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Re: Radiant design service suggestions - between joist retrofit
As to the OP, you should thoroughly understand the difference between open and closed systems as well as the difference between a hot water heater and a heating boiler. Not all people selling these systems do.
Zman
5
Re: Customer wants to buy material
No advice, just my experience. I've been asked that question quite a bit. In the past, I may have gone along with it a couple times but no more. Too many grey areas and too many possibilities for issues no matter how well its been spelled out in the contract.
What happens if the customer supplied boiler has a part failure within the manufacturer's warranty? Who pays for the diagnosis? Who pays to run for the part? Who pays for the labor to replace the part? I know my answer but the customer won't like my answer even though they agreed to the arrangement beforehand.
What happens if the customer supplied boiler has a part failure within the manufacturer's warranty? Who pays for the diagnosis? Who pays to run for the part? Who pays for the labor to replace the part? I know my answer but the customer won't like my answer even though they agreed to the arrangement beforehand.
Re: Primary Secondary Pipe Sizing
I like the idea of using the terminology of "boiler loop" and "system loop(s)". I think its easier for people new to the concept to wrap their heads around.
Re: First Snowmelt Project: Near Boiler Schematic
Ross,
You have a nice design going here.
I have a couple thoughts....
On the near boiler piping, the LLH is not really doing anything. The heat exchanger has a known, constant resistance and required flow rate. It is your hydraulic separator. If you add the pool, the same thing will be true.
With a firetube boiler, you could actually get rid of the heat exchanger as well. You would have to reconfigure things a bit to make sure you maintain the minimum flow.
On the tubing layout, getting the tubing in the center of the slab rather than at the bottom make a big difference. The only reliable way I have found to do that is to uses rebar on chairs. Otherwise the knucklehead concrete guys will push the mesh to the bottom and nothing is gained.
I like the detail for the stairs with the tubing on the nose. Again, good luck with the concrete guys. If it where mine, I would put about twice that much heat in the stairs. Make sure to get the treads on the nose, then get more in anyway you can. There is so much surface area on stairs you can't throw too much heat at it. At least (2) 250' loops.
Carl
You have a nice design going here.
I have a couple thoughts....
On the near boiler piping, the LLH is not really doing anything. The heat exchanger has a known, constant resistance and required flow rate. It is your hydraulic separator. If you add the pool, the same thing will be true.
With a firetube boiler, you could actually get rid of the heat exchanger as well. You would have to reconfigure things a bit to make sure you maintain the minimum flow.
On the tubing layout, getting the tubing in the center of the slab rather than at the bottom make a big difference. The only reliable way I have found to do that is to uses rebar on chairs. Otherwise the knucklehead concrete guys will push the mesh to the bottom and nothing is gained.
I like the detail for the stairs with the tubing on the nose. Again, good luck with the concrete guys. If it where mine, I would put about twice that much heat in the stairs. Make sure to get the treads on the nose, then get more in anyway you can. There is so much surface area on stairs you can't throw too much heat at it. At least (2) 250' loops.
Carl
Zman
5
Re: Hiring Mechanics... Is there anyone out there at all these days?
There are background checks and there are background checks. There are also reports of a lot of bogus info coming out of the providers thereof.
Drug testing and drug problems also have a somewhat tenuous connection. I'd far rather work with someone who smokes a joint every weekend than someone who's drinking out of a flask every breaktime.
Drug testing and drug problems also have a somewhat tenuous connection. I'd far rather work with someone who smokes a joint every weekend than someone who's drinking out of a flask every breaktime.
SWEI
7
Re: Hiring Mechanics... Is there anyone out there at all these days?
We're not covering new ground here. There's no need to re-invent the wheel. Simply follow the examples of the most successful companies. It's not always about raises. Why not reward an employee that just saved you $2000, one time. Call him/her in and give them a few bucks extra in their check. Maybe give them tickets to a football game, or, heaven-forbid say thank you.
If an employee gets to the point that they feel they are not being recognized....you better hope they move on, because they are done. Nothing will change that. No monies, after the fact will change it either. At that point, you have created a cancer in your company.
No one, ever, busts **** with no incentive and "be thankful you have a job" certainly is not one.
If an employee gets to the point that they feel they are not being recognized....you better hope they move on, because they are done. Nothing will change that. No monies, after the fact will change it either. At that point, you have created a cancer in your company.
No one, ever, busts **** with no incentive and "be thankful you have a job" certainly is not one.
Paul48
6
Re: Hiring Mechanics... Is there anyone out there at all these days?
No.......An owner has to make it known that he is "willing" to pay more for those that "set" the standard. We need to return to the thinking that an employee is an asset, and not a liability.
Paul48
5
Re: Unico Heating
Don't use that contractor: he's full of hot air!
The Unico can be paired with a heat pump with electric resistance back up or it can be had with a hot water coil that derives heat from a boiler. As long as everything is sized properly, and vent placements are done correctly, (particularly the returns) it will heat fine. These two things are essential, though. The same would go for a traditional low velocity system.
Ductless Mini Splits (Mitsubishi, Fujitsu, Daikin, etc.) with some back up heat may be a better option.
FINDA A COMPETENT CONTRACTOR! This cannot be over-emphasized.
Try the contractor locator on this site.
I believe that Stephen Minich is near Chicago:
Stephen.minnich@yahoo.com
The Unico can be paired with a heat pump with electric resistance back up or it can be had with a hot water coil that derives heat from a boiler. As long as everything is sized properly, and vent placements are done correctly, (particularly the returns) it will heat fine. These two things are essential, though. The same would go for a traditional low velocity system.
Ductless Mini Splits (Mitsubishi, Fujitsu, Daikin, etc.) with some back up heat may be a better option.
FINDA A COMPETENT CONTRACTOR! This cannot be over-emphasized.
Try the contractor locator on this site.
I believe that Stephen Minich is near Chicago:
Stephen.minnich@yahoo.com
Ironman
5
Re: Coffee is to cup as Radiant is to slab.
Looks great, Harvey.
Here's a couple of pics of one we did last week using the Crete Heat brand. It only took my son and me about an hour to lay about 1000' of tubing once the board was down. There's a smaller area for the foyer beyond the end of the pic where the tubing goes up.
Here's a couple of pics of one we did last week using the Crete Heat brand. It only took my son and me about an hour to lay about 1000' of tubing once the board was down. There's a smaller area for the foyer beyond the end of the pic where the tubing goes up.
Ironman
5
Re: Is a high efficiency boiler worth it?
Let's not ignore combustion air and chimney liner issues ($$) that are to be considered with a conventional boiler replacement. All moot with mod con's.
