Heating Help

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@ January 23, 2012 5:53 PM in Gypcrete, Warmboard, Quik Trak... Which should I choose

 If cost is the deciding factor, then forced air wins without any doubt.  If you are looking for comfort and efficiency then radiant is your choice. I have completed many radiant floor projects, from basic to 18,000 ft2 homes, from staple up plates, gyp, concrete, quick track and Warmboard.  My personal opinion( which includes feedback from 40 customers) is that Warmboard (WB) provides the most comfort and efficiency.  For me the radiant floor heating installer ,I find it easy to install, the system is document from the plans WB provides and the nothing compares to the system performances,  I have homes with both WB and concrete slabs and the customer feedback has tremendously favored WB. 
Now for the GC's(general contractors).  I have had a lot of negative feedback from GC's that have not used the product.  I am not sure how they can possibly have an opinion with out using it but they do.  Reality is WB is heavy( 4'X8' of 1 1/8" sheeting), its a custom layout and  you need to take your time and follow the plans that WB provides and it can be slippery when icy or wet. 

I find those cons to be negligible to the benefits that WB provides.  Lots of contractors preach the concept of "thermal mass".  Well That is what the home is, its full of great places to store radiant energy, drywall, wood, beams, insulation, they all hold the heat.  My personal opinion is that you want your radiant system to transfer the energy and not store it in a concrete floor.  The house will hold the heat, allow the floors to transfer it.  I find that WB works best with condensing or high efficiency heat sources that use outdoor temperature feedback(OTS-outdoor temperature sensor).  The weather is always changing so why should your floor temperature to provide you a very consistent environment?  Concrete is lazy and does not want to change, and it takes hrs to change,  Not with WB changes can begin happening in 15mins. 

The idea is to provide you with a constant environment, and not only is WB comfortable but extremely efficient.  On average I supply the floors with 90F fluid... and that is the sweat spot for condensing boilers, solar or ground source heat pumps.  What that means it less energy and money to provide you with the ultimate in comfort. 

Just my 2cents and maybe alittle more

That a boy!

@ January 20, 2012 11:06 PM in The FUN has begun...

ME

A few questions for the professor
- I noticed you used CPVC for the first 10' or so of the exhaust.  Where did you get that length?
-What are the rainbow lines running in front of the boiler control board?
-How did you get that much space?  You were able to sign your name on that big of wall space!  The more space the, more creative we can get.

Not to bad for a semi-retired guy....hahahahaha

Great job
Jeffrey

the perfect system

@ December 19, 2011 9:47 AM in Wilo Stratus with TRVs

Harvey......Some how you stumbled into the" in my opinion" perfect system.  First, the Wilo or Grundfos (EMC) pumps are the number 1 energy saving devise in our industry right now. Next, you are going to have the ultimate in comfort with the concept of continuous circulation.  The pump is hopefully always pumping, that's the perfect world, to TRVs that modulate flow....with a full range of flow.  The TRVs are non electric so no control wiring or transformers.  Simply and elegant!  The final piece of the puzzle is fine tuning your heating curve on your heat source.  Make sure the heat source(boiler?) is set up deliver the supply temperatures that closely represent your heating loads.  Outdoor reset is the concept...basically the colder it is outside the warmer the heat source and vise verse of the warmer it is outside the cooler the heat source.  This is a very important concept to help maximize the comfort level with the TRVs. 

By the way how did you figure out the idea of the Wilo and TRV system

Happy Holidays

Jeffrey 

damped temp

@ December 11, 2011 11:47 AM in Damped Temp on Viessmann Vitogas 100

Jim
You have 2 temperatures displayed for the OTS(outdoor temp sensor).  Actual temp is the temp right now and the damped temp is the temp that was last recorded and used in the heating curve.  The control uses a temp reading or recalibrates the heating curve over a period of time.  It does not just use the actual temp for the heating curve formula.  I believe in coding level 2 you can chose the duration of time between each time the control recalibrates the heating curve using the OTS reading or damped temperature.  I live in colorado where the outdoor temperature changes each morning and evening 20 degrees in an hr.  So I have the control check the temperature every hour.  Hopefully that makes sense. 
BTW constant circ with indoor feedback is a great way to control a radiant system, but keep in mind indoor feedback is a very powderful control.  You are controlling the whole heating circuit with one sensor.

Good luck

Jeffrey

ME i think you are turning into a Martian

@ December 10, 2011 8:30 PM in The FUN has begun...

