Heating Help

niosy geothermal

@ January 9, 2013 11:13 PM in niosy geothermal

We installed a Bosch TA035 geothermal heat pump this last month and it seems to have a lot of noise coming from the compressor . How can I tell if the compressor has some type of mechanical problem that is causing the excessive noise ?
Thanks A.J.

single relay

@ October 24, 2012 12:58 AM in 2107 logamatic with taco ZVC

I would hook up the 2107 terminal 63 to a normally open set  of contacts on a single zone relay. Wire terminals 1 & 20on the relay so they have power all the time and let the end switch off the Taco ZCR close the relay by way of (T & T ) this will send power to the circulator.  If the boiler tempetature goes to low the Logomatic will shut off power to 63 and the circulator will stop.
Good Luck A. J.

Alpha circulator

@ October 8, 2012 10:07 PM in Groundfoss Alpha, home runs and TRVs

Tristin just wire up the Alpha and leave the power on to it 24/7 , as your TXVs open it will speed up to deliver more flow. The same will happen as they close. All you need is something to turn on the boiler. Whether it be an end switch or reset controller, the Alpha will adjust to the system. 
A.J.

dido

@ August 15, 2012 9:07 PM in Where have all the radiators gone

I love them , we even have a system hooked up to a heat pump .
A.J.

leak spot

@ June 24, 2012 12:27 PM in foreign copper on A coils

The thing that makes me think that what I'm hearing from the my supplier is right is that these leaks are happening on straight pipe no braze joints. When I try to talk to them about it they just go to their fall back position which is installer error. If I persist they just close out the conversation by telling me that I should have sold the 10 year P&L warranty. I don't know it just feels like I'm being treated like a mushroom ( being kept in the dark and feed  s--- .

foreign copper on A coils

@ June 24, 2012 10:45 AM in foreign copper on A coils

We have been seeing a lot of leaks on A coils come up recently even though we handle a top name manufacture . I was telling this to one of my suppliers and he told me that back when copper price started spiking that a lot of the HVAC manufactures started using imported copper for their equipment, although he said that no one will never admit to it . I was just wondering if anybody else was seeing an increase in coil leaks .
Thanks

Thanks guys

@ May 10, 2012 12:18 AM in off topic , air testing drains

I didn't mean to stir things up it is just that I'm a little frustrated because I have to dig it up again to put a second clean out in when I just had it uncovered. Our sewage agency mandates that in order for you to sell you house you must have passed a pressure test within the last five years . I used to think it was hard to sell boilers and air condtioners to home owners untill this came along .
Thanks Andy

off topic , air testing drains

@ May 8, 2012 11:33 PM in off topic , air testing drains

We just got done repiping some clay pipe in a basement of a house that is up for sale . The air test was all set to go but the inspector wanted us to test past the house trap by about ten feet . The only problem is that we didn't put a second clean out past the tee because we put in new schedule 35 gasketed ( we have never ever had a leak on that stuff ) didn't see the need to .
 The inspector says the we can float a test ball down through the two 45 ells and the one 90 deg ell that make up the trap and get the test ball down the line , is that possible and if so how ?
Thanks Andy

new numbers

@ March 3, 2012 3:29 PM in Heating Edge baseboard with geothermal ?

Rob the new numbers are 345 BTU/ft @ 110 deg average water temp.  The old numbers were 535 BTU/ ft @ 110 entering water temp.
They are stepping up though and are going to help me fix the problem , thank God .

Heating Edge Update

@ February 18, 2012 11:03 PM in Heating Edge baseboard with geothermal ?

Since I last posted on the wall the board rep. came out for the second time to look at the job , but this time he had some new numbers as to what the board will put out . It is about 55% of what the original numbers were . Wish I would have known that before I did a whole house with that stuff. I am in it up to my you know what now !

Thanks for the input

@ January 12, 2012 12:06 AM in Heating Edge baseboard with geothermal ?

We have a job that is struggling . The board just doesn't seem to be putting out the BTUs it seems to be doing only about half of what it is rated for.
AJ

Heating Edge baseboard with geothermal ?

@ January 10, 2012 9:40 PM in Heating Edge baseboard with geothermal ?

