Best Of
Re: Oversized overtall chimney?
Hi, Two things come to mind that could work together to help. One is the makeup air @mattmia2 mentioned. The other is to enclose the boiler so it does not draw on indoor air. This would mean walling it off, or somehow enclosing it. No doubt a blower door test of the house could help with the drafty room also.
Yours, Larry
Re: compressor
If it's not doing anything I'd expect zero current.
If it's drawing current and not starting, someone should hear and feel that.
I'm still betting bad / melted plug on the side of the compressor.
ChrisJ
Re: Oversized overtall chimney?
How did it go from 480K to 225K? Was gas pressure adjusted, or burners removed?
HVACNUT
Re: Oversized overtall chimney?
If the boiler was starving for air, wouldn't there be a lack of draft?
The chimney is pulling air from the same space as the boiler, no? Wouldn't the draft absolutely have to increase when the boiler is running due to hot air being produced?
I'm very confused,
ChrisJ
Re: Biological control for filler station
On a closed system there is no need for bio control in most cases.
If you are using your potable hot water heater for heating both the water you shower with and the floor heat, then stop doing that. There will be bio hazard issues that you don't want to have near you in the shower or the kitchen. Your closed loop system and your Domestic Hot Water (DHW) need to be two separate systems.
What is a filler station?
Re: Thin Tube Steam/Hot water in Barre VT
And regarding your actual boiler. Your basement in particular is a very unforgiving place. The water, humidity, etc. is going to degrade any appliance down there much quicker than a dry, clean basement. You can see some dry-rot on the floor boards and framing in some of your photos. Proof that basements don't like to be wet.
You essentially have an outdoor boiler that is somewhat protected from outdoor temperature swings.
I have one-pipe steam and my boiler is about 40 years old and isn't showing any signs of slowing down. The fact that you are getting heat in 20 minutes is a great sign! Despite this boilers visual condition it seems like it has more service life left in it.
Take care of the water problems and plug up any above-grade cracks or holes in the foundations to try and seal it up a bit better. Put some crushed stone down over the dirt if it makes you feel better.
Have a pro do a thorough inspection, service the safety mechanisms and replace the air vents on the radiators if needed. You'll be surprised how well it heats!
Re: high humidity in my house
I think that where people get confused is that HRVs — or air conditioners without condensation, or shade, or whatever — do not change the actual moisture content of a volume of air — measured most conveniently by the dew point. Relative humidity is the relationship between the dew point — at which temperature the air mass holds as much moisture as it can without condensing — and the sensible air temperature, as measured by a normal thermometer. If you lower the sensible temperature, the relative humidity increases. Raise it, and the relative humidity decreases.
The only way you can lower the relative humidity at a given sensible temperature is to cool the air enough to lower it below the dew point, at which some of the moisture will condense out, and then warm it back up to where you want it.