Make sure to enjoy your holidays.  I will call you back soon.


                                                                                                     

Broken vacuum tubes

@ December 9, 2011 9:29 PM in Which evac tubes do all like best, Tim

I have about a dozen Viessmann Evac tube systems in the Colorado mountains.  I am extremely frustrated with the failure rate.  I have been replacing on average 30% of those tubes every year.  We have even been replacing the tubes we have already replaced.  I have spoken to other installers that have used Apicus, and they have had failures also.  I know a lot of people are talking about the tubes and how they have had good luck with them.  I ask, have they serviced the system to see how the tubes are holding up.  Most just want to argue how well they work in the laboratory

Yes they work very well, but not if they are broken,  I have only been installing Flat Plates for the last 4 yrs. since I found the Evac tubes to be flawed.   Shouldn't we be installing materials that last?  Flat Plates have been around and working for many many many years.

Broken vacuum tubes

@ December 9, 2011 9:28 PM in Which evac tubes do all like best, Tim

I have about a dozen Viessmann Evac tube systems in the Colorado mountains.  I am extremely frustrated with the failure rate.  I have been replacing on average 30% of those tubes every year.  We have even been replacing the tubes we have already replaced.  I have spoken to other installers that have used Apicus, and they have had failures also.  I know a lot of people are talking about the tubes and how they have had good luck with them.  I ask, have they serviced the system to see how the tubes are holding up.  Most just want to argue how well they work in the laboratory

Yes they work very well, but not if they are broken,  I have only been installing Flat Plates for the last 4 yrs. since I found the Evac tubes to be flawed.   Shouldn't we be installing materials that last?  Flat Plates have been around and working for many many many years.

Cant keep up with technology

@ November 9, 2011 9:47 PM in Grundfos Magna 32-100 pump

I have a grundfos 3 ring binder from 2010 and the quick reference pump guide.  Neither have this pump and when i search it on google all I found were new release info.  At this point I am sure nearly all my binders are outdated, except for a new Waterfurnace binder.  I am excited that my Geo designer is now a Waterfurnace rep and I took a training in September and now am a dealer.   Anyways its tough to keep up with all the technology changes.  

Thanks Chris

@ November 9, 2011 9:32 PM in Grundfos Magna 32-100 pump

Where did you get the info?  I searched and couldn't find it.  I ordered 1 1/2" flanges so I should be fine.  Thanks again

Jeffrey

Grundfos Magna 32-100 pump

@ November 9, 2011 9:13 PM in Grundfos Magna 32-100 pump

I am getting to install the Grundfos Magna 32-100 and I just thought about the flanges.  Does this pump adapt to traditional Webstone isolation flanges or do you need a specific flange.

Thanks
Jeffrey

Bang bang

@ November 7, 2011 11:24 AM in Banging Zone Valves ...

The only time I have heard a band when the ball valve closed was when they were installed backwards.  The zone valves have an arrow on them, check the orientation is correct.
Regards
Jeffrey

ME is smart to ask

@ October 11, 2011 9:38 PM in New territory for ME... HRV installation in Passive House.

ME

Hope all is well. I have not spoke to you in a while.  Hopefully you were able to get up to the lake for those few weeks of summer...hahaha.
I have sucessfully installed 4 of these systems over the years.  First, contrary to popular belief I have only used ERVs.  I did lots of research, as always, and found a Minnesota based company called Renewaire.  Dwain is the contact and he knows his business.   Being in a dry climate I think its good to recoup heat and moisture and there units do a good job.  By no means am I an expert in this field but I found some answers. also no drain is recovered.  I have also found a tool called the "Duculator" to be very useful in sizing. 
1.  a 1/3 charge/hr
2.  I exhausted in the baths and kitchen.  Some people say that there is not enough suck for the stink, but I have not had a complaint.  I have used timers in the baths to mitigate this stink problem. 
3.  You want to hide the supply air. I have found that behind the fridge works well, by cooling the exhaust from the fridge and making fridge more efficient.  Hallways work well too. 
4.  not sure about fan speed, but you could lower the percentage timer. 
5.  not sure, but be aware of noise
6.  I have used a percentage timer.  This is based on space volume and the air change you are aiming for.  I have tried to size the unit to operate less, 60% or lower on the percentage timer. 

Sounds like a fun project, have you thought about waste water recovery for the DHW. I have seen a few of them over the years.  Simple yet effective. 

