Heating Help

Dual Coil

@ January 14, 2012 7:52 AM in dual coil tanks

My boiler is a Triangle Tube 110, I have 2 dual coil solar 119 gallon tanks for space heating and pre heating DHW. I also have a 50 gallon dual coil tank for my DHW. My control strategy is to feed the 50 DHW tank with solar until  it reaches temp and then I'm using a 3 way diverter valve to route the solar to my space heating tanks. When there is no solar gain, I seem to have a lack of hot water. I believe I have to increase the capacity of my DHW tank.

dual coil tanks

@ January 13, 2012 12:14 PM in dual coil tanks

I installed a dual coil tank on my last solar project and I'm finding out that since the solar coil is on the bottom  and the boiler coil on top, when there is a call for DHW from the boiler there doesn't seem to  be allot of recovery rate from the tank. Because the boiler coil is the top coil it seems that only half of the tank is heated. Does anyone else have this problem.
Rich

WOOD BOILER PIPING

@ January 5, 2012 5:17 PM in WOOD BOILER PIPING

I'm looking for some piping diagrams for a outdoor wood boiler connected through a heat exchanger into a oil fired system. Any help would be appreciated.

drain back pump sizing

@ December 19, 2011 7:32 PM in drain back pump sizing

I know how to size a residential pump but how does one size a pump for a drainback system. I have 8- 4x8 panels, 1" lines going to panels, 25' of rise from tank to panel and approximately 120' of 1" pipe. I would like to use one pump with a variable speed control.
Thanks
Rich

Codes

@ December 9, 2011 5:04 PM in wire mesh codes

I spoke with the GC today and it turns out that this is a code in NY. All of the re-bar in the slab and walls need to be grounded as well.

wire mesh codes

@ December 7, 2011 5:12 PM in wire mesh codes

I just looked at a project with approximately 5000 sq ft of slab radiant.  I was informed that there will not be wire mesh in the slab due to the code that states the wire mesh had to be grounded because of interference with communication wiring in house. They will be using fiber concrete instead. The problem is that all of the tubing has to be stapled down to the insulation increasing the labor on the project. Has anyone else ran into this?

wire mesh codes

@ December 7, 2011 5:12 PM in wire mesh codes

I just looked at a project with approximately 5000 sq ft of slab radiant.  I was informed that there will not be wire mesh in the slab due to the code that states the wire mesh had to be grounded because of interference with communication wiring in house. They will be using fiber concrete instead. The problem is that all of the tubing has to be stapled down to the insulation increasing the labor on the project. Has anyone else ran into this?

diverter valve

@ November 29, 2011 6:53 AM in 3 way diverter valve

I need 6 gpm for the proper flow for a primary loop on a triangle tube boiler. I was looking at the Caleffi Solar manual but the diverter valve only goes uo to 1".

I Valve

@ November 28, 2011 7:38 PM in 3 way diverter valve

The Taco I Valve is a mixing valve with outdoor reset. I have used these in the past. I need a diverter valve

3 way diverter valve

@ November 26, 2011 1:54 PM in 3 way diverter valve

IM looking for a 11/4 sweat diverter valve full port that will divert water from the boiler to the distribution system,  To Solar tanks to the distribution system. The valve must shut down A port while opening B port.

shark bite fittings

@ October 29, 2011 1:32 PM in shark bite fittings

How do you contractors feel about shark bite fittings? Ive been doing plumbing for over 20 years and still like to solder. I see a lot of homeowners using these for repair work and I question the quality.

mod/con with indirect or on demand water heater

@ October 20, 2011 4:52 PM in mod/con with indirect or on demand water heater

Which is more efficient a Mod/Con With a side arm or a on demand water heater. My guess is the water heater with the condensing boiler.

solar tanks

@ September 21, 2011 6:04 PM in solar tanks

Im looking for a solar tank that does DHW inlet and out, Coil for solar, Coil for Boiler and a Coil for space heating. There will be two tanks both 119 gallons
Thanks
Rich

Drainback on flat roof

@ September 13, 2011 6:44 AM in Drainback on flat roof

I'm doing a drain back system on a flat roof. There will be 8 panels installed. I would like to pitch 4 panels to the left  and 4 panels to the right a 1/4" per foot from the roof termination. The termination of the roof will be the supply and return runs.  I would also like the front of the panels 6" off of the roof for the snow to blow under. Ive been racking my brain tyring to figure out how to do this out. Does anyone have any suggestion
Thanks
Rich

Drainback on flat roof

@ September 13, 2011 6:44 AM in Drainback on flat roof

I'm doing a drain back system on a flat roof. There will be 8 panels installed. I would like to pitch 4 panels to the left  and 4 panels to the right a 1/4" per foot from the roof termination. The termination of the roof will be the supply and return runs.  I would also like the front of the panels 6" off of the roof for the snow to blow under. Ive been racking my brain tyring to figure out how to do this out. Does anyone have any suggestion
Thanks
Rich

exchanger temp.

@ August 7, 2011 9:07 AM in pool heat exchanger

I'm installing a system that will have a pool added on in the future. I always pipe my systems on my primary loop from the highest temp. to the lowest temp. Also I will be incorporating solar for space heating. First on my primary loop is my solar tees then DHW then my low temp radiant. I was wondering where I should put the tees for the pool heat exchange for the future. I hope this helps.

Rich

pool heat exchanger

@ August 5, 2011 4:48 PM in pool heat exchanger

What temp. should be ran to a heat exchanger supplying a pool.

Rich

savings for geothermal

@ March 24, 2011 6:34 PM in savings from geothermal

Would a water to water system or a water to air system have an effect on the efficiency of the system. Ive seen water to air systems that have a electric coil back up for the supplemental heat or would a condensing boiler make sense. It seems to me that a hydronic heat emitter such as radiant or panel radiators would be better then a ducted system but with a ducted system you can also have the benefit of the air conditioning. Also for the domestic hot water, go for the tank less water heater of a indirect off of a condensing boiler if that's preferred
Thanks
Rich

savings from geothermal

@ March 23, 2011 7:46 AM in savings from geothermal

What is the real world savings from geothermal. It seems to me that if you add in the price of the equipment and the fact that you can only get 50* water from the ground is there a benefit. I received a call from a homeowner the other day stating that since he installed his system his electric bills went through the roof. There's a 30 amp breaker running the pumps, One for the compressors, and two to run the air handlers to deliver the heat. I live in upstate N.Y. and it just seems to cold to see any paybacks in the heating season.
Just because your not burning a fossil fuel on your property people think its efficient but theres a nuke plant or a coal plant somewhere making all of the electricity, Or am I just seeing this wrong

Ultra Fin

@ January 29, 2011 4:09 PM in Ultra Fin...real deal or just some hot air

I have well over a dozen installs with this product with no problems. Make sure you do a heat loss on the structure to make sure radiant will work for you. Also the insulation detail has to be spot on. 2" air gap above and below the plates. Its not my first way of doing radiant heat but for a retro fit low cost system that can work without having to mix my water temps down its worked great for me.

Ultra Fin

@ January 29, 2011 4:02 PM in Ultra Fin...real deal or just some hot air

I have well over a dozen installs with this product with no problems. Make sure you do a heat loss on the structure to make sure radiant will work for you. Also the insulation detail has to be spot on. 2" air gap above and below the plates. Its not my first way of doing radiant heat but for a retro fit low cost system that can work without having to mix my water temps down its worked great for me.

gift

@ January 11, 2011 6:46 AM in How to give your supply rep a gift

Make sure that they are not in AA first. This has happened to me