Is any body using Heating Edge baseboard with a geothermal water to water unit ? The numbers they promote for 115 supply water temp. is impressive .
Thanks 
A.J. 

preaching to the chior

@ May 31, 2010 4:37 PM in On Questionable Quality

I hear you Rich , are small shop tries to use only the best in fittings, pipes and equipment but it is getting harder to get suppliers to stock the better supplies because how price sensitive everybody is now a days .  I have never asked for better pricing on any of the supplies we get in and we always pay on time.All I ask is that they have it in stock and at a fair price ( for both of us ). That being said it is hard to find suppliers that still stock domestic supplies they all seem to try want to go the low price route. Maybe they are trying to lull Lowes & Home Depot into a false sense of security . Good Luck with that .
A.J.

class schedule

@ April 30, 2009 10:53 PM in No Hot Rod?! No Caleffi? What?!

Hot Rod do you have any type of seminar schedule out yet for this summer/fall, I would love to attend. I wouldn't mind driving just as I have an idea where and when.

Don't take it personally

@ April 4, 2009 5:47 PM in design question for pros

We run into the same thing around here in western Pa. I always start off with a base price when list a couple upgrades ( outdoor reset ) and their advantages . Let the customer decide on the type of install they want and don't take it personally. Yes we are designing for lower water temps. I think it will become more and more common in the years to come .

Thanks again

@ March 19, 2009 8:50 PM in Keeping your buffer tank tempetature down

We are finishing up with the plumbing rough this week so I expect to start working on the heat again in about two to three weeks, so I just wanted to be sure of the last lose ends. I have even been hanging around waiting for the mailman to deliver the mail not for the checks but for part three on ME alternative energy interfaces (that a great resource ),thanks Mark. There have been some bad installs in our area in the past from guys trying to get started in GSHP market. I just want to make sure that I am not one of them. The best time to trouble shot is while everything is sill on paper.

Low buffer tank temperature

@ March 18, 2009 8:56 PM in Keeping your buffer tank tempetature down

I'm around the Altoona Johnstown area of Western Pa. The supply water should only have to go no higher than 102 deg. if I remember the report right,but I am still need about 15K aux. at design. I was planning on running reset buffer tank water through a G115BE and letting the Logomatic monitor the temperature along a reset curve to decide when to fire the burner. Looks like I need to rethink that. GSHP seems like shuts a good fit for low temp. radiant. Since this is my first water to water GSHP I'm getting a little nervous. Thanks Guys !

Keeping buffer tank temperature low ?

@ March 17, 2009 10:41 PM in Keeping your buffer tank tempetature down

I have to install a geothermal piece of equipment for some radiant heat (low temp.). I'm resetting the buffer tank and using a boiler for some aux. heat but for the life of me I can't figure out a good way to pipe the return to keep the buffer tank temperature down below 120 deg. I would like to keep the geo. going even when the boiler is on to increase efficiency but how do I keep the buffer tank temperature from creeping up when the boiler is running thus possibly locking out the geo. equipment . Thanks

burner set-up

@ February 15, 2009 10:11 PM in combustion tester

Beckett recommended cutting back on the air till you get a number one smoke. Take a CO2 & O2 then and knock down your CO2 down by 1.5% by adding excess air. Recommended readings for CO2 are 10% - 12% & O2, 4% -6% but I have had a higher readings on CO2 depending on the appliance. My Beckett AFG is running now @ 13.1% CO2 for three years now. We usually see excess air around 30%- 35%. Follow up by checking your draft and your good. It is all right there in the install manual.

logomatic override

@ February 13, 2009 9:54 PM in logomatic for dummies

JD there is a manual override on the logomatic just to the left of the on switch on the right side of the control. The switch will override the logomatic and let the boiler run off the limit. That said you should get your heating contractor over there to check it out .

Disconcerting

@ February 10, 2009 9:39 PM in Ground Loop Heat Pump problems

I am always worried a little when we try something new and the geo-radiant system we are about to start soon is no different. The frustration in your post Mark really jumped out at me and is making me wonder about my choice of getting into the geothermal market. If a guy with all your talent and experience is seeing problems when how is an average guy like me going to pull it off. If I may ask are you still going to install geo systems at there current level of efficiency ?

Tiger Loop

@ January 29, 2009 10:39 PM in Bubbles in the fuel...

We did two Tiger loops this month, both were two pipe 3/8 " O.D. oil line on under ground tanks. One still has air coming in but the Tiger Loop is at least able to keep the burner on. We never had a problem with them draining back though it sounds like a pretty good size leak.