Heating Help

There are

@ May 14, 2013 1:26 AM in Plumbing Forum?

a lot of plumbers here.  What's your question?

Sure,

@ May 12, 2013 12:49 PM in Hot water recirculation do they save money?

it wastes energy.  The electricity to power the circulator and the heat loss from the piping.  But others would call it a convenience.

Most of my customers strongly dislike waiting for hot water and will gladly pay for the convenience of instant hot water.

Steam at Work

@ May 12, 2013 12:36 PM in Steam at Work

in a box factory:

http://tinyurl.com/d6u3ua3

Here are the spec's.

@ May 4, 2013 9:14 AM in CV

for their Sentry valve:

http://s3.pexsupply.com/manuals/1296597322000/46580_PROD_FILE.pdf

Plus

@ May 1, 2013 9:19 PM in Honeywell Mixing Valve

they give you two extra ports - one for unmixed hot water (laundry, dishwasher, radiant to a heat exchanger, etc.) and another port for a recirculation loop return.

I saw this display on my suppliers counter on my way to the job where I needed one and even though I had two conventional mixing valves, I bought one for speed.

Here is the literature:

http://www.forwardthinking.honeywell.com/related_links/water/amx_300/install/62_3112.pdf

Honeywell Mixing Valve

@ May 1, 2013 11:24 AM in Honeywell Mixing Valve

I like the new Honeywell DirectConnect mixing valve kits.  A real time saver!

Gil Carlson

@ April 28, 2013 12:16 PM in Remembering Gil Carlson

.....and thank you Dan, for bringing him to us.

PE Gas Yard Pipe

@ April 22, 2013 1:06 PM in Running A Gas Line Underground

We see a lot of PLEXCO out here and you can use either stab fittings or fusion for joining.  I prefer fusion because the fused joint is stronger than the pipe itself and  it's more resistant to age and chemical related deterioration.

My supplier rents me the machine and it's very easy to use.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkUvrbyUciU

I would

@ April 15, 2013 12:36 AM in help with taco zvc 404

use the Taco ZVC 404 for the radiant and a Taco SR501 for the radiators.

I think Steve's suggestion for a diagram is because of your last paragraph - it sounds as though you have a primary pump that needs to be on when a radiant zone calls for heat and somehow, that primary pump serves the radiators by itself.  You might need to do some re-piping and/or add another pump for this to work properly.

Ditto

@ April 5, 2013 9:55 PM in Taco Vortex

I'll have to second that, i.e. "I call BS"

What is a 1/2" NPT threaded rod?  When you buy threaded rod, it's machine thread, not NPT.  And like Rob, I tried the "jacking out" method with the same result.  Jacking in would be a better description.

When I first started buying Vortec air eliminators, the attraction was interchangeable parts.  If the Hy-Vent ever went bad, I could switch it out.  Apparently, this is not so.

Factory changes in the sealing process would be appreciated.  Caleffi has been my substitute even though I prefer to buy US made products.

Cal Steam

@ March 31, 2013 4:15 PM in Threaded connections

in the Bay Area sells all the usual stuff: Recorseal, Blue Magic, etc.  The grey dope that you mention sounds like a specialty product.

If I have a difficult connection, say a large, pitted fitting where I have to start my piping or a European fitting that has no taper, I use Super Dope; it works anaerobically.  I've tried it on new fittings with only hand tightening - no leaks!

Many manufacturers

@ March 31, 2013 4:01 PM in Pump for Washing machine

sell this type of system:

http://www.plumbingsupply.com/gray-water-laundry-pump.html

The laundry tray acts as a reservoir since the pump is not powerful enough to keep up with the washing machine. 

I have a Myers pump attached to my laundry tray in the basement and it works extremely well.

Aprilaire

@ March 22, 2013 8:53 PM in reliable Low cost thermostat with remote sensor

We did a job in San Francisco in 2008, a large house with over 20 zones.  They didn't want to see thermostats in the rooms and we ended up using what you describe.  Here are the parts we used:

Aprilaire
8870 thermostat
8818 distribution panel
8825 hub (distribution panel)
8811 adaptor
8027 transformer
8051 flush mount sensors (L40-491)

As you can see, we also used a Taco zone valve controller.

Those old boilers

@ March 20, 2013 8:37 PM in Antique Cast Iron Boiler Information Needed

are pretty simple with large waterways and no safety string, but you will have to live in fear of no heat because one day, your boiler will give up the ghost.

You can always find replacement parts for the gas valve and pilot; maybe even the burner as well.  But nothing for the boiler itself if it starts to leak.

Music!

@ March 18, 2013 9:43 PM in I've always found better musicians here!

I've always loved music, but never had an affinity for learning to play.  Living in Berkeley, ethnic music is all over and  I quickly picked up on Indian music and the tabla.  Esoteric here, ubiquitous in Muslim and Hindu countries; I studied and played for 10 years.  More than anything, it taught me how to appreciate music.

A maestro:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgEzIEN2gSg&NR=1

100 Year Old Boiler Heat Exchanger

@ March 10, 2013 10:00 PM in 100 Year Old Boiler Heat Exchanger

Too pretty to go into landfill.

Vent Termination

@ March 7, 2013 1:00 AM in Sidewall Venting:

But they are 12" above grade - the lower grade.  That is the grade level where the vent terminates, no?

And as far as the distance from a window, door or other opening, you have to look at the manufacturer's instrucrtions; sometimes a 4' string, sometimes a 12" string.

We don't get snow here.  Maybe I would think differently if I saw how snow impacts these kinds of installations.

Richmond

@ March 5, 2013 1:27 AM in waste of technology?

You've got to qualify that, no?

Sexauer

@ March 3, 2013 11:23 PM in Source for washers?

is a specialty house for repair parts; plumbing and heating.  If you can't find a direct replacement in their catalog, do like Ken says and make your own. Sexauer has sheet packing available; catalog #066829 for 1/8" thickness.

Sexauer (800)431-1872

Crest/Good is another source for quality repair parts - (800)862-7378

The people that answer the phones at the above phone numbers presume that you know the catalog numbers of what you want; they get real testy when you start asking questions.  I give out their phone numbers so that you can ask for the contact information of your local rep. who may be more willing to bird dog the part you need.

Aquastat

@ February 27, 2013 1:19 PM in DHW recirculating pump & Circulator Remote Bulb Aquastat,

Once the water temperature reaches the setpoint, it turns the pump off.  They are installed so that the pump is not always running, saving electricity.  And when the water cools below the differential, the aquastat will turn the pump on again.

Timers can also be added so that along with temperature, the pump will only operate when the building is occupied.

Photos

@ February 26, 2013 2:48 PM in Off-topic: wall-hung toilets

of carrier.

Wall-mounted Toilets

@ February 26, 2013 1:02 PM in Off-topic: wall-hung toilets

I like the wall-mounted toilets a lot.  The Grohe carriers and Toto toilets work well, save a lot of space and have a very sleek design.

This photo shows one of five we installed in a Berkeley house in 2002.  It's a Geberit carrier and from what I remember, a Duravit toilet.  Over the years, I've only had to replace one part in the flush mechanism.  Very reliable.

As far as installing the carrier, there's a bit of a learning curve as with anything new.  Just make sure your 2 x 6 wall is stout.