Best Of
Re: US vs. Chinese CI fittings for new boiler + piping
The threads are less consistent on the chinese stuff but that can be fixed with tape and dope. The threads sometimes are not square to each other which can be more of an issue. I think I have ended up replacing almost all of the larger chinese black unions with us made unions because the joint leaked in the chinese ones.
So, if you have some wiggle room the chinese fittings are probably fine, on more critical things the us fitigns might make more sense.
mattmia2
Re: THRUSH NO 15E ?? Label partially missing
I remember seeing a tank on here a while ago where the system water flowed through it. I don't remember the details but the way it was plumbed made sense.
mattmia2
Re: Unico potable water furnace, expansion tank pressure
Hi, This is the sort of gauge I was thinking about, that could be put onto heater drains.
Yours, Larry
Re: Unico potable water furnace, expansion tank pressure
Hi, A couple of thoughts. Try putting a gauge on the drain valves of the tanks and measure the actual pressure. That might help in getting to the truth a bit faster… I would want a drain and waste valve installed between the expansion tank and system, so you can check/charge it easily… The pump is mounted vertically in a way that can trap air and damage the bearings. I'd rotate it to sideways… The pump is pulling water away from an air vent. If pressure falls low enough, it could pull air in and cause problems… The older tank is nearly ten years old. It needs a new anode! Also, it's time now to check the anode on the newer tank.
Yours, Larry
Re: Unico potable water furnace, expansion tank pressure
Hold on. You’re missing something here!
The pressure in the tank is supposed to be set to match the minimum pressure in the system. In other words, the system pressure determines the tank pressure, not vice versa. Therefore, there’s no fixed (one size fits all) pressure setting.
It makes no sense to set it at 15 psi if the minimum pressure is 60 psi or more. That would greatly reduce the acceptance volume of the tank and render it virtually useless.
It would appear from your description of flushing minerals out of the tank annually that potable water is also being heated by the water heater. Correct? That’s unfortunate because you run the risk of Legionella contamination in the heater from stagnant water from the heating system. However, there are a lot of these types systems out there from days gone by.
At any rate, you need to find the static water pressure on the water heater and set the air pressure on the expansion tank to the same. That must be done with no water pressure on the expansion tank.
Your circulator is also mounted incorrectly. It needs to be rotated to where the motor is horizontal, not vertical.
Ironman
Re: Unico potable water furnace, expansion tank pressure
If this is correct — that is, if that valve is just a backflow preventor and not a pressure reducing valve, then the pressure tank needs to be set to the domestic water pressure when the system is cold, and the pressure tank needs to be certified to operate at that pressure.
Re: My SteamPunk boiler
Yeah, I would start saving………….and I would save fast! I don't know if you're going to install the new one yourself or not but if it was me, I would size the new boiler and have it in the basement on standby.
But I commend your ingenuity you did a neat job. Just doubt it will last.
Re: My SteamPunk boiler
The boiler itself isn't all that expensive, for that amount of work you could have replaced it.
mattmia2
Re: WM CGa control board
High failure items on control boards are, solder joints, relays and capacitors. If you (or a friend) can deal with those items it can be an inexpensive repair.
For most industrial electronic repair companies the hourly rate makes it not economical to repair circuit boards that can be (rather) inexpensively replaced.
There are places that seem more focused (and probably others out there)
https://www.upfix.com
http://hvac-circuit-board-repair.com
That appear to do that type of work, I have never dealt with them.
IMO (I'm not a Lawyer, but have done a tiny bit of research) where the liability issue mostly comes in is when someone modifies the circuit board away from the manufactures original intent. Simply correctly repairing age related or use related defects, is not a big deal.
The pipe is leaking, the plumber replaced it.
The capacitor is defective the electronics tech replaced it.
Not the big drama some folks seem to want it to be.
109A_5
Re: Domestic hot water
I might check the check. as @Kaos mentioned. when you started to heat for the first time this season the check valve may have not completely closed on the space heat side of the system. An easy to check it is if the proper valves were installed you can shut off a valve to the space heat loop to the AHU and see if the problem goes away.
The following diagram illustrates how the water can flow backwards when the circulator pump is off and the check valve is passing.
When the circulator pump is operating, the reverse flow can't happen so you get HOT water. When the circulator is not operating the reverse flow will allow lower temperature from the AHU coil to mix with the Hot water and you end up with Warm Water
