Best Of
Re: Steam system from the 1830's
The odd looking tee is either an air vent or a safety valve, or maybe some sort of ejector. Is it mounted on the steam main or the dry return? Can we get a close-up of the lettering on the side?
This system doesn't date back to the 1830s. Remember, Stephen Gold didn't patent his system until 1854. This is probably from the late 19th or early 20th century. If the building is older than that, it was retrofitted.
Re: Am I crazy? Chimney company says you can reduce the flu.
Chimney company is nuts. There are instances where you can reduce a liner size if the chimney is high enough to produce more draft. Usually with a tall chimney you can go down 1 size. Going from 8" to 5" is a joke.
The customer should call the local building/plumbing/heating inspector, and they should get a complete refund from the chimney company and then either have them (or preferably another company) to install the correct liner.
Re: heat pump manufacturers
No, we can't have pressure switches because we now have to pay for refrigerant leak sensors for refrigerant that will not sustain a fire if you hold a torch on it and pay for ECM motors and other crap that costs a bunch to replace.
Re: heat pump manufacturers
Next thing that will happen is homeowners' insurance rates will rise if you have R-32 or R454B due to flammability issues.
Insurance companies never loose
Re: Worst advertising
There is nothing wrong with the guy's thumbs. The pliers have orange-ish handles that could look like thumbs if you're not wearing your glasses, but the thumbs are clearly visible and very not AI
GroundUp
Re: OT: Underground Wiring Options
" so within a week or so we hope to have our landscaper trench out at a depth of 18" "
Deeper than 18". The top of the PVC conduit needs 18" of cover, not an 18" trench. So if you use a 1-1/2" which is the best part of 2" Outer diameter and if it is in sand, you need a deeper trench.
I would and have done three conduits;
one high current 1-1/2 or 2" (in your case not populated)
one 3/4" or 1" for low current branch circuit and
one 3/4" or 1" for low voltage or communications type stuff.
With better protection of the wire the burial depth is less.
109A_5
Re: Weil McLain Plus 80 indirect water tank
this is the vent. It appears to be a 1/4 mounted on a 1/2 adapter.
So this is on the boiler side, I just need to shut off the isolation valves on the boiler side, drain the water a few drops to relieve the pressure and then unscrew and replace right?
Re: heat pump manufacturers
So would Serge protection, high low voltage monitors, high low safety's, on and on. Who's paying for all that.
pecmsg
Re: heat pump manufacturers
What make sense and what they do is two different things. Gauges cost money x the # of units they sell makes it a no-go. Everything they do, cheap overseas capacitors, microchannel coils and 1 pole contactors that should be 2 pole and no pressure switches that could save a compressor on refrigerant loss……they won't put gauges on. They have a planned life cycle.
Re: OT: Underground Wiring Options
" So I'll assume that even though a low voltage and/or ethernet cable PLUS a pex could fit in the 3/4" pvc, it probably wouldn't be legal. But another 3/4" PVC line now would be a very wise choice. "
Even if you intend to put 1/2" PEX through 3/4" PVC you may be severely disappointed. 1/2" PEX has an outer diameter of about 5/8". Between the bend radius and any excessive glue that oozed into the conduit you may never get it through.
With electrical conduit work they only allow 40% (3 or more conductors), 53% (1 conductor) fill of the conduits available cross-sectional area.
As @mattmia2 stated you need to think much bigger. And use electrical conduit type radius not water pipe type radius.
109A_5