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Inspections needed on condensing boilers!

tim smith
tim smith Member Posts: 2,752
See attached pic, I had brought this up to a couple of the mfrs that I was concerned about this happening. Found this one today while looking over some other work customer wanted done. Smelled gas in boiler room, go figure. Ps, this is a 285 wall mount, union was tight on trap also. They need to have retainer pin or cable to keep this from happening.

Comments

  • JStar
    JStar Member Posts: 2,752
    Drain

    Ugh! This is the only part of the TT boilers that really bothers me. I'm so paranoid about this happening to me.
  • heatpro02920
    heatpro02920 Member Posts: 991
    I never

    use that flexi line, I always hard pipe them, and secure the hard line, you will never have a problem... Im curious to see if that was installed correctly, the washers and seals in the correct order?



    I would like to see just a standar 3/4' pvc connection on the bottom of the unit or just a simple threaded bung.. Im not a huge fan of this design, but I'm sure it can be installed and made safe, in this case a simple zip tie or poly hanger would have stopped this malfunction...
  • tim smith
    tim smith Member Posts: 2,752
    RE: washers seals

    All in place in correct order. I have brought up to the major mfrs of this design boiler the idea of a built in retainer cable or pin to hold trap in place.  ? how do you trap it if you hard pipe it?
  • Mark Eatherton
    Mark Eatherton Member Posts: 5,853
    Been there, seen that...

    I think it has to do with the heat up cool down cycle. Have you ever seen nails that backed themselves out of a wooden post? It's not pressure from within that causes it. It is continual daily expansion and contraction that causes it. I suspect the same thing on these traps. Other than total solid vertical support, I don't think it is stoppable with current technology.



    If the boiler had been serviced on an annual basis, it MIGHT have been caught prior to release. What most probably kept this from turning into a deadly situation is the fact that it was a sealed combustion appliance, pulling fresh air in from outside, and not regurgitating the byproducts of combustion which would have caused a significant increase in CO, and possibly death or devastating illness.



    Good catch Tim.



    ME
    It's not so much a case of "You got what you paid for", as it is a matter of "You DIDN'T get what you DIDN'T pay for, and you're NOT going to get what you thought you were in the way of comfort". Borrowed from Heatboy.
  • tim smith
    tim smith Member Posts: 2,752
    Mark, re annual inspect

    This is just over 2 yrs old and service annually by us, trap taken off and cleaned and tightened back on. Needs retainer!!!!  I am going to make some for the 60 or so we have out there that we service annually. I agree that the heat and cool down expansion probably caused this. This boiler runs it's you know what off, does pool and heating.
  • heatpro02920
    heatpro02920 Member Posts: 991
    You can use their trap

    just connect is with PVC and fasten the PVC to something stable, if the pvc doesnt move the trap can not move, I have not ONCE used that soft flexi crap they give you with the boiler, I seen that and laughed, that goes in the trash with the cardboard....



    I recently grabbed some PP venting materials and I sent out letters to all the customers that I have installed TT's for in the last 3 months, I am offering to change their PVC to PP for cost of materials no labor charges, so far 2 have taken me up on the offer and a few have called to ask what it was about and haven't gotten back to me yet....
  • Paul Pollets
    Paul Pollets Member Posts: 3,656
    Drain?

    Is that a san tee in background (with C/O plug) for condensate or relief drains? San tees aren't to be installed lying horizontally. Only combination wyes or Y's and 1/8 bends. Tee is also facing wrong direction without trap arm or primer...
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    Good catch

    but we'll probably see a lot more of these, especially in areas where the gas company has proclaimed for decades or generations that gas equipment doesn't need regular service!
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Zman
    Zman Member Posts: 7,561
    The boilers...

    The boilers at the Triangle Tube Training facility in Denver have 3/4" pex instead of the flexy crap. You have to expand the tubing a bit to get it on the trap. If you strap the pex securely to the wall or some strut it stabilizes it pretty well. Kind of ironic that they don't even use the stuff they pack with the boiler.

    I have no idea about the SAN TEE on it's back (pointed the wrong way). Where is the trap? I think this install has other problems as well.

    Good post Tim

    Carl
    "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough"
    Albert Einstein
  • SWEI
    SWEI Member Posts: 7,356
    edited May 2013
    3/4" PEX

    Does fit -- cold expansion works nicely.
  • tim smith
    tim smith Member Posts: 2,752
    edited May 2013
    Paul, response to question

    That is just our neutralizer assembly we fill with stone. There is a drain off the end of cap of that to a sanitary drain!   That tee is not part of any sanitary drain system. We put like 2# of dolomite limestone in the fitting we make. Works great. The plug on end is to clean it out. It is about 14" long, cap on one end cleanout plug on other. We drill and tap the cap end and thread in 3/4 pvc adapter then run to drain. There are 2 firetube boilers going into this assembly
  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,366
    edited May 2013
    Delayed Ignition?

    Mark's explanation seems like the most likely, but I have to wonder if delayed ignition may be involved .
    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
  • Charlie from wmass
    Charlie from wmass Member Posts: 4,318
    a couple van/ bell hangers

    support the flex pipe and the trap stays in place. I drill the wall and insert an anchor then use a couple 3/4" van hangers to hold the flex pipe. Even just a strap hanger would work to the wall.
    Cost is what you spend , value is what you get.

    cell # 413-841-6726
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/charles-garrity-plumbing-and-heating
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