Heating Help

A few technical points

@ October 8, 2006 12:28 PM in Tankless Hot Water Heaters

On lime buildup, Webstone makes a valve package that facilitates relatively easy heat exchanger cleaning. http://www.webstonevalves.com/isolatorexp.html A small pump, a pint of CLR, some connector hoses and you have a new occupation for the cabana boy. This maintenance cost should be factored into the calculations on the cost savings of these units, noting that with proper maintenance tankless heaters should last considerably longer than conventional water heaters. As for pumped recirculation: care should be taken with the installation of these systems. Check valves and expansion tanks are often necessary. If a fast closing solinoid valve (washing machine) is located close to the discharge side of the heater, the shock caused when it shuts down may confuse the tankless onboard flowswitch, requiring an additional check valve on the hot discharge. Using a small electric water heater for recirculation purposes can absorb the 3/4" gallon plug of cold water discharging from the heater before the burners kick in, cut down on the heat exchanger wear, and decrease the size from a high head 1/12th hp pump to a smaller 25th hp unit. Bear in mind that this set up causes a 3/4" bottleneck (all hot water has to pass thru the electric heater)in the system. [see attachment] This can be a big problem in larger houses with multiple shower users. Imput gas sizing is another issue on retrofits. Catagory III venting requirements, often with condensate removal issues is a real headache, especially in retrofit. In Japan they place these heaters in close proximity to the point of use. As such, energy savings probably can be quantified, depending on cost per cfh of gas provided. Because there are so many variables involved (unit size, placement, cost of labor in a given location), I could not, without a sight visit, gave even a WAG (wild ass guess) as to how much an installation would cost.

A few technical points

@ October 8, 2006 12:11 PM in Tankless Hot Water Heaters

On line buildup, Webstone makes a valve package that facilitates relatively easy heat exchanger cleaning.

A few technical points

@ October 8, 2006 12:09 PM in Tankless Hot Water Heaters

On line buildup, Webstone makes a valve package that facilitates relatively easy heat exchanger cleaning.

O.K. Napa's not Jaded....

@ September 22, 2006 3:30 PM in Vegetable Love, Unrequited-off topic

but I am. There was a time in Napa when you could find good wine at reasonable prices. Not so much anymore. Expect to pay retail at the source. There are better deals here in Northern Calif. at the local Safeway.

O.K. Napa's not Jaded!

@ September 22, 2006 3:28 PM in Vegetable Love, Unrequited-off topic

> was the Domaine Carneros winery in S. Napa. Built
> by the Tattinger family, the flat roof of the
> Chateau has 700 sq meters of PV panels providing
> 120KW of power for the processing.
>
> The
> winery has a special section on how they make 90%
> of their own power. Bravo!! Almost as good as
> the champagne they make.
>
>
>
> _A
> HREF="http://www.heatinghelp.com/getListed.cfm?id=
> 104&Step=30"_To Learn More About This
> Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in
> "Find A Professional"_/A_

Mercury mines

@ September 22, 2006 3:26 PM in Vegetable Love, Unrequited-off topic

In the 19th Century, mercury was mined extensively in CA. They called it quick silver mining back then.

Cell Phone info

@ September 22, 2006 3:22 PM in Cell Phone esoteria

THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW YOUR CELLPHONE COULD DO... There are a few things that can be done in times of grave emergencies. Your mobile phone can actually be a life saver or an emergency tool for survival. Check out the things that you can do with it: *I* * The Emergency Number worldwide for **Mobile** is 112.* If you find yourself out of coverage area of your mobile network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly this number 112 Can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. *II* Subject: Have you locked your keys in the car? Does you car have remote keys?* This may come in handy someday. Good reason to own a cell phone: If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home on their cell phone from your cell phone. Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Your car will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other "remote" for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk). Editor's Note: *It works fine! We tried it out and it unlocked our car over a cell phone!"* *III*Subject: Hidden Battery power Imagine your cell battery is very low , you are expecting an important call and you don't have a charger. Nokia instrument comes with a reserve battery. To activate, press the keys *3370# Your cell will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell next time. AND *IV* How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone? To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following digits on your phone: * # 0 6 # A 15 digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. When your phone get stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless.& nbsp; You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones. Please spread this useful information around

Heirloom

@ September 21, 2006 8:57 PM in Vegetable Love, Unrequited-off topic

Yours looks just like the Cherokee Purple I picked this afternoon and will devour this evening. BTW Paul: If your in Napa to wine taste, next time down try Somoma, or for a real treat head on down to Pasa Robles/San Luis Obisbo. They're a little less jaded there then in Napa, plus you can make a side trip to Hearst Castle.

Architect's stamp trumps the building inspector....???

