Heating Help

Adding copper baseboard zone

@ April 17, 2013 7:50 PM in Add Existing Hot Water Baseboard Heat To Unfinished Basement?

Get a heat loss done on the house and the basement. You can zone the basement as one zone and the house as another zone. You can give the house zone priority over the basement zone. How is the hot water heated? You could use a indirect water heater and give that zone priority and use programmable thermostats in the other zones so you can control what zones will be running at what time and keep each zone at the temperature that is comfortable for you and your family.

Gallons of hot water

@ April 3, 2013 7:18 PM in Apartment building

Go to www.hotwater.com look for sizing.

If using 2.5 GPM 36 units with 2 people with a 100* F temp rise you need 314 gallons for a medium peak demand.

Look at using Delta 1.5 GPM shower heads and you only need 188 gallons for a medium peak demand.

I have the 1.5 GPM shower heads in my house and they work fine.

If using the 1.5 GPM shower heads you will be using a smaller water heater plus the building will use less water and their water and sewer bill will be less. If on a well pump system and septic system these systems will last longer using less water.

What about using tankless gas water heaters for this type of job. Only uses energy when hot water is needed.

Take a look at using the A O Smith high efficiency condensing tankless gas water heaters. The ATI540H vents with PVC pipe and you can link 4 units together without a special controller or with a controller you can install up to 20 units.

Soon you will be able to common vent multiple units for commercial jobs.

Their heat exchanger warranty now is 5 years and soon going to 10 years for commercial jobs.

If using the 1.5 GPM shower heads you would need 8 units.

If using the 2.5 GPM shower heads you would need 13 or 14 units.

Big savings using lower flow shower heads.

A O Smith does have a 910 model 380,000 BTU and you would need 5 units for 1.5 GPM SH and 8 units for 2.5 shower heads this model vents with stainless steel venting

Depending where you are I can quote you on this job send me a email.

Generating new sales leads

@ April 2, 2013 7:22 PM in Generating new sales leads

I work in sales for a Plbg & Heating wholesaler. I have a heating contractor that is selling and installing high efficiency condensing gas boilers. He asked me how to generate new sales leads. Looking for what works for you in generating new sales leads. Thanks

Pump

@ April 1, 2013 8:03 PM in Pump for Washing machine

Look at the liberty pumps 404 www.llibertypumps.com

Press fittings for black steel pipe

@ March 20, 2013 8:06 PM in Press fittings for black steel pipe

Is anyone using the Viega or another brand of fittings that can be pressed on black steel pipe for boiler jobs both for water and gas piping?

High water temp

@ March 17, 2013 11:17 AM in High Temp Output On Demand Water Heater (Commercial)

You can also use a Triangle Tube Smart stainless steel indirect water heater. You can store water at 180 DEG F and then use a mixing / tempering valve to get it to the temp you need.

A O Smith Tankless gas water heater

@ March 17, 2013 11:15 AM in High Temp Output On Demand Water Heater (Commercial)

Look into A O Smith TGWH model ATI540H you can get up to 185Deg F water temp from it. This is their high efficiency model vents with PVC pipe

New Modcon old cast iron radiator system

@ March 14, 2013 7:25 AM in New Modcon old cast iron radiator system

When you are installing a high efficiency Modcon boiler on a old system with many cast iron radiators and large black steel pipe in they system do you use any type of chemical and flush out the system before putting the new boiler in? Anyone have photos of the radiators before and after from a thermal imager?

TGWH

@ March 11, 2013 7:47 PM in Tankless gas water heater or something like a Eternal water heater

do you experience the so called cold water sandwich? Have you had to flush it out often?

Tankless gas water heater or something like a Eternal water heater

@ March 11, 2013 6:12 PM in Tankless gas water heater or something like a Eternal water heater

I know this is a heating question forum but I am wondering if you the professional heating and plumbing contractor are installing tankless gas water heaters or do you prefer a unit like the Eternal water heater? If installing tankless gas water heaters what brand are you using and why?

