Heating Help

I avoid installing them in cold locations.

@ December 10, 2011 2:23 PM in osv in mass.

This has to do with performance issues in severe weather.
The law says you must have an osv or continuous nonmetallic sheathing on the line.
on rare occasions where I did install one in a cold location to comply with the new law,
I make certain to treat (Winterflow is my current favorite) that tank before the truly cold weather sets in.

 I don't love doing it
I would rather replace the line with a sheathed type,

I have fewer problems with Suntec OSVs than Webster brand.
 
.

some things to try

@ December 30, 2010 8:39 AM in Clicking contactor on air handler

 what exactly is drooping in/out in response to the clicking?
 does the relay drop in/out in emergency heat position, try it and see
is the fan dropping in/out with the clicking, try using the fan "on" position.
put  only one screw in the cover so WHEN ITS happening you can open it quickly and listen closely to which relay is clicking in/out
once you decide exactly which relay is dropping in/out
look hard at the wiring diagram on the door
decide what that relay is controlling
decide where the control signal for that relay comes from.
 to me; what your describing sounds like a control signal problem
 semi-shorted wire or poor connection somewhere in the 24v circuit.


 then follow the advice given above

Thank you for the input

@ December 28, 2010 8:12 AM in too much ice on the gound around the heat pump?

 the fan speed I hadn't considered.
 The thing s that throws me the most is the customer saying that performance-wise the heat works well. The ice he objects to is on the ground around the outdoor unit, which is properly elevated(12" in Massachusetts).
it does sit on a rather small bit of gravel between the building and two walkways,around 3.5' square. Drainage could be the issue but never has been before. The unit is 4 years old.

too much ice on the gound around the heat pump?

@ December 27, 2010 8:42 AM in too much ice on the gound around the heat pump?

No complaints from the customer as far as heating but ,
there is a great deal of ice on the ground around the condensing unit?
first off is it even a problem? maybe the customer just never noticed it before?

 To be fair it does seem like more than should be there.

 any ideas?

540 degrees seems kind of high with a .50

@ November 9, 2010 1:13 PM in combustion set up on burnham V82

as others have said with a .50 its nearly always the nozzle.
 they are  erratic and foul easily
 
Delevan has a jet line strainer that can sometimes help.
You say its a suntec pump, with no strainer? Check again
 Are there four 5/16(maybe allen heads on newer pumps) screws on the four corners?
 If so, there is indeed a strainer inside that cap.(SSC109)
 I never want to see 13% co2 either, 12 at the absolute max.
 

The answer

@ November 5, 2010 3:31 PM in Riello Lesson Learned

 I moved my drop light a bit further away.
It was seeing some stray light, which prevented it from coming out of pre-purge.
I had hung my drop light about two feet directly above the blast tube.
I won't do that again.

Riello Lesson Learned

@ November 4, 2010 12:30 PM in Riello Lesson Learned

A few days ago I got a  no heat call on a nearly new boiler with a Riello  Burner.
 The installers had not changed the oil line or filter and the oil system was plugged.
 So I changed the b4 and the ssc126G strainer and  primed it up.
 It just ran and ran, in pre-purge, would not signal the oil valve,and didn't lock out either.
 I went though everything twice and was very frustrated .
I'll come back tomorrow and tell you the embarrassingly simple answer

 any guesses?

is the tank outdoors? or a cold location?

@ June 1, 2010 5:39 AM in Gauge accuracy on Roth double-wall tank (or repriming tiger loop)?

if so it makes sense to keep the dip tube a bit shorter to reduce the chance of freezing.

 in an exposed outdoor location what you describe would be correct.

above 10 inches

@ April 27, 2010 5:28 AM in garber filter gauge reading

with a .85 nozzle you should be good for two years.

firing rate above 1 gallon or a two-pipe system , change it every year.

where do you shop for IAQ testing supplies?

@ April 23, 2010 4:38 PM in where do you shop for IAQ testing supplies?

is there a reputable national web site or catalog who is the best?

 specifically looking to test for airborne molds.

Sales techniques for service techs

@ April 23, 2010 4:32 PM in Sales techniques for service techs

I would love to start/see a thread where wall regulars discuss sales.

help your back/lighten your toolbox

@ April 23, 2010 3:46 PM in help your back/lighten your toolbox

Four times a year our company has these safety meetings, given by an insurance guy named Justin. They are usually pretty standard follow the speed limit, drive courteously type stuff. Nothing you don't already know and I can see how reminding everybody is good business.
Last month Justin's meeting was about keeping your back healthy, lifting things properly to avoid injury. He talked me into going to my truck and bringing back my every call toolbox, he weighed it,he and I were both stunned to find it at 35 pounds. I immediately went through it and took out duplicates and less essential items. My pile of rejects amounted to 12 pounds and was returned to my larger truck tool  box.
 I can now report Justin is a genius and my back feels much better at the end of the day.
Not that my back was hurt but  the ordinary stiffness of hard work is reduced.I feel better at the end of the day.

