Heating Help

circulator sizing for wood boiler

@ February 23, 2012 4:45 AM in circulator sizing for wood boiler

I have a customer who purchased an indoor ewood boiler (Wood Master Flex Fuel, looks very well made), that comes with a buffer tank.  I suggested a hx on the system side, on the outlet of the buffer tank.  Manufacturer says not necessary.  I need help with sizing a circulator for what is, essentially, an open system.  I know my load, to calculate gpm, but not sure how to go about calculating head.  Would appreciate any help.
(Manufacturer has specified circ. between boiler and buffer tank, a taco 2400-20B)

piping diagram for connecting wood boiler to warm air

@ October 14, 2011 9:52 PM in piping diagram for connecting wood boiler to warm air

Looking for good piping (and controls) diagrams/information about connecting a wood boiler to two existing propane warm air furnaces.  Can anyone direct me to some resources for same?  I've done this before, but am always looking for "new and improved" information or options.  Thanks

Alternatives to Climate Panels

@ September 9, 2010 8:40 AM in Alternatives to Climate Panels

I have a customer asking me "why climate panels?" (made by Viega, but others make them as well.)  It's for a 5000 sq. ft. space, a 2nd floor, that currently has a plywood subfloor with 14" of cellulose blown in below it. Low heat loss, maybe 15 btus/sq. ft.  He's talking about putting down aluminum flashing over the whole plywood subfloor, then stapling down pex tubing, at 6"-8" centers, then putting down firring strips either every 16" or closer if necessary (including as close as in between the pex runs back and forth) and then installing the finish floor.  Why won't this work? I told him I thought there was an issue with all the air space, and that perhaps all the tubing would need to be covered with sand to create a mass.  Has anyone tried something like this or similar? I've used climate panels, and I like them, but they're not cheap.  The question is, are they necessary?  Thanks for any advice.

Looking for oil vent connector tables

@ September 7, 2010 9:45 PM in Looking for oil vent connector tables

I'm looking to tie two Buderus G115 WS5 boilers (154,000 btu/hr input ea) into a chimney.  Each boiler has a 5" flue.  I'm looking for a chart or table that will tell me what the common vent connector should be for the two boilers before entering the chimney.  I'm thinking 8" is OK, but I can't seem to find written documentation for correct sizing.  Yes, I know the overall chimney height and lateral rise.
Thanks for any tips.
Marc K.

Controls for hx in warm air furnace plenum

@ January 29, 2010 1:25 PM in Controls for hx in warm air furnace plenum

I've added a hot water coil in the plenum of a Thermo Pride furnace.  The hot water for the coil is supplied by a wood boiler, using a circulator tied to a TACO multi-zone panel.  Other zone is for radiant heat.  I have a Honeywelll 6006C strap on aquastat on the piping from the hx back to the boiler (it could go on the supply side just as easily.) Now...
what's the best way to allow the wood boiler to heat the existing house via the existing ductwork, using the coil?  I'm thinking of addding a 2nd t-stat that would activate the circulator for the hx (if the 6006C control says it's hot enough), but I need to bring on the blower without activating it through the existing fan and limit control, which will not sense a high enough plenum temp. if there's just hot water going through the coil. Has anybody done this, in a fairly simple way?  Or does one need to think about 2 stage t-stats, n/o and n/c controls, etc.  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks

product recommendation for very small radiant load

@ January 28, 2010 10:23 PM in product recommendation for very small radiant load

I'm a heating contractor looking for ideas for what to use for a very low load (under 10,000 btu/hr) radiant job.  Efficiency is important.  I've been thinking about things like the Polaris or Phoenix water heaters, but they're really up there in price, similar or even more expensive than hi eff. boilers.  Anybody have good ideas for less expensive, yet efficient options? Without going into details, I can't use the existing water heater with a hx. I don't want to use a lousy water heater, but I really can't see having my client pay a ridiculous sum for the Polaris or Phoenix. The fuel is LP gas.

infiltration factor

@ October 10, 2007 11:18 AM in infiltration factor

Need some help in figuring out where the .012, .018, .027 etc. factors come from in IBR heat loss calculations relative to air changes per hour. If I am using a program like Slant Fin's Hydronic Explorer, I can easily change wall, ceiling, and other U factors, but if I don't know what the infiltration rate is based on in ACH, it's kind of hard to back into it. Need a good numbers person to give me the info. Thanks

cleaning twintran tubing

@ September 4, 2006 11:31 AM in cleaning twintran tubing

I am a licensed master plumber and currently work as a heating consultant. I was recently called to a homeowner's residence for the following: Customer had a Ford Titan boiler installed in the early 90's, along with several zones of Heatway twintran tubing. A mouse ate through some of the tubing, and when he went to repair it he noticed that the tubing had a mudlike buildup in it that reduced the interior dimension considerably. (It has dried to a more powdery-like substance.) He is looking for a cleaner to be able to pump through his system that might flush out the buildup (without clogging the system) as well as treat the boiler to eliminate future buildup. Any ideas? I've seen references to Sterwart Hall, Hercules, and Rhomar products on the wall, as well as mention of an O2 scavenger, which I'm not sure is a product or just a generic name. Does anyone have experience with this type of problem, and a recommended solution? I should mention that the boiler fill was with well water that has a high iron content. When the leak occurred, the pressure regulator let in more fresh water, but probably not more than 30 gallons. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

how to calculate setback savings

@ November 27, 2005 9:40 PM in how to calculate setback savings

Does anyone know if there is an accurate way to compute actual fuel savings when setting back the temperature for a specific period of time? Here's a situation I've been called to offer input on: Carpenter A rents space in Carpenter B's shop. Carpenter B has agreed to let the space be heated to 57 degrees during working hours. Space is heated by radiant (oil fired Buderus, Viega Radiant in the slab, very well insulated space.) Carpenter B wants to turn t-stat to 50 friday p.m., and back to 57 monday a.m. Carpenter A says you're really not saving much, plus it takes 5 hrs to come back up to 57 from 50. If you can't offer actual formulas to figure this out, then your opinion is a valuable alternative!