Oil to gas

@ March 9, 2013 4:26 PM in Confused about converting to Gas

Get your self a good heating contractor. Get them to do a heat loss so you get the right size boiler. Get a price both ways with a mod/con with outdoor reset control and something like a Burnham ESC cast iron boiler with outdoor reset control and both with a indirect water heater. This is my fourth heating season with a Triangle Tube PE110 high efficiency condensing boiler with built in indirect water heater. With today's high cost for fuel oil and the lower cost for natural gas my heating cost have been cut by more than 50% and I added a gas cooking stove and added some cast iron radiators and got rid of electric cooking stove and electric baseboard in one room and also lowered my electric bill. Today's low price for natural gas will not last forever it will be going up soon and I would put in the most efficient gas boiler for the long run not just what you would be saving at today's nat gas prices but what you can save in five or ten years down the road. Get a good contractor that has been factory trained and has many installations under their belt. There are many great high efficiency condensing boilers on the market today but unless they are installed the right way you will not get the maximum efficiency out of the system as you should. Stay warm and comfortable in the winter and still save money.

High efficiency gas boiler with indirect water heater

@ March 6, 2013 6:42 PM in Looking for feedback

I have a Triangle Tube Prestige Excellence high efficiency condensing gas boiler with built in indirect water heater.

In non heating months for four people in the house my natural gas bill for domestic hot water is only $30 to $35 dollars May to October.

Tankless gas water heaters high efficiency condensing models might not lower gas bill because when the home owner had a tank type water heater and let's say four people in the house and everyone is going out to eat and everyone is showering and they know everyone can have a 10 minute shower before it runs out of hot water. Now you install a tankless gas water heater. Now they can stay in the shower as long as they want without running out of hot water their gas bill might go up.

Reduce the GPM shower head to 1.5 GPM that way if they are using less water their gas bill should be lower.

Repiping old radiator system

@ February 25, 2013 6:59 PM in re-piping an old rad system...

You could do three zones one for each floor. You could use a radiant manifold one from legend hydronics. Using the radiant manifold you can control the flow to each radiator and balance each radiator on each zone so one is not to hot or to cold. I would use Viega fostapex tubing that is Pex with a aluminum for the oxygen barrier plus this tubing does not droop or will not grow in length when hot boiler water is run through it. Great tubing.

Soldering lead free brass fittings

@ February 23, 2013 9:34 PM in flux problems

I hope this helps you out.


Soldering Lead-free Brass
“Lead-free” brass fittings and valves are manufactured from a dezincification-resistant, lead- free brass material, classified as C69300 by the Unified Numbering System (UNS). While this material is rated Excellent in soldering suitability2, it is important to recognize that lead-free brass is more sensitive to soldering conditions than traditional leaded (i.e., yellow) brass. Therefore, strict adherence to good soldering practices is paramount.
Lead-free brass has a lower thermal conductivity compared to leaded brass, as well as unique corrosion resistance due to its natural oxidative barrier, making for an exceptional lead-free brass product. Lead-free brass requires following proper brass soldering techniques to enable a good plumbing joint connection. See below for tips and techniques for soldering lead-free brass.
Soldering Tips and Techniques
Good preparation and cleaning — All metals should be properly cleaned prior to sol- dering, but because of the natural oxidative barrier of lead-free brass, a clean surface is im- perative to help remove oxide films and achieve a sound and uniform quality-soldered joint. Fluxing alone cannot substitute for adequate cleaning. Adequate cleaning requires the use of a mechanical abrasive product, such as a wire brush, sandpaper or a sanding cloth. Also, be sure to apply a sufficient coat of flux prior to soldering. Fluxing and soldering should be done immediately after cleaning as oxide films tend to reform quickly on the cleaned surfaces.
Flux with chloride compounds — Use only flux that contains chloride compounds. While most flux does contain chloride compounds, there is still some flux available without chloride compounds; however, it should not be used with lead-free brass.
Lead-free solder — Use only lead-free solder, preferably a 95/5 mix of tin/antimony.
Uniform heating — Uniform heating around the entire perimeter of the fitting/pipe juncture is critical to making a good joint. When soldering any brass, it is always good prac- tice to heat the component gradually, using a smaller tip, and continually moving the location of the flame around the joint. This is also true with lead-free brass.
Avoid excess heat — It is especially important not to overheat the metal. Lead-free brass will turn a distinctive brown color when overheated. This discoloration is an indicator that flux may have been burned out of the solder joint, resulting in a lack of complete solder coverage. If this condition occurs, the joint must be disassembled and the “good preparation” procedure reapplied.
Cool properly — Over-heating the joint and the subsequent delay in cooling (due to the low thermal conductivity of lead-free brass) may actually allow solder to weep from the joint, or allow the joint to be disrupted after soldering. Cooling the joint with a wet cloth im- mediately after soldering will speed the transfer of heat, reducing the risk of disrupted joints.

