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Re: Tim’s closet
We reorganized our Systems Help Center. You can find the articles here:
https://heatinghelp.com/systems-help-center/thermocouple-testing-procedure-2/
https://heatinghelp.com/systems-help-center/troubleshooting-intermittent-ignition-systems-for-gas-furnaces-and-boilers/
https://heatinghelp.com/systems-help-center/procedure-for-troubleshooting-powerpile-systems/
https://heatinghelp.com/systems-help-center/charts-for-troubleshooting-thermocouples-and-powerpile-systems/
https://heatinghelp.com/systems-help-center/thermocouple-testing-procedure-2/
https://heatinghelp.com/systems-help-center/troubleshooting-intermittent-ignition-systems-for-gas-furnaces-and-boilers/
https://heatinghelp.com/systems-help-center/procedure-for-troubleshooting-powerpile-systems/
https://heatinghelp.com/systems-help-center/charts-for-troubleshooting-thermocouples-and-powerpile-systems/
Re: Would you hire this Spammer to fix/replace your Boiler?
Hi, Working on my own, my billable hours was more like 1300/year... and that's with long days, and a backlog of work. Still, it pays to know where you are, so I really should mention Ellen Rohr's books, available in the bookstore here.
Yours, Larry
Yours, Larry
Any boiler can easily become a combi
I will say when a combi boiler fails to make DHW, or flow drops off, it can be a job to repair them. The boiler needs to be down to disassemble the DHW "module", so no heat either.
They are mounted in a tough space to work on. Inside a sharp sheetmetal boiler jacket
Proprietary OEM repair parts are usually required to repair.
To build your own external DHW "combi" module you need a circulator, heat exchanger and flow switch with a single switching relay box.
Shop wisely and you could acquire all the parts for well under 500 bucks. E-bay is one thought.
When a faucet opens on the hot side, the flow switch in the cold supply turns on the P:2 and the boiler. Many boilers have a DHW priority connection, so heat loads drop while in DHW mode. Or the double throw relay in most relay boxes could also drop off the heat call.
This allows you to custom size the heat exchanger, add flush valves, and use off the shelf components not specific to the boiler brand. This HX could be removed in minutes taken to a radiator shop for an acid cook if ever needed.
For most homes you would want at least 100,000 BTU boiler. This is my shop and I have it connected to a 55,000 Lochinvar Knight. It covers a hand sink and hose to wash the truck.
They are mounted in a tough space to work on. Inside a sharp sheetmetal boiler jacket

To build your own external DHW "combi" module you need a circulator, heat exchanger and flow switch with a single switching relay box.
Shop wisely and you could acquire all the parts for well under 500 bucks. E-bay is one thought.
When a faucet opens on the hot side, the flow switch in the cold supply turns on the P:2 and the boiler. Many boilers have a DHW priority connection, so heat loads drop while in DHW mode. Or the double throw relay in most relay boxes could also drop off the heat call.
This allows you to custom size the heat exchanger, add flush valves, and use off the shelf components not specific to the boiler brand. This HX could be removed in minutes taken to a radiator shop for an acid cook if ever needed.
For most homes you would want at least 100,000 BTU boiler. This is my shop and I have it connected to a 55,000 Lochinvar Knight. It covers a hand sink and hose to wash the truck.

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Re: The case of the warped burner head, this weeks case.
Thanks for the thoughtful theories. In this case, the boiler was grossly oversized and stayed at low fire for most of the heating season. My suggestions were two fold. I had them increase the air at at low fire to provide more turbulence to better mis the air and fuel. This also pushed the flame away from the burner head. The second thing I did was to widen the differential. It was set at 5 degrees F and I changed it to 20 degrees. This allowed a longer run time and heated the flue more, increasing the draft. Not sure if these were the solution but it worked in this case. They didnt have to replace the burner head for the next five years when they removed the boiler and installed a packaged rooftop unit. Here is the link to the video
https://youtube.com/watch?v=vmn6d8QINac
https://youtube.com/watch?v=vmn6d8QINac
Re: The Rise and Fall of Radiator Foundries: A Two Century Journey to Casting Radiators for Today
I'm 36, big fan of the classics from when I was growing up - Radiohead, Blur, then onto people like Portishead, Massive Attack and the trip hop movement, also you can't be English, my age, and not love the more recent bands like Arctic Monkeys and Foals. Right now I'm listening to a jazz group called Ezra Collective out of London. Really fresh.
How about you?
How about you?
Re: Help with NG Steam furnace replacement 2000sq foot 1930 Dutch Colonial
Aha!
Yes - blue circle on left - solved the "where is the vent" mystery
the One on the right I am blocked by no access - But maybe tomorrow I can try flashlight from exterior crawl space access to see what that is -
Yes - blue circle on left - solved the "where is the vent" mystery
the One on the right I am blocked by no access - But maybe tomorrow I can try flashlight from exterior crawl space access to see what that is -

Re: The Rise and Fall of Radiator Foundries: A Two Century Journey to Casting Radiators for Today
@Mad Dog_2 well that story is very much the introduction to our talk on Tuesday, but my father ran an architectural salvage business when I was a kid so as a teenager (and perhaps a bit before) I used to refurbish old radiators, cut down reclaimed lumber and clean up bricks on a Saturday to earn a few dollars (or pounds in fact - I'm English).
Here's a 1995 cutting from the local newspaper - the guy in the photo is my dad.

Here's a 1995 cutting from the local newspaper - the guy in the photo is my dad.

Re: Would you hire this Spammer to fix/replace your Boiler?
I won't go back to T and M except for very rare cases. Maio was valuable for the number crunching, though my employers had motives outside my interests and growth. They wanted good looking clean cut ruthless rolling cash register attendants that would be happy with easy work. That's fair I guess. Not a place for conscience. Market rate, in a good market, is what I'm after. Working hard to lose is no way to go. I let a job go last week because the customer wanted it broken down. A lawyer, a request for bid justification, all on a project I know I wouldn't be proud of, no thanks. It's taken years to learn to say no at the right times.

1
Re: Alta Combi into an Indirect Tank?
I'm not shy, I'll say it. that is crazy talk. You don't sell someone a combi boiler as a backup for an indirect that is fired by the same boiler. The most likely component to break is the boiler, and if that goes you don't have hot water with either method. Indirect water heaters are so rock solid most of them come with a lifetime warranty, and generally the boiler (not sure on this specific one) has programming to more efficiently handle an indirect, that you would have to lose due to the programming difference being a combi
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Re: Online BTU calculator
No worry, I will not move in until all the reno are over, and that includes the new insulation in the attic. That's pretty much the only variable that will change anyways. So I use an insulated attic in my calculation in the app, and that is the results I shared of higher than 9000BTU.

1