Heating Help

Yea I knew the answer deep down ...

@ November 15, 2011 9:02 AM in Adding finned tube radiation in basement

I guess I knew the answer all along but since I am pressed for space I was hoping to defy the laws of gravity. I think I will be able to squeeze it just above the floor level for the output to the garden hose connection.

Adding finned tube radiation in basement

@ November 14, 2011 3:13 PM in Adding finned tube radiation in basement

I am adding an 8 foot section of baseboard in my basement. This will be a separate zone on the system.

Question: Do I need to worry about adding a "boiler drain" to the zone since it is below the level of the boiler and the zone system taps?

Any other suggestions? I am concerned about keeping the valving compact. The radiation will be supplied from approx. 7 feet above and return to the 7 foot level before connecting to the supply header and return headers at 7 feet and 5 feet (approximately) respectively. Separate zone valve with separate thermostat.

Summer Operation

@ April 5, 2011 9:05 AM in Quick Informal Survey - Indirect DHW or Not

Time will tell on the summer operation. Perhaps the hot water setpoint  temperature will need to be increased although so far throughout the winter, there have been many times when the boiler was cold (not delivering heating hot water) and the unit fired up and provided the hot water to the DHW heat exchanger very quickly. With small boiler capacity, small loop capacity and tight heat exchanger "pinch" that is to be expected.
 With these types of systems there is that slug of cold water that travels ahead of the arriving hot water. Not too big of an issue so far. This was true of the gas hot water tank it replaced as well frankly for most situations.  Certainly balanced by the long run time of hot water (as my teenage daughters will attest to). There certainly is no tank-loss with this type of indirect. Tankless Indirect.

Quick Informal Survey - Indirect DHW or Not

@ April 4, 2011 7:07 PM in Quick Informal Survey - Indirect DHW or Not

Look at the attached file and please try to classify the domestic hot water system in the picture.

Would you say it is an indirect DHW (albeit with a very, very small tank)?
Some other type of system not yet named?

(Inside the Slant-Fin Combi-Cat is a brazed heat exchanger as well as a pump and flow switch).
Thanks for playing!

System Volume

@ October 22, 2010 7:46 AM in Boiler Pressures

The hydraulic separator is a Taco Hydro-Sep (1 1/4"). The baseboard radiation was included in the 500 feet of piping. It is about 25% of the total emitter count and the remaining 75% is 85% sunrad radiators and 15% cast iron radiators.

Boiler Volume is Small

@ October 20, 2010 4:58 PM in Boiler Pressures

Thanks for the response. Boiler volume is small (less than a gallon; mod-con boiler). Separated by hydraulic separator. I will check the expansion tank sizing  and automatic pressure fill valve (cartridge style PRV) later to make sure it is all working correctly.

Suggestions on Replacing Swing Check Valve

@ October 20, 2010 3:24 PM in Suggestions on Replacing Swing Check Valve

Put check valves in per boiler manufacturer's suggested piping detail. Used 1 1/4" and 1" swing check valves.  System is great except for the noisy check valves. Seem to make fluttering sounds; a constant chattering as the pump pushes water past the open valve. Can't hear it upstairs, but in the basement, unless the TV is turned up loud, it is downright annoying.
What should I replace these valves with once I get around to it?

Boiler Pressures

@ October 20, 2010 3:19 PM in Boiler Pressures

Boiler pressure high (29 psi). Primary-secondary. Basement to third floor. Radiators and fin tube radiation. Cold was at 20 psi. Bled all radiators so I think most of the air is out of the system. Recently renovated/refilled.
Expansion tank is Extrol 30 and approximately 500 feet of piping in the system (75% 3/4 inch and 25% 1 inch).

What should I check for?

Always forget that Time Search Parameter

@ September 10, 2010 10:28 AM in Variable Delta T versus Variable P

Sorry, I always seem to forget that "Time" search parameter. Went back and found lots of posts on the VDT. 
So how is the state of art on this these days? Problems resolved?

Variable Delta T versus Variable P

@ September 10, 2010 10:20 AM in Variable Delta T versus Variable P

OK time to weigh-in. I am sure this has been covered before but my searching parameters didn't reveal it. Pros and cons for each approach? Experience of one versus the other?