 EVERYBODY should do this, Go through your box and take out the less needed crap that collects. Make your every call box lighter and save your back. Do it!

coffee shop gift card

@ April 14, 2010 2:47 PM in When did you last give one of your

 is what my boss occassionally hands out as a reward for extra effort.

A  rose would be  a bit creepy.

Widely sold for exactly what you are talking about

@ April 14, 2010 2:26 PM in Ideas for a Frozen hot water loop

 a little button of a non-adjustable thermostat that would kick the circulator on when the pipe itself hits 45 degrees, kick it off at 55.(there are ones with other values)  Ideally it would never run long enough for overheating to be an issue. They are not very expensive at all  maybe $40 or so

the trick is putting it in the right (coldest) place along the pipe, attaching it tightly and insulating it well.

Yes, you would have to get a two wire thermostat wire from the freeze-stat back to the boiler and wire it in parallel with the thermostat for that zone( so either turn on the circulator) Don't take up the floor just drill a little hole to snake the wire through. There is always a way.

 they work wonderfully.

Beckett fresh air kit on both burners

@ April 14, 2010 5:05 AM in negative pressure ?

 use 100% outside air for combustion.

Freeze stat on the pipe in the coldest spot you can reach

@ April 14, 2010 5:01 AM in Ideas for a Frozen hot water loop

attach it tightly and insulate it well it will kick the circulator just long enough to keep that pipe from freezing.

 is how I would proceed.

What i don't know could fill a book

@ April 13, 2010 8:15 PM in Ideal temperature for radiant heat?

what i do know is that this customer sent a very nice letter to my boss thanking me for finally solving his problem.



the real test of course is if he calls back in  few weeks for"The Same Problem"
If they send me back, I have a much better sense of what should be done.
Thank you all for your input.

This winter this customer spent $26k on oil with my company, so even if its not strictly according to Hoyle, I want him happy and warm.

Goldline relay with an outdoor sensor...

@ April 13, 2010 8:04 PM in Ideal temperature for radiant heat?

automatically adjusting the mixing valve. I am not too familiar with this particular control set up.You are correct that his complaint is not a cold room,its cold floors.
Overheating has never been an issue for this customer beacuse any excess heat leaks out into the master bedroom, or into the hallway in the other bath.5

more info

@ April 9, 2010 3:31 AM in Ideal temperature for radiant heat?

yes there is an outdoor re-set, but only on the two radiant zones, it has been steadily turned up over the last few winters in response to re-occuring insufficient heat calls.
The house was extensively remodeled by others in 2004
these two radiant zones were added then, I don't know if floor plates were used.
 the setpoint is now at 75, which seems pretty high to me.
the thermostats in the bathrooms don't have actual numbered setting.
just cool/ normal/ warm range.He keeps it up in the warm range all the time
There is no floor sensor.
Can one be added?
The thermostatic mixing valve is new, customer just paid a hefty bill to replace it.
 It was condemmed by service manager in response to insufficient heat calls.


 my sense from this group is that 115ish on a 50 degree day is already somewhat high.
 but the customer keeps calling back for insufficient heat

more info

@ April 8, 2010 4:18 PM in Ideal temperature for radiant heat?

Down on the manifold the pipe was running about 115 or so.
I didn't check the floor itself.
It was a 50 degree gray spring day, might have been the only two zones calling.
I was concerned about damaging the floor, 
but I gambled the thick marble tiles could take it.
the customer told me he leaves the thermostat in the bathroom high,
 he likes it warm in there.


 so should you be able to tell if its on or not?
at 115 degrees this customer cannot.
Comfort is his primary concern, over savings.

Ideal temperature for radiant heat?

@ April 8, 2010 5:34 AM in Ideal temperature for radiant heat?

Big Mansion, 7 zones of baseboard and two bathroom radiant zones.
Both radiant zones circulating 110-120degrees.
complaint is insufficient heat.He can't feel it/can't tell if its on.
our service dept disagree weather you SUPPOSED to be able to tell if its on.
 I say with marble floors and bare feet you SHOULD be able to tell if it on.
 Another view is you tell by just feeling its warm in there.

I adjusted the diverting valve to allow it to circulate 150-160 degree water.
The customer will get back to us after a few days
my co-service techs think I've got to return and turn it back down to 120-130.

what do you think?

The End of the Season Blues

@ April 2, 2010 5:40 AM in The End of the Season Blues

 I always feel a little sad at the end of the heating season.
I admit I love the busy winter days.
The days when every customer is twitchy and nervous.
The days when the boss is stressed to the breaking point.
The days when my training and experience really shows.
This was my 30th winter in the trade.
 My 21st with the same employer.
I am more driven now than I was back when
Driven and determined to find the answer,
serve the customer's needs and generally not get beat by these machines.

We've made it through another season with no major disasters.
 No more middle of the night , 5 calls in my hand, driving from town to town.

And yet , I always feel a little sad when it ends.
like a baseball player in the winter....
Wait 'till next year.


In few weeks the A/C season will kick in and it'll start all over again.
I love my job.