Heating Help

Sprinkler timer

@ December 9, 2012 1:13 PM in How to effectively exercise stagnant water in open system

Open systems are extremely common here in the Seattle area. For the homeowners who are not willing to pay the added expense of adding a hx we have typically put timers on the zones to exercise. A multi-zone sprinkler timer control works wonders for this application and is inexpensive as well. This will let each zone exercise independantly and is a fraction of the cost of a sr504.

Tablets

@ December 31, 2011 5:03 PM in Tablet use?

Our shop has been using samsung tablets for almost a year now. We send in invoices while on the road, take pictures of jobs and are getting ready to use them to collect c.c. payments as well. One of our techs preloaded all the tablets with hundreds of boiler and control manuals in pdf format which has been extremely useful. If I cant find a manual on the tab, i can usally download it on the spot. We also use them for our navigation in our trucks. Apps I would reccomend would be: Elec Lite, ConvertPad, Google Translate (for the non english speaking clients), and Google Nav.

aq

@ June 2, 2011 1:17 AM in aq251 wont light up

When programming the control, change the dhw device to valve instead of pump. This should fix your problem.

Truflow

@ February 4, 2011 2:18 PM in UPONOR TruFlow valves

Uponor truflow & truflow jr have valves on the supply and return side. Supply side is opened,closed and balanced using a alan wrench provided with the manifold. The return side has a adjustment cap that is replaced if acuators are used. proper orientation is as follows. Improper installation def. can affect performance.

HW

@ February 4, 2011 12:22 PM in Boiler Controls

sounds like a canidate for a honeywell aq252 with a 4 zone expansion port. look up the features on their website. This control offers a lot of functionality for the price.

Innoflue

@ January 19, 2011 9:40 PM in PVC VENTING

Centrotherm innoflue is all our shop uses anymore on all mod/cons. Comes with a much higher temp rating then solid core pvc and is extremely simple to work with.  They have some great offerings also, such as polypropelne chimney liners.

~

@ January 9, 2011 2:35 PM in Any networked thermostats that offer web control?

There is the Uponor CCN, unfortunantly that will indeed cost a small fortune.

Valves

@ January 9, 2011 1:26 PM in Where to get new Spuds w/ union?

I have never seen a kit offered with a valve and a radiator return ell.  Your best bet is to get new valves and radiator return ells as charlie stated. Even if you could get new valve nipples and unions it is very unlikely they would seat properly, especially if you have old valves, and you would likely be stuck  with drippers at every union.

yes

@ December 18, 2010 11:24 AM in low water cut off

"Would I not be better off to wire the lwco in series with the flow switch? "
Power the lwco with a seperate source of 24v, pull the jumper from the power source side and the burner circuit contact, and wire in the burner circuit contact of the lwco series with the flow switch. This will insure innteruption of the elements on a low water condition. Some may argue that you do not need a lwco if using a flow switch since you may not have flow in a low water condition anyways. But this could be added protection if the flow switch gets stuck in the closed position.

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@ August 28, 2010 1:15 PM in radiant tube identifaction

Could be Mr.Pex tubing.

A few years back...

@ April 7, 2010 1:27 AM in A few years back...

A few years back the company i work for was contacted for a newly installed radiant floor/wall heat system that seemed to be inproperly functioning and the homeowner wanted our perspective on the system.....well I dont think I have ever seen such a butchered system in my 8 years of doing this. Unfortunantly I only have a few pics since I was not the lead on that particular project but helping him repipe it for a couple days, so snapped a few with the camera phone.The pics will speak for themselves. Wish I had some after photos but didnt get to see it after the repipe.
Pic 1. Buderus GB boiler relief...piped in pex
Pic 2. Nice support for the dhw pump...and flow control on the base of the header (no primary pump was installed with 6 secondary circs.)
Pic 3. Pipes to indirect coil........creative
Pic 4. Another shot underneath the unit.
Pic 5. And another
Pic 6. Not quite on there straight
Pic 7. Six circs, one temp bout a 5000 sq ft home....seems a lil overkill ya think.
Pic 8. Well , when you run out of 90s I guess you use baseboard 90s and fill the void with solder.....(I cant make this sh-- up....)
Pic 9. Not the worst in the world, but I would never reccomend strapping pex with galv 2holes.
Pic 10. Had to get one more of this one
Pic 11.  Last but not least...Un glued section of pipe on the exhaust side of the unit. There were at least 3 unglued sections of pipe on the exhaust and this had been in operation a while.  Also I cant be certain, but that did not quite look like pvc glue in person, it almost appeared to be wood glue.....

A couple

@ April 6, 2010 8:36 PM in Mechanical room photos?

Here is a couple. btw: The second pic is my first install using Auqatherm climatherm polypropelene pipe. I really like the product although it is a pain to work with.  (and for those that noctice, yes the S/R boiler primary orientation is backwards and was fixed prior to operation...just a lil brain fart on my part as the stress was on working with the new product tryin to make the boss man happy ;)