Jeffrey

Pros and cons

@ October 11, 2011 9:01 PM in Compression vs press fittings for Pex-Al-Pex

Neither fitting style is better.  I use both and they both work well.  Crimp is more permanent, but sometimes harder to use the tool in tight spaces.  Compression is nice for a service stand point it can be used as a union.  I like to use semi-permanent lock-tight on compression threads when i cover them up, to eliminate the loosening of threads from expansion and contraction. 

As for the scratches?  I have used PAP for 10yrs now and I have not thought to much about scratches, more so I worry about kinks, cuts and holes.  I like PAP because of the lower expansion rate, closer to copper than PEX, which ensures a quite system operation.  Also i like the fact that the pipe holds its form and does not wack you in the face.  Also, looks nice cuz you can make it straighter than pex.

Jeffrey
 

Solar injection

@ October 11, 2011 8:48 PM in SOLAR HOT WATER INJECTION LOCATION?

I think in order to get the most of of solar you need to utilize the lowest temperatures.  I think the best injection location is on the radiant return on the load side of the hydronic separator.  These are the lowest temperatures in the system and therefore you are getting the most out of the solar harvest.    

PVC jacketed insulation

@ July 25, 2011 9:10 PM in Outdoor pipe wrap

I have used Techlite products for awhile now and they work well and have lots of color options. 

http://www.techlite.net/

good luck

Jeffrey

PVC jacketed insulation

@ July 25, 2011 9:07 PM in Outdoor pipe wrap

I have used Techlite products for awhile now and they work well and have lots of color options. 

http://www.techlite.net/

good luck

Jeffrey

Reverse Indirect

@ July 25, 2011 9:00 PM in The mini-indirect

Scott

I have used these tanks with great success> great output with little storage. You must provide enough Btus with the heat source to recover the tank and coil(DHW).  They are unique because they are opposite an traditional indirect tank.  The heating water is the tank and the DHW is a single pass coil with lots of surface area.  I have a HUGE custom home(18,000 ft/2) with 7 baths and no consideration to "low flow" fixtures.  I used the 80 gallon vessel and the owners have never run out of hot water.  I do have 2-215,000 btus boilers to provide the heat.  The other end of the spectrum... I installed the 30 gallon tank for the contractor of that huge house.  I replace his 80 gallon in-direct tank with the 30 gallon tank and they have plenty of hot water.  The tank only uses an 80,000 btu boiler.

http://www.thermo2000.com/content/en-US/s2_produits/optimizer.aspx

They work great!

Good luck Jeffrey

Warranty question

@ February 1, 2011 8:24 PM in Warranty question

With the changing economy we have been working on a lot of time and materials agreements. What happens when it comes to warranty.  When I am in a bid agreement I provide a 2 year labor warranty with materials per manufacturer.  In a bid there I was able to factor in labor warranty When it comes to T and M though what about labor warranty.  In my eyes when we are working we are paid......what do you guys think

Reverse indirects

@ October 21, 2010 11:15 PM in delta T for indirect DWH loop

Mark is right.  Reverse indirects really make a lot of cents.  I have used the Thermo 2000 tanks.  The recovery is tremendous with a small amount of storage.
Jeffrey

Methanol concentration mesuring unit.

@ October 21, 2010 10:33 PM in Methanol concentration mesuring unit.

i am looking for a unit to measure the concentration of Methanol/Ethanol in a loop field.
Any advise is thankful. 
Jeffrey

Sun in seattle

@ September 23, 2010 11:49 PM in Solar in Seattle

I did not know the Sun shines in Seattle.  If that is the case Solar will work anywhere! haha
Better than the check valve/drain for the Xpansion tank is the Glycol hand pump to fill the system if you do lose a few drops of fluid.  Did you use a pre-insulated lines set?  They are great for Retrofits.  At our last Vitodens class I saw some flex boiler vent.  That could come in handy on some occasions.  Nice looking work, and quite simple.  Did you use panel rads and TRVs  .I like to make peoples lives simlier.

Delta T

@ September 20, 2010 12:13 AM in delta T for indirect DWH loop

I try to size my DHW with a larger delta T. I do this for two reasons, first is to less energy by using a smaller pumps.  Less flow = less pressure drop = less energy.  I commonly size for for a 30 + degree DT.  The other reason it to get that mod/con to spit water(condensation).  I design for a supply with 160 and return at 130 for a nice drip of  condensation. 

As for tanks I like the Euro tanks with much larger HX coils for easy pumping.  They also have big access ports for service.

Jeffrey