Heating Help

MODA

@ October 2, 2012 8:28 PM in oil schools in new hampshire or maine

Maine Oil Dealers Association has a great training center in Brunswick, ME. Classes are reasonably priced. Tuition assistance is available I believe.

Their website:

http://www.maineenergymarketers.com/education-foundation/

Sorry I am missing it.

@ September 8, 2012 9:52 PM in Hydronics Roundtable

I really wanted to make it to this one, but I am going to Mississauga, Ontario the following week to the Riello and Weishaupt Large Burner Classes. Can't be gone two weeks in a row without the boys going wild.

Call the installer

@ September 3, 2012 4:08 PM in Rinnai RU98i only works with cover off

You need to get the installer back out there. He is responsible for the warranty of the unit.

Ultrasonics

@ September 3, 2012 9:50 AM in Tool

Ultrasonic Flow Measurement has been used in manufacturing for years. Particularly in the pulp and paper industry, they are used quite frequently. The problem is that the accuracy is only as good as the equipment. Meaning, that the really reliable ones are stupid expensive. (Think half a years salary or more.)

I don't know what this one costs, but as stated, balancers won't use them, so.......

Buyer beware.

Good Luck.

Agree with Paul.

@ August 16, 2012 3:04 PM in Off Topic: DWV Venting

UPC has a great companion guide to their code.  It may not apply specifically to the NYC code, but it has a lot of pics and explanations.  We use it to train newbies.

I understand what you are trying to do.

@ August 15, 2012 6:11 AM in anyone use a Variable speed drive to control heating pump motor?

I am a commercial, institutional, and industrial contractor.  I understand what you are trying to do.  I am just trying to tell you that it won't give you what you want.

Good Luck to you.

We don't discuss pricing on this board.

@ August 14, 2012 9:43 PM in Oil Heat Maintenance or Replacement

We do not discuss pricing on this board.

Basically you have a 20 yr old oil system. Could the tech's slip say 78% eff or could he have simply mis-written 70% instead of 78%? Peerless of that era typically run about 80% +/- a % or two.

The high PPM of CO could be caused by flame impingement on the combustion chamber. That chamber has been in there for 5 yrs. Not unheard of that the chamber is crumbling, if not properly maintained every single year.

Depending on your location, most unprotected oil lines are now required to be replaced and sleeved to protect against oil leaks. There is no way that your chimney liner guy is going to warranty the chimney liner after 5 yrs. Good luck with that.

Bottom line, you have a boiler that is at the end of its useful life. Time to start thinking about and budgeting for replacement. Do you still drive the same car that you did in 1995? I doubt it, and your boiler sits in your basement and runs with maintenance only once a year (if that) for 20 yrs. Think of it as your boiler now has 2,880,000 miles on it.

I don't mean to sound harsh, but the reality is as described.

Good luck.

night setback

@ August 14, 2012 9:32 PM in anyone use a Variable speed drive to control heating pump motor?

The way that those systems work is as follows,

The heating circuit pump is setup to follow a Preset Delta T. The Delta T is measured across the supply and return loops fed from the pump. The controller then outputs a 4-20 or 0-10 signal to the VFD to lower or raise the pump speed. This Delta T is not easily adjustable.

The building setback is set through either a supply temperature system on the boilers and tied to a clock system, or a centralized space setpoint setback also controlled by a clock.

Simply slowing the pump down at night will do nothing to decrease the amount of heat consumed by the building. The only way to do that is to lower the target temp of the space or do the massive amount of math and setup a constant circulation system and setback the boilers accordingly, which may cause other problems depending on the boiler.

This is not an easy fix or a maintenance project. This is a time consuming project for a competent controls and or Mechanical contractor.

Simply installing a VFD on the circ pump will not do what you want it to do, even with a Delta T controller.

Siding Nail?

@ August 14, 2012 7:52 PM in p.i.t.a refrigerant leak

I once had this happen. Although it was a long time ago. Long story short, the siding guys used one coil of longer nails when they put the cedar shingles on. The leak didn't show up at first. Only after the building had expanded and contracted a few times and the nail worked its way loose and opened up the hole.

Not sure if this is your problem, but maybe it gives you an idea.

Please note that back in those days, we were less likely to pressure test to as high a pressure as we all do now. Back then we would just throw 100# of nitrogen on it, go to lunch and if it held, it was good.

Now we know better, huh?

Good Luck

Cart before the horse.

@ August 14, 2012 7:46 PM in anyone use a Variable speed drive to control heating pump motor?

No VFD can do a setback by itself. You have to have a total control package to do what you are trying to do. You would have to setback the entire building temperature for this to work. I would suggest talking to a Controls Contractor. They can provide you with a whole host of options and try and help you decide between what you need and what you can afford.

Good Luck.

Well said, Steamhead.

@ August 14, 2012 2:55 PM in Why use different nozzle?

Oil burner setup is definitely an art.  The manufacturer's guidlines ("specs") are a starting point.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.  The draft regulators can only compensate for so much.  The factory tests never account for a large, tall chimney or a short skinny chimney. 
Every installation is slightly and sometimes very different from the manufacturer's test.  That is why all must be setup with a Combustion Analyzer.  Deciding which nozzle to use is more about experience than anything.

Not that I have ever seen.

@ August 14, 2012 2:38 PM in Repairing Poly Pipe Under Concrete

I have been at this for a while, and I have never seen anything like you describe.  I wish they did, because I have jackhammered up more than one slab to repair burst poly water lines that frozen.