System Detail

@ August 25, 2010 11:38 AM in Zone Valves versus Zone Pumps

Boiler is going from oil-fired cast iron (circa 1936) to modulating condensing boiler with outdoor air temperature reset. Domestic hot water priority with tankless heater to replace existing tank hot water generation. Low loss header between primary and secondary. 5 zones (3 cast iron radiators and 2 copper to finned tube baseboard). Replacing the main perimeter distribution back to manifolds for cast iron zones (changing from large 3 inch perimeter distribution (supply and return) to 3/4 inch copper runs out to existing black iron pipe risers).

Zoning Follow-Up

@ August 20, 2010 10:23 AM in Zone Valves versus Zone Pumps

Thanks for the responses so far.
Three of the zones are cast iron radiators (still trying to figure out the pressure drop through a radiator) currently connected with large piping versus heat load and two of the zones are finned tube radiation (newest has an 007 on it).  The total heat load of the system is approximately 110,000 btuh so I might get away with the Alpha although from my research the cast iron zones ought to be "high flow, low head loss" where as the baseboard is the opposite.

Zone Valves versus Zone Pumps

@ August 17, 2010 11:02 AM in Zone Valves versus Zone Pumps

Still waffling between zone valves (5 zones) and zone pumps (5 zones as well).  For the zone valves I would use a variable speed ECM pump. This project is on a tight budget.  It would appear on the surface that the upfront costs for the zone valve configuration would be a few hundred dollar differential. Is there a significant electrical savings for this type of control? What percentage savings might one expect?
Are there quality zone valves that are less expensive?

Detective Work - Tracing Heating Circuit

@ August 15, 2010 7:01 PM in Detective Work - Tracing Heating Circuit

OK all of you Columbo's out there, time for a little detective work.   I have more radiators than pipes or risers off from my main supply and return. I suspect, but don't know for sure, that at least for one room, the pipes rise up an interior wall and travel along the second floor to the exterior walls.  I also have places where the pipes split off the main supply and return in nearly the same location. One travels to the first floor the other to the second. But which is which? I am hoping to split the first and second floor into two zones and I will be breaking the pipe soon to drain the system and install new copper supplies and returns.
Is it possible to figure out which pipes go where? Could I rig up some sort of pump, flow a liquid through the pipes and take a temperature reading (this wouldn't have worked before as it was all one zone)?
Any brilliant suggestions?
TIA

Slant-Fin Combi-Cat: Experiences?

@ July 24, 2010 10:07 AM in Slant-Fin Combi-Cat: Experiences?

It has been proposed to include the Slant-Fin Combi-Cat with a new Slant-Fin Mod-Con boiler. Any one here have any experience with the system? Pros/cons versus an indirect tank?

Interesting Perspective

@ July 13, 2010 9:14 PM in Advice on Indirect Tank - Dunkirk Artesian

That is interesting, never thought of that. My old boiler has an abandoned side arm that was replace with a direct fired unit. Too much crud inside the water pipe?
I also saw that the Ergomax is essentially the same idea, although the use of a buffer tank might be beneficial no? How is this different from a tank-less water heater? Would those suffer the same fate?

Advice on Indirect Tank - Dunkirk Artesian

@ July 13, 2010 10:25 AM in Advice on Indirect Tank - Dunkirk Artesian

Looking to install a modcon with a indirect domestic hot water tank. In my research I came accross the Dunkirk Artesian tank. It looks like they surround the domestic coil with boiler water. This appears to have some interesting attributes including longer life of the tank and good heat recovery. Anyone have any comments on this? Are there similar approaches out there with competing products?
http://www.dunkirk.com/products_indirect_artesian.asp

Counting Section of Sunrad Recessed Radiator

@ December 14, 2009 2:51 PM in Counting Section of Sunrad Recessed Radiator

My house has what I believe to be recessed Sunrad hot water radiators. Built in 1936, with most of the rooms having these recessed radiators, I am trying to figure out how to count the number of sections. My ultimate goal is to replace the existing 1936 boiler (originally coal, now oil and in the future, I hope, a natural gas fired modulating condensing boiler). I want to change some of the zones (adding a third floor zone and separate the first and second floor zones) which will require some piping changes and additional pumps.
I want to figure out the existing radiation for flow and pumping reasons (I've done the heat loss calculations already). It is just not intuitive to me how the number of sections is figured with these radiators.  I've tried to post a picture from the internet of what looks like my radiation.
Thanks in advance for any help (and congratulations to the new grandfather).