck with removing the old one from the shaft.

changing parts

@ October 19, 2011 8:31 AM in Beckett AF head size

Where are you located? Check the hire a contractor here on this site or post a request for your area here.
Changing a retention head, nozzle size, or adding the low fire baffle SHOULD NOT be done without having the burner set up with a combustion analyzer, especially when your in such a low fire range. Kudos for you when trying to learn how to perform your annual service, but..... There are many things that a qualified burner tech looks for when "cleaning" a boiler and burner.
Cleaning, inspection and testing of an oil heating appliance,  requires more than dusting and vacuuming.   Inspection in my opinion is key. Not only changing a nozzle but inspecting the old one. Flushing the J tube, inspecting the rear of the nozzle for sludge, inspecting the front of the nozzle for debris, and yes even the smell of the nozzle assembly are what is going on when you watch a burner tech at work. Textbooks do not cover half of what is being performed. But still kudos for trying to better yourself.
As a burner tech in a service only business, I enjoy an educated customer. I also bring with me years of seeing hundreds of burners every year. So what I saw at someone elses house applies to your problem. And the answer may not be in a burner tune up guide.
Here is an example: While changing an oil filter, how many burner techs out there are inspecting the oil filter housing bolt? In my 18yrs in this biz, I have found 3 bolts rusted at the point where they penetrate the nut at the bottom of the housing. this has caused one to snap after the other burner company left causing $$$ of damage. After I heard that story I added inspecting that bolt to every Annual cleaning and maintenance call.
Parts wear, combustion chambers deteriorate, enviromental issues change. Oil sources (not companies but sources) change. By working on many systems every year that nozzle size may have been changed for a reason.
Kudos for coming here to ask for assistance, an educated consumer is the best customer.

pipe electric soldering

@ August 29, 2011 8:03 AM in I would like to buy

I have two models of the electric sodering machine.
I'll check the models and get back to you.
where are you located? I am in/near Poughkeepsie NY

Options

@ March 22, 2011 7:50 AM in Sorry maybe off topic but need opinion(s)

What about using a Cable modem for the business or perhaps one of the new Verizon Home phone connect machines?

Sorry maybe off topic but need opinion(s)

@ March 20, 2011 8:37 AM in Sorry maybe off topic but need opinion(s)

I actually have two questions or topics to discuss.
1) has anyone dropped advertising in your phone company's book and had success with a phone book not associated with the landline phone companies book.?
2) Has anyone dropped their landline phone and replaced it entirely with a Cell phone or variations of cell phone equipment?
thanks and please assist

Sorry maybe off topic but need opinion(s)

@ March 20, 2011 8:36 AM in Sorry maybe off topic but need opinion(s)

I actually have two questions or topics to discuss.
1) has anyone dropped advertising in your phone company's book and had success with a phone book not associated with the landline phone companies book.?
2) Has anyone dropped their landline phone and replaced it entirely with a Cell phone or variations of cell phone equipment?
thanks and please assist

**** UPDATE ****

@ February 17, 2011 12:18 PM in Honeywell Zone valves

I  finally was able to call Honeywell tech support today and found that there have been to many problems with the Sweat zone valve and those plastic plates. So sometime recently Honeywell began shipping all SWEAT zone valves with the brass actuator plates.  Now we have to wait for the local supple houses to purge out all the plastic stock and get in new brass ones.
I actully have not sweat in one of these new units yet. But a good rule to go by is ALWAYS disassemble the zone valve when seating in  the body. lets hope this problem is over.

zone valve troubles

@ February 16, 2011 8:09 AM in Honeywell Zone valves

I guess I should have added, Yes I do Disassemble befor sweating.
I usually have 2 & 3 zone manifolds done in the shop for stock. Now I'm running low on the old plates and O-rings to cover the shop built manifolds. (I keep taking them for these Emer Calls.)

Honeywell Zone valves

@ February 15, 2011 7:44 PM in Honeywell Zone valves

Looking for any similar experiences.  Installed 8 new honeywell zone valves in the last 2 months at 5 diffrent addresses. Have had 3 call backs all for blown out O-rings. I have been doing these zone valves for years without ever a fail. All of the zone valves have the new actuator plates( plastic and sheet metal, 2 parts instead of the old brass plate).
So the question is: Has anyone else experienced problems with the new Honeywell re-design zone valves?

off on reset

@ January 24, 2011 7:41 AM in Senior Moment

Try holding the reset button for about a minute or until the light flashes again.

Is it time to replace?

@ January 12, 2011 7:44 PM in Is it time to replace?

Hello to all, it's been a while since I have visited the wall. OK, here is the question:  Has the life span of heating equipment past if it uses a burner that is slow speed? (1750 rpm burner) or perhaps a oil burner stack safety relay?.  I select this as a rule of thumb, and I realize there is always exceptions to every rule. Since the advent of the high speed burner was in the 1970's, and the Photelectric safety was about the same time, if I recall, then a  heating appliance with either a stack relay or a slow speed burner would be more than 30 yrs old.   Part 2 of the question might be, Should you be putting your liability insurance on the line for maintaining such dated equipment?   Liability insurance because of puffbacks, floods, CO etc.   Opinions please???

LPCO

@ January 4, 2011 8:54 AM in Combination Fill Valve and Backflow Preventers Help

As I thought, a good idea that industry has not caught up to yet.
A few years back I was looking for a LPCO and could not find one.  HELLO TO THE INDUSTRY, (Watts, Honeywell, etc) Please make us a LPCO, or for that manner, incorporate it in the LWCO.

LPCO ?

@ January 4, 2011 8:17 AM in Combination Fill Valve and Backflow Preventers Help

Mark?   what LPCO are you using or speaking of? I cannot find one at the local supply chains, or I'm not looking in the right place.
Jim

Fire hose gong

@ October 25, 2009 12:40 PM in What is it???

I worked as a facilities maintenenace tech at a large multi bldg place. In the dead of a cold cold night you could hear those going off in an un occupied bldg. They were hooked to the sprinkler and fire hoses. All you needed was a frozen pipe and then the flow began. But those bells could be heard a long way off.

Can't anyone assist?

@ October 23, 2009 6:38 AM in HEAP

Still wondering, is there any HEAP service companies?

HEAP

@ October 22, 2009 7:51 AM in HEAP

Do you provide System maintenance and repairs under the HEAP program? What experiences do you have? Do they pay on a timely fashion? Have you had difficulties getting paid for some repairs, replacements?
MRHEAT1@aol.com

Class schedule & Catalog

@ May 24, 2009 7:14 AM in 3 Day Design Gas Equipment Combustion Testing Seminar

Tim can you send me the List/catalog as well?

photo

@ April 5, 2009 9:11 PM in Faces with posts.

here I am

WR zone valves

@ April 4, 2009 6:54 AM in Looking for zone valve.

I have a customer with a 20 unit bldg. After messing with a couple of them I just change it now. Try to schedule the system down for a couple at a time.