Heating Help

Forane R-427A

@ May 25, 2012 3:58 PM in RS-44

We have recently done two replacements using Forane's R-427A. Temperature Glide is almost identical. Pressures are identical to 22. We decided to change the compressor oil to be safe. Took out Mineral Oil, went back with POE because I was concerned about oil return. Will check the oil in a month to look for carry over.

I am paying special attention to these two to see how it works. I will keep you posted.

I wish someone would just pick something and lets stick with it. I don't care what it is, just pick something. In a couple of years we are all going to be carrying around 10 different refrigerants to cover all the drop in replacements that we all tried.

Just my $.02.

Timmy is dead on once again.

@ May 18, 2012 8:40 PM in boiler gas pressure

That CB has a gas train on it that per CSD-1 has regulators on it with high and low gas pressure switches among other devices. The owners compliant would lead me to believe that the regulator to the main burner is malfunctioning. Is the pilot affected as well?

There are of specific safety devices on large appliances. If you are not familiar with them, you could wind up another statistic. Seek some help if you are unsure.

Greenhouses are a little different.

@ May 17, 2012 9:20 PM in Heat Load for greenhouses.

While Mark's method is the more scientific approach, the greenhouse people usually have a heating package geared for the horticultural intent.

They are usually done for Seasonal, Local, Tropical, etc... That drives the design temp and humidity. Tropical greenhouses are normally designed for 84 F year around indoor temp. Seasonals are 72 F shoulder and 60 F winter indoor temp.

Greenhouses are the only buildings that I do a radiation only survey on for boiler replacements and even new installations. Because the greenhouse folks always spec the radiation amounts.

Good Luck.

Same time frame here.

@ May 6, 2012 9:59 AM in Why Is the US Always Last

Ditto. I was told late summer 2013.

Nice Point Eugene.

@ May 5, 2012 8:06 AM in bad txv?

I read the OP and immediately thought Air Flow.

Way too many technicians think refrigerant first. I tell my guys to always look at the whole system. But start with the basics, is there enough airflow to facilitate change of state in evaporator? The kinds of problems described in the OP could easily be caused by a clogged filter, a slipping belt on a belt drive system, an undercurrent situation causing the evap fan to spin too slowly.

The morale of the story is don't always assume that the problem is with the refrigerant cycle.

Approval Process

@ May 5, 2012 7:59 AM in Why Is the US Always Last

Chris, if you talk to any of the European executives, they will admit privately that the North American approval process is a significant deterrent to bringing new products over. I had that very same conversation with an executive of one of the companies last month.

The UL/CSA approval process, while necessary, creates a lot of product overhead with redesign and modification. It frankly gets expensive. When you factor that cost into the package, then the very small amount of the American and Canadian market that Hydronics occupies, makes it less attractive.

I will try and find the article that I read in one of the Trade Business magazines recently. It had the breakdown in percentages of US households and heating method. Hydronic was small and shrinking. With the advancements in heat pump technology and the simplicity of dual fuel (gas/heat pump) systems, hydronics is behind.

By the way, we will see this gadget very, very soon. Or something very similar.

We use Sage Timberline, but...

@ May 3, 2012 8:57 PM in Computer programs to run your business ?

Unless you are running 50 employees, it doesn't make sense. We use it to integrate Accounting, Project Management, and Service Management for 70 employees.

It works very well, but is very pricey.

Great Stuff Gordo

@ April 28, 2012 7:06 PM in Where to Go to Get Rare Fittings in Baltimore

We have a supply source up here like that. Completely unchanged since the 60's. If it is old and you need it you can probably find it there. It might be covered in 3" of dust, but it is there.

What will we do when these places are gone?

I don't trust it Bob.

@ April 27, 2012 4:40 PM in Leak Sealers?

These things have come and gone. I won't say that I have never seen them used effectively, but always for a short time until a replacement could be acquired. To the best of my knowledge, use of these leak stops will void any remaining manufacturer's warranty.

Yes

@ April 22, 2012 6:52 PM in best high eff. gas boiler/ hot water heater

Viessmann has a combi.

Check your AHRI

@ April 22, 2012 4:11 PM in Heat Pump Swap Out

Make sure they are compatible units.

Viessmann

@ April 22, 2012 4:10 PM in best high eff. gas boiler/ hot water heater

Mike, I personally think that Viessmann is the best boiler on the market. It isn't the cheapest but is competitive. Their support and factory training are phenomenal.

What part of the country are you in?

CSD-1

@ April 21, 2012 2:37 PM in commercial gas venting

There are requirements for additional safety devices for appliances above certain btu/hr ratings. 400,000 - 2 million btu/hr has a set of standards, 5 million - 12 million has another set of required safety devices, etc....etc...

Get a copy of CSD-1 and take a look. If your company is doing work on dual fuel burners, they should have a copy laying around.

Seek out some professional help.

@ April 20, 2012 7:10 PM in Expansion couplings

We all try to offer good advice here. And sometimes that advice is for you to seek out professional help. Now is one of those times. You are obviously way over your head here. If you start to fool around with your system with the limited knowledge that you are exhibiting here, you could do some serious damage to the system, your house, or worse, your family.

Time to step back and seek out a competent heating professional. Tell him about the noise and let him find and correct it.

Good Luck.

Ditto

@ April 19, 2012 9:17 AM in need a reasonablly-priced tankless water heater as a temp

Ditto on the above posts.  Used to do this all the time on residential and light commercial change outs.

The other Chris.

@ April 15, 2012 9:17 AM in Not always mod/con

Sorry ice. My comment was directed at the other Chris.

System pressure.

@ April 14, 2012 4:59 PM in Buffer Tank ASME

Also if the system pressure exceeds 50 PSI in some applications and 75 PSI in others.

Henry is in Canada.

@ April 14, 2012 4:57 PM in Not always mod/con

Chris. Henry is in Eastern Canada, I believe that while their winter was milder than normal, it was no where near as mild as yours in the mid Atlantic.

NIce Job Henry

@ April 13, 2012 7:13 PM in Not always mod/con

I hope you get the condo job. If so make sure to post some pics.

Very good point on the efficiency of the system.

It's worn out already?

@ April 11, 2012 7:44 PM in warranty compressor replacement

I went to look at a boiler replacement the other day at a large maintenance facility. The owner seemed astounded that one of the boilers "already" needed replacement. The thing was 28 yrs old. I asked him if he still drove the same car that he did 28 years ago. He said no and didn't see the correlation.

Now I know that we all have equipment older than that still running, but this old girl has had a rough 28 years.

So I took my time. Did my due diligence and gave him an honest price. I thought the guy was gonna have a heart attack. "The old one didn't cost anywhere near that!'

Well if you adjust for inflation, it did, but whatever. Damn customers.

Sorry for the rant.

I feel your pain

@ April 10, 2012 6:06 PM in warranty compressor replacement

This would be a great line of work if it wasn't for all the damn customers.

No Problem Mark.

@ April 9, 2012 7:22 PM in Any issues with this near boiler piping diagram?

It happens to me all the time.

I don't like the flow check on the boiler side of the LLH. I only use a check valve in that position when I am piping several mod/cons into an arrangement.