New boiler

@ February 18, 2013 8:54 PM in NG Combi Boiler versus indirect tank and boiler setup

Make sure you have a heat loss program run on your house. Size the boiler for the heating load. If you want to run two showers at one time replace your shower heads with 1.5 GPM delta shower heads. They give plenty of hot water for showering. Triangle Tube has one model PE110 Prestige Excellence boiler with a built in indirect water heater. It delivers 180 GPH domestic hot water and it can run two showers with 1.5 GPM shower heads. They also have a Challenger Combi boiler that also makes domestic hot water all in one wall hung unit. They come in 85,000 - 105,000 - 125,000 BTU input models and they deliver 2 to 3 GPM on the domestic hot water side. If you think you need more domestic hot water use a prestige solo boiler with a smart 40 gallon indirect water heater or larger gallon model.

Old tank

@ February 6, 2013 8:07 PM in Old Compression Tank?

Does the round radiator still work?

Buffer tank with condensing gas boiler

@ February 5, 2013 7:29 PM in Buffer tank with condensing gas boiler

What brand and size buffer tank do you use with condensing gas boilers when there are many small zones?

Small indirect

@ February 2, 2013 3:41 PM in Smallest Indirect?

Look at using the TT Challenger Combi CC85 it's input is 85,000 BTU and it delivers 2GPM of domestic hot water. Then install a Delta 1.5 GPM shower head. This boiler has outdoor reset control so it will only fire at the BTU load depending on the outside temp. When you need domestic hot water the boiler has priority for the domestic hot water.

Copper baseboard

@ January 30, 2013 7:02 AM in Heat Loss, Fin Tube, ODR Questions

Check out the Synergy copper baseboard. It is designed to be installed with condensing gas boilers and geothermal H/P water to water systems. It delivers the following BTU
TEMP 4 GPM 1 GPM
180* F 932 BTU 872 BTU
170* F 820 BTU 781 BTU
160* F 717 BTU 674 BTU
150* F 597 BTU 567 BTU
140* F 502 BTU 477 BTU
130* F 411 BTU 390 BTU
120* F 328 BTU 312 BTU
110* F 250 BTU 232 BTU

You could send your water temp out at 160* F and return at 140* F

Check with Burnham how the near boiler piping should be installed to make sure your return water temp stays above 140* F so the boiler does not condense.

http://www.sterlingheat.com/modules/lit_lib/download.asp?litFileID=2640

Cracked radiators

@ January 26, 2013 11:56 AM in frozen cracked radiators

Look on Craig's list for used radiators that home owners have take out that are still good. Where are you located at?

NY boiler

@ January 16, 2013 7:11 PM in horizontal tube boiler

I believe the white residue in the tubes is sulfur coming out of the flue gas.

Tankless gas water heater question

@ January 9, 2013 10:09 AM in Tankless gas water heater question

Tankless gas water heater heaters heat exchangers stainless steel vs copper. What heat exchanger is better at transferring heat SS or copper. I know there are different grades of SS and copper. What brand do you use and why?