Best Of
Re: Relocating a 1-Pipe Steam Radiator: Cast Iron vs. Brass Fittings?
I have been lucky on removing spuds, I cut off the union nut, put a spud wrench in the spud. Lay the radiator on its side and using a 3 foot pipe wrench on the spud. It will collapse the spud down to the wrench and loosen it.
Re: Combines intake and exhaust on gas w/heater?
@guzzinerd Said: Went over to a neighbor's who asked me to look at her water heater that isn't working. The code it's throwing is failed ignition so I told her she needs to call a professional
Good Call! If you have no Idea on what to do, then put your hands in your pockets and back away from the problem until you can find out more about it
@guzzinerd Said: While looking it over I noticed that the intake is tied into the exhaust pipe near the inside wall.. shouldn't they be separate?
What you are looking at is a proper concentric design venting system. Here is the detail on that design.
THE EXHAUST GASSES FROM THE HEATER WILL EXIT IN THE CENTER (Orange) VENT PIPE THAT GOES FULL SIZE 2" THRU THE MIDDLE OF THE ASSEMBLY. THE AIR INTAKE COMES IN THRU THE LARGER OUTER PIPE (Blue) THAT IS AROUND THE EXHAUST PIPE. THIS IS CALLED A CONCENTRIC VENT. YOU CAN MAKE ONE LARGER HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING AND HAVE BOTH INTAKE AND EXHAUST USE THE SAME OPENING. SINCE THE INLET AIR COMES FROM NEAR THE BUILDING AND THE EXHAUST IS PUSHED STRAIT AWAY FROM THE BUILDING, THERE IS LESS CHANCE FOR THE EXHAUST TO FIND ITS WAY BACK TO THE AIR INTAKE.
@guzzinerd Said: She does have hydronic heated floors using a separate heater in the basement.
That is the wrong heater for a closed system. But that does not means someone mIght not try to make it work. I have used a water heater to do space heating and learned the hard way that Cheap isn't always the lowest cost way to do things. Ask Me how I Know?
@guzzinerd commented on @kcopp's statement: "Often that is called a "bazooka" termination. The piping most prob does not combine there… just the penetration." Only one pipe comes out of the exterior. Are you saying it should be divided from that point to the outside?
See my reply above about the Concentric. And I never heard it called a Bazooka.
@guzzinerd Said: Below the other water heater, this is what's running the hydraunic floor heat. The other water heater that's not firing right now is for the shower and sinks, residential.
There are parts on the potable water system that have no reason to be there. I can see that the owner of this location is not afraid of using unqualified and incompetent people to save $$. Those inexperienced people often charge less because they really don't know what they are doing. I would not offer any guidance @guzzinerd . Your inexperience may come back to haunt you if you get involved.
Re: Steam Boiler swap savings
What @Waher said above. Much the best way to save. However, you should also check the pressure settings at which the boiler is operating. in most "normal" two pipe and all one pipe systems, the boiler pressure control should be set to cutout at between 1.5 and 2.0 psig, and cut back in at 1 psig lower. Any pressure higher than that is not helping your heating, but is burning fuel to no purpose.
Also check your main venting — if that is lacking, it may take longer than needed for steam to reach the radiators and do something useful.
Re: Electric Boiler Set to Heat only when Thermostat Calls
Unless you have a lot of BB or a high temperature staple up? I'm not sure you could run a single temperature system when fin tube and radiant mix.
Get them with 10- 12° of one another and it could work.
hot_rod
Re: C wire
@bjohnhy it's rolling dice. Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't sign off on it. The little buggers have a mind of their own
GW
Re: Steam Boiler swap savings
at best 20%
Get a blower door test done. Find and fix the leaks. You might even get to 40% savings.
Will you ever see a return on investment………doubtful.
pecmsg
Re: Steam boiler water
"How they think anyone can accurately measure .5 of a ph is beyond me."
With the correct pH test strips you can measure to 0.1, with a decent pH meter you can measure to +/-0.002
Re: Steam Boiler swap savings
Your current boiler is sized for 621 EDR. That’s a close match to your connected heating load. Better air vents on the steam mains and pipe insulation if you currently don’t have it are your only options for better efficiency boiler wise.
https://www.ecomfort.com/manuals/14fe6c73de2838c1d67edaf112b992ed.pdf
Re: C wire
The new Taco control ( -5 ) have a 20va transformer with the option to add another 20va transformer for these Nest and Ecobee power robbing t-stats.
With any metal cover ( older SR controls ) please make sure to wire Red & White wires per below and com to the com side of the 24vac/com terminal.
The SR502-503 metal cover, the Red lands on the left T and White lands on the right T.
The SR504 & SR506 metal cover is the opposite, Red lands on right T and White lands on Left T.