@ September 20, 2006 5:14 PM in New Custom Home-No Mech Rm-PGP

Horse pucky! As for structural considerations, it's the engineer's stamp that's paramount. That's why plans have to be submitted to the building department with a complete set of stamped structural drawings. It's the sin qua non for a building permit.

Architect's stamp trumps the building inspector....???

@ September 20, 2006 5:10 PM in New Custom Home-No Mech Rm-PGP

> But according to Newton's Fourth Law, "Gravity
> Wins". :)
>
> God save them from their arrogance,
> for it is not borne of their ignorance....

Horse pucky! As for structural considerations, it's the engineer's stamp that's paramount. That's why plans have to be submitted with a complete set of stamped structural drawings

The plumber protects the health poster

@ September 18, 2006 5:12 PM in The Plumber Protects The Health Of Our Nation

Mikey Here's a link to a site where you can order the poster you mention. https://www.amstdmedia.com/merchandise

The plumber protects the health poster

@ September 18, 2006 5:12 PM in The Plumber Protects The Health Of Our Nation

Mikey Here's a link to a site where you can order the poster you mention. https://www.amstdmedia.com/merchandise/

@ September 18, 2006 5:11 PM in The Plumber Protects The Health Of Our Nation

> Please get certified in the testing/inspection of
> backflow preventers, since many of us install
> them anyway, and, I used to have that poster
> years ago, and there was another one in a
> different style, an apprentice making a lead
> joint as I remember. They were issued by
> American-Standard, and I would like to get one if
> they are still being made.

Mikey Here's a link to a site where you can order the poster you mention. https://www.amstdmedia.com/merchandise/

@ September 18, 2006 5:10 PM in The Plumber Protects The Health Of Our Nation

> Please get certified in the testing/inspection of
> backflow preventers, since many of us install
> them anyway, and, I used to have that poster
> years ago, and there was another one in a
> different style, an apprentice making a lead
> joint as I remember. They were issued by
> American-Standard, and I would like to get one if
> they are still being made.

Mikey Here's a link to a site where you can order the poster you mention. https://www.amstdmedia.com/merchandise/

@ September 18, 2006 5:10 PM in The Plumber Protects The Health Of Our Nation

Mikey Here's a link to a site where you can order the poster you mention. https://www.amstdmedia.com/merchandise/

@ September 18, 2006 5:09 PM in The Plumber Protects The Health Of Our Nation

Mikey Here's a link to a site where you can order the poster you mention.

CO mysteries

@ September 10, 2006 11:50 AM in CO Deaths: Ridiculous

For those interested in reading a medical detective story involving CO poisoning, you might try looking in your local library catalogue for: Eleven Blue Men, And Other Narratives Of Medical Detection by Berton Roueche. Mr. Roueche wrote numerous medical detection magazine stories based on actual occurances which were collected and published in several books. Enlightening reading.

Integrated Grohmix

@ August 21, 2006 5:20 PM in Visual Temperature Shower Valve

Scott Here's a link to a 1/2" Grohe valve that has levers for both temperature and volume control. Not cheap, but I think it's the best, most reliable fit for your application. http://www.grohecatalog.com/product/34458

Grundfos UPS20-42

@ July 17, 2006 4:54 PM in Anyone have a pump curve on Grundfos UPS20-42 1800-2620rpm

Try Grundfos tech support @(610) 266-0333.

@ July 15, 2006 3:01 PM in British Standard Pipe size

Christian I recently installed 2 outdoor exposed shower units marketed by Sonoma Forge. See:http://www.sonomaforge.com/faucet/shower/shower02.html I experienced a leak at the field installed 3/4" strait thread screw in joint between the riser and the arm on both. To test whether the leak was caused due to a faulty riser or arm, the manufacturer sent me a strait thread x tapered thread nipple with a cap on the tapered end. Even with gobs of tape and dope the tested joint leaked somewhat. Locktite here I come. From my experience, the only strait thread joints I've never had trouble with are those that seat against a flat surface and are designed to have a felt gasket sandwiched between male and female faces. Since the shower riser had a female strait thread adapter brazed to the inside of a larger diameter piece of tubing and had no such flat seat, I'm recommending to the manufacturer that they change their threaded connections to NPT, thus eliminating the need for gobs of goop or gaskets.

THG

@ July 12, 2006 8:37 PM in British Standard Pipe size

I believe that's THG, not THQ. They're a French Company that makes thermostatic inwalls as an OEM and a complete faucet line under their own logo. If you're planning to connect to the bottom of the valve, they make an adapter. However, if you're planning to connect to both the top and the bottom of the valve, be warned that there is a temperature differencial between top and bottom. Here's a link to THG: http://www.thgusa.com/products.php?parent_id=_32_45

BPS adapters

@ July 12, 2006 4:50 PM in British Standard Pipe size

If SeatleNick's site is a bust, try this one: http://www.adaptall.com/F-MetricConversion-steel.htm