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Re: Efficiency of an indirect water heater
We just had to delete several sexist remarks on this discussion. It's stunning to see how a discussion about water heater efficiency can lead to sexist stereotypes and a "joke" about violence against women. These attitudes are toxic and not welcome here. You're better than this. Follow site rules and be respectful of others.
Re: It's freezing upstairs
I can vouch that Ed is definitely a friendly, helpful, dare I say lovable guy! He has given excellent free advice and is just wondering why you aren't taking it. It's OK to be cautious. But if you or someone else doesn't open that orange valve, your problem is not going to get fixed.
jesmed1
Re: The "equalizer" is mis-named. It does nothing to equalize anything.
. I just did a little experiment with some vinyl tube to replicate a hartford loop. Once the boiler water level falls below the weir of the hartford loop tee, any additional pressure differential causes the water already in the wet return to be pushed out. So the equalizer ensures that once the boiler level has fallen to that critical point, system pressures, regardless of what they are, have no effect on boiler water level. Gravity keeps the water in place because the pressures are equalized. It is certainly a vital part of the hartford loop, regardless of how we feel about the usefulness of it. And to me, even if the hartford loop only gives our low water cutoff an additional 15 or 20 minutes to dry off and disable the burner it is worth it. 
Matt_67
Re: The "equalizer" is mis-named. It does nothing to equalize anything.
@ethicalpaul in your diagram, which I have robbed to create an older system, before the Hartford loop was introduced, that may have looked like this. The way it was explained to me, back in 1974 by Mr. Spence, who was in his late 60s at the time, (he qualifies as one of the dead men) that the <5 PSI that you have provided in your drawing can only be 4 PSI or it can also be 3 PSI requiring a greater dimension "A". Some designers operated their boilers well over 5 PSI back then. This would create the potential for a 3 or 4 or even 5 PSI difference in the steam pressure at the far end where the column of water at the other end might be 9 feet.. That much pressure difference could lead to catastrophic boiler failure about 2 to 3 times a week.
As each design change was introduced over those early years, the good ideas stuck and the bad ideas were abandoned. Today in YOUR boiler, you have the benefit of all those dead men designs. And since YOUR boiler operates at less than 2 PSI, YOU actually do NOT need the "Equalizer" in order to ensure the boiler pressure is "Equal" at both the supply and the return. That is what the "Equalizer" does. It makes the pressure at the supply and the return "Equal". Has nothing to do with the other end of the main where the pressure at the end is lower.
But as I said, YOUR boiler does NOT need the equalizer... Until there is a malfunction and then it DOES need the equalizer. These design changes over the years have nothing to do with NORMAL operation. They were implemented to combat the times when NORMAL operation was somehow interrupted due to a blockage, malfunction, or operator error that caused a catastrophic failure. Since YOUR boiler will always be maintained by a competent person, You also do not need a low water cut off, or a safety limit, or even a water feeder. The relief pop off valve is unnecessary. YOU will never let the pressure go that high. Those features are for the rest of us that might do service on boilers that are not in our own homes. Remember those homeowners don't have Glass Pipe in order to look at the steam on their boilers.
So the Equalizer is called the Equalizer because it ensures that the boiler supply pressure and the boiler return pressure IS Equal.
Does that make sense Paul?
Mr. Ed
PS. I think your glass pipes are cool! Well actually they are pretty Hot Stuff to be literal.
Re: Anti-sieze on union nut and various bolts?
Definitely.
@EdTheHeaterMan please do a fully retouched photo of my boiler showing an installed unit that displays excellent soldering and pipe fitting skills and technical know-how. No one else need know the truth. (Oops, this wasn’t a private message…)
Re: How Do I Connect This Wire?
New Video: How to make your steam boiler last forever
Nothing in this video we don't already know, but for the last year I only added boiled or distilled water to my boiler, and kept the PH high as usual and the results were better than I expected:
https://youtu.be/Bx8NryCUkng
Re: Happy Thanksgiving everyone
Most people don't have any historical idea of what lead to the first Thanksgiving in America at Jamestown in 1610 and the Pilgrims in 1621. It was rejection of Collectivism and the acceptance of Capitalism which led to prosperity, which our forefathers gave thanks, after two years of a subsistence struggle under Collectivism.
I don't know about you, but I have a lot to be thankful for and am thankful every day.
Re: New Boiler - Radiator Screaming
Can you post a picture of the rating sticker so we can see which boiler they installed? That will influence how wrong the piping is, because the piping is wrong. I’m just not sure what size it is as to if it’s supposed to utilize both risers.
Second, how did they size it? It sound like you have excess pressure which can be caused by an oversized boiler. Given the abysmal piping I have doubts about it being properly sized.
The pressurtrol is set far too high, that can be turned down to technically keep the pressure down, but the proper way is a properly sized boiler.
KC_Jones