Quite Often

@ August 14, 2012 2:36 PM in anyone use a Variable speed drive to control heating pump motor?

We use VFD's quite often to control 3 phase, heating loop circulating pumps.  The best way to control the VFD is with a Delta T controller, like a 775.  It will give you either a 4-20 or 0-10 output.

kind of agree

@ August 12, 2012 5:37 PM in Carwash glycol floor and hot water system

While this application falls under process water and not DHW, there are still equipment longevity issues to consider.

We had a contractor up here that was installing Tankless water heaters on radiant system a few years back. They wouldn't last 5 years. They just aren't designed for it.

Save yourself a bunch of headaches and put in boilers. Use the HX to make the hot water for the Process. then glycol the entire heat loop.

Concur with Chris

@ August 7, 2012 9:26 PM in LWCO on hydronic boiler

A LWCO is not necessary on the Vitodens in most jurisdictions, except under certain conditions. Viessmann even has a letter and Third Party Listing information that has been accepted when we have used the Vitodens 200 in commercial/institutional installations.

If you have to use one, I prefer the Hydrolevel 170. It simplifies the wiring, simply killing 120v to the boiler in the event of a low water condition.

There are quite a few.

@ August 2, 2012 4:19 PM in Maine Hvac Jobs

tim,

In the HVAC trade here in Maine we are required to carry 4 licenses plus our EPA card.

Maine Oil Burner Technicians license. Master or Journeyman.
These are broken down by oil type and burner firing rate,
1 & 2 Oils, up to 15 GPH (residential)
or
1 & 2 Oils, over 15 GPH (commercial - institutional)
or
1-6 Oils, unlimited GPH (all oil burners, residential, commercial - institutional, and industrial)

Maine Solid Fuel Technician. Required for wood, pellet or coal fired boilers.

LP & Natural Gas Technician, with specific endorsements.
Appliance Installation and Service Tech, up to 500,000 BTU/Hr
Large Appliance Installation and Service Tech, over 500,000 BTU/Hr
Tank Setter and Outside Pipe Tech (covers LP piping from the tank to the second stage regulator. Not a lot of natural gas up here yet.)

Maine Plumbing License. Master or Journeyman

EPA Universal 608 Certification.

My company is a Commercial, Institutional, Industrial service company and these are the licenses that we require from our service techs. You will most likely be able to transfer your hours and experience in to take the Master or Journeyman exam in these areas. Journeyman license is required to work without direct supervision (Master not with you at all times).

If you have specific questions. Let me know. Good Luck.

Good Point Mike

@ July 27, 2012 4:11 PM in 410 n high outdoor temps

That's a good point on the factory tap switches. We just had a Goodman that we couldn't get to run. Another company installed it, couldn't keep it running. The GC called us (we are his normal mechanical contractor, this guy was the low bidder). My tech fought it for several hours before her realized that someone had put a HP switch from an R-22 dry unit on this 410 condenser. Lucky find.

Take a look. We can't be the only ones to have found this.

Blue One's

@ July 23, 2012 3:12 PM in Pensotti wb 3 pass boiler

The Blue One's are Buderus.
By "High-end residential, institutional, commercial", I was only referring to size.  Pennsotti is geared toward the smaller load boilers, 200K btu and under.  They have some larger ones, but I do a lot of 400K BTU and up boilers.  Most of the McMansions are designed around low temp radiation, so LP fired Mod/Cons are the best fit.  Existing houses up here are most often traditional baseboard.  In a traditional baseboard application, where natural gas isn't available, oil is still the most cost effective option in my opinion. 
Your dad will be fine with the Pennsotti.  No worries.  Just make sure that he sets up the burner with a combustion analyzer.  No boiler installation will work properly without it.  Mod/Cons are even more dependent on proper setup.
 

Great little oil boiler

@ July 22, 2012 7:48 AM in Pensotti wb 3 pass boiler

Unless he is in one of the few areas up here that has natural gas, oil is still a good option on an older home. These are similar to the Biasi's and Buderus's.

Pensotti's 3 pass oil boilers are a good quality boiler. These packages use a Riello burner and when set up correctly, I am hearing of 88% AFUE numbers. Their North American headquarters is in Brewer, ME (Bangor Suburb). This makes product service up here exceptional.

http://www.pensotti-pna.com/Quatech%20Brochure.pdf

I wouldn't hesitate to put one in my own home. I know a lot of companies up here in Eastern Maine that swear by them. I have only installed a handful (2 or 3) of them as we are mostly high-end residential, commercial, and institutional, but the ones that I have put in have been trouble free.

Good Luck.

My bad

@ July 21, 2012 10:30 AM in industrial combustion klg

boiler-man. I didn't look at the subject line. The IC KLG's are pretty basic. Start with the pilot line solenoid. I believe it is an Asco solenoid. Check to make sure that the plunger isn't sticking. Then move to your pilot proving.

I have a manual for that series burner, but I am not going to post it in an open forum. I don't want some facility maintenance guy making adjustments without the proper training.

Contact me with the button under my screen name and I will see if I can get it to you.

Good Luck.

Need more info.

@ July 21, 2012 10:23 AM in industrial combustion klg

What is the boiler/burner? BTU rating? Combustion numbers at startup and shutdown?

Give us a little more and then we can help you.

Balometer.

@ July 17, 2012 9:45 PM in cfm

Balometer and a calculator. Nothing simple about it.