Best Of
Re: Faucet brands
Ive been putting Chicago Faucet and Gerberit in the buildings' apartments. One and done.
I can't stand Moen, but a plumber friend of mine loves em. Go figure.
Re: Faucet brands
doesn’t matter the quality or price, hard water will require maintenance.
This was a Home Depot purchase, I don’t remember, or see a name on it. It has performed well, for 3 years now. Remove aerator ocassionally to soak in vinegar.
Tall spout with long reach, nice pull out hose construction
hot_rod
Re: Faucet brands
We use a couple of those (from Lowes) commercially at work and they are around 13 yrs old and holding. However, @ChrisJ likely has three holes to fill. Personally, anything Lowes or HD has that the wife likes and less than $300. Typically $200.
SlamDunk
Re: Faucet brands
It's a shame that your delta faucet has been a bust. I have had very good luck with them. Have been installing for decades with no concerns.
Another I recommend is a Kohler Faucet. I like them for many reasons. One in particular is that they do not have big box packaging, so they are not substituting their quality for the big box hardware store thing. Or at least I haven't noticed any special packaging yet. Moen has a great warranty. Unfortunately you will have to use it.
Intplm.
Re: Faucet brands
The kohler I have has the spout mounted in one hole and the valve in another. You could always punch another hole in the sink. I have a water filter spout in one hole, the air gap for the dishwasher in another and the faucet in the other 2.
This is the one I bought. It cost about $60 less in 2015
mattmia2
Re: Faucet brands
Works fine for me, typically I go full hot to pre-rinse dishes or fill the basin to soak stuff. Or full cold to fill the tea kettle.
hot_rod
Re: Identify this radiator valve
honeywell unique valve
The honeywell system book is in the library somewhere but I can't seem to find it now.
mattmia2
Re: Radiant Panel?
That is the smart WiFi plug it plugs into. Here’s how it looks in the app.
Re: New Century House with Two Pipe Steam - Questions
Good advice. With the exception of the later installed cast baseboard, I'd suspect bad traps for the non heating rads.
You'll need exact info off the trap body to get the correct elements. You'll want to get a 6 point socket and a breaker bar to get them open. Remember: one wrench on the cap, one on the body. You REALLY don't want to stress those return pipes.
That boiler will probably outlast us all.
Re: New Century House with Two Pipe Steam - Questions
Wow. Just wow. Not only is it a vapour system — and an early one — but everything is still more or less there! You must get LAOSH, and you will find your system, or at least the basics for it, in there.
I would suggest, in this order:
First, check all the traps. Any radiator which isn't heating the trap is suspect. If you find a radiator where the outlet from the trap is close to steam hot, that one is suspect too. Replace any traps which you even think are bad. Both Tunstall and Barnes & Jones make innards to fit them.
Second, you can try to get the valves to move — and WD-40 is as good as anything — but if the don't, don't fret it. If the traps are working they are in the nice to have but not critical category.
Third, buy a good low pressure pressure gauge — to 0 to 3 psig — and figure out where to put it. And put it. Best bet is going to be to put it on a T off of whatever pipe connects the vapourstat (which is set properly, by the way) to the boiler. Clean out that connection which you are at it. That will tell you what pressure you are really at, at which point you decide whether the vapourstat need to be replaed.
Now. Take a deep breath and find you system, or one as like it as you can, in LAOSH and study it. Go down to the basement and study the piping. Go back and study the diagram and texts some more. Until you begin to think you know how that thing worked.
You are going to be the expert on it, so take some time to really be the expert!
Don't do ANYTHING other than those three steps above until you are feeling pretty good about the system. Then work on bringing it back to its former glory.
One further thougth. That boiler. What condition is it in? If it's in good shape, leave it for the time being. Yes it is using more fuel that a new one might. But… for now leave it. However, when you do have to replace it, take care: the water line on that boiler is quite high off the floor, and you must match that water line with any new boiler — which may put it on something of a pedestal. Do it.
