Heating Help

pics

@ February 3, 2012 9:56 AM in Help with sizing steam boiler

Can you post some pics of rads so we can be sure that the radiators have tubes and not columns? There is a big difference.

cold rads

@ February 2, 2012 11:39 PM in cold radiator

Good eve. There are a few possibilities. The short 12 minute cycles might be the troublemaker( particularly if these rads are further from the boiler). Also if there is excess water in the system then the watered down steam might be turning back to water before it hits these radiators(again more common with further rads but could also occur on other rads depending on variety of conditions). There are a number of factors that can cause excess water. Some pics of the piping around the boiler would be helpful. Also look at the water glass while the boiler is firing and see if the water is moving up and down a lot.

Heat exchanger

@ January 31, 2012 11:53 PM in Heat exchanger

Good evening. What(if any)effect does using a water to water heat exchanger to add a hot water loop to a steam boiler have on the sizing of the boiler? I know that when adding a hot water loop directly off the boiler that you don't increase the size off the boiler(provided that the btu output off the zone is within the pickup factor rating). I was wondering if the same rules would apply when using a water to water heat exchanger? Thanks in advance.

Why here?

@ January 25, 2012 2:02 PM in Water leak from gas meter???

There is no condensation on the cold water pipes or anywhere else in the area. The moisture in question is only at the point on the gas meter where the two sides meet. My knowledge of the physics of condensation is very limited bit I am under the impression that condensation results from temperature difference. Does the gas coming in from the cold outdoors result in enough of a temperature change to result in condensation.

Water leak from gas meter???

@ January 25, 2012 10:40 AM in Water leak from gas meter???

Good morning. I was on a job yesterday and noticed what seemed to be some sort of liquid gripping from or leaking from the water meter.There was a very small puddle under the meter and the meter was very slightly wet. I looked around and couldn't find any other leak source. Is it possible that it is coming from the meter itself and if yes what would the cause be? Is it possible that there is an underground gas pipe that has a hole and some water is getting in? Any thoughts and advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Header

@ January 23, 2012 11:54 PM in Header too small?

Need to double check but I think that all Intrepids need 3" header. It looks like you have 2". Which model do you have? Tell him outright that hes not getting paid if the installation doesn't meet boiler manufacturer's minimum specs.Header does appear to be high enough.

teflon/rtv

@ January 19, 2012 11:26 PM in I did, yes I did...

Try teflon(blue is better) and high temp silicone caulk on the male threads of the bushing.Also try to fill the notch that you cut with the high temp caulk before you put in bushing.Good luck

ditto

@ January 18, 2012 10:57 AM in Conversion from steam to hot water

There are many risks involved in converting to FHW. In addition if you have one pipe steam you would need to run a second pipe to each and every radiator. There are many economical ways to save money without converting. Post pics of the boiler and all attached piping(don't stand to close when taking pics). Also post pics of end of main steam pipes. Also try to get the modal # of your boiler. You can also post pics of your radiators so we can determine if your boiler is properly sized. Include the height of each radiator(from floor to top of radiator.

location

@ January 8, 2012 11:18 PM in Upstairs radiator only heating part way

Where is this radiator in regards to the main( beginning,middle,end)?

Why

@ January 7, 2012 10:05 PM in Boiler won't cut out

The next question to answer is why did the pressure ever build up to 15 psi in the first place(the pressure relief valve on a steam boiler is rated to trip at 15 psi)? You should be able to heat the home without going over 2 psi. There might be some other underlying issues that are decreasing the efficiency of the system.

replace

@ January 6, 2012 2:22 PM in Cycle Guard on Hydrolevel LWCO

I personally replace the cycleguards on every boiler that I put in.

union nut

@ January 5, 2012 10:41 PM in New to Steam Heat

The leak appears to be from #2. The radiator does appear to be over pitched Hence the two sides off the union are not lined up properly. Are you sure that you need that much pitch? A very slight pitch toward the pipe is adequate. With the heat off you can try to undo the union nut, line the two sides up properly and retighten the nut. You may need two people. These rads are HEAVY!

CAREFUL!!!

@ January 5, 2012 10:32 PM in Changing my steam mains.

PROCEED WITH CAUTION!!! Many of the people doing this type of work do not have a good understanding of how steam systems should be set up. If the work is done without proper attention to detail you will have a noisy, expensive and uncomfortable system. A very high percentage of the steam main remakes that I see are badly butchered. If you have any doubts just leave the mains as is and box them in with something decorative. Make sure to leave access to the vents that should be at the end of the mains.

Why

@ January 5, 2012 8:47 PM in European Radiators (4) White Steel Modern Design

Why are you replacing these radiators?

BTU output

@ January 5, 2012 8:45 PM in European Radiators (4) White Steel Modern Design

Please correct me if I am wrong but the BTU output seems to be fairly low. For example a 36" high by 36" wide radiator seems to be only 21 Square feet EDR. Just seems like the bulk will have to be top to bottom and right to left instead of front to back. I also dont see a good place for the air vent. If the air vent has to go on the top then the BTU output is really even less then then its rating. On a steam system the narrow passageways might be prone to water hammer.

Ditto

@ January 4, 2012 10:32 PM in Oil to gas sizing

Never assume that the old boiler was properly sized. Also the dead of winter is not the ideal time to replace a boiler. You want to be able be able to do proper homework. You also don't want the installer to be forced into doing a rush job.

Radiator air vents

@ January 4, 2012 10:28 PM in Two Radiators Stay Cold - Help!

Try taking off the varivents from those two radiators and see what happens. Varivents tend to have a short lifespan.

Depends

@ December 16, 2011 11:19 AM in reduce a 2" return line to 1" pipe at repair then back to 2"

It would depend on the radiators that are served by that return line. If you are able to measure the EDR of the radiators that would give us the necessary info. If not then you can post pics of the radiators. Include the height of each radiator.

Yes and no

@ December 13, 2011 11:30 AM in Basement Headroom

It can be done BUT it can also be disastrous if done incorrectly. The easiest option would be to box in the pipes(make sure that there is access to the vents that should be at the end of those pipes) . If you do have the pipes moved make sure to stipulate that the installer will not be paid if there any problems that did not exist before(i.e. banging or radiators not getting hot).

vents

@ December 12, 2011 8:56 PM in radiator vent: do I need it?

Which adjustable vent do you have? If its theheattimer varivent then you already have the fastest radiator vent out there. You might need more venting on your steam mains and possibly less venting on your other radiators. You can experiment by shutting the valves on some other radiators and seeing if you get more heat on the problematic radiator.

DON'T DO IT

@ December 12, 2011 8:34 PM in radiator vent: do I need it?

MY MOTHER KNOWS SOMEONE THAT DID JUST THAT AND THE LADY'S NIECE SUFFOCATED TO DEATH. THE STEAM WILL DISPLACE THE AIR THAT IS IN THE ROOM. THERE IS ALSO A SERIOUS RISK OF BURNS.

dimension A

@ December 5, 2011 9:01 AM in Water Hammer After New Furnace Installed

The dimension A can never be too high. What could happen though is that a return that should be lower then the water line (and hence a wet return), will instead be above the water line and as a result the A dimension will be much shorter then it should be because the old wet return has now been turned into a steam carrying pipe. I don't have my copy of Lost Art in front of me but I'm fairly certain that Dan makes mention of such a thing happening.