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Re: Hiring Mechanics... Is there anyone out there at all these days?
Seems to me the problem is actually worse than this thread makes it seem to be! Not only does the educational community actively discourage young people from working in what might be called the trades -- which is really very very skilled work, most of the time -- but it does a perfectly horrible job of preparing folks for other design type work. Several of use have, in the past, said unfortunate things about engineers, for instance -- most of which are perfectly true. Why? because nowadays one can get to be an engineer -- even a licensed engineer -- and never do a lick of practical work. The result is, as we all know, engineered plans which are utterly useless.
I was just out the other day inspecting a road being built in my town and... I couldn't believe what I saw... but the engineered plans (which, thank goodness, the contractor wasn't following) had some of the drainage draining up hill...
Our whole society actively teaches people to be real snobs about honest, hands-on work.
I don't have a solution.
I was just out the other day inspecting a road being built in my town and... I couldn't believe what I saw... but the engineered plans (which, thank goodness, the contractor wasn't following) had some of the drainage draining up hill...
Our whole society actively teaches people to be real snobs about honest, hands-on work.
I don't have a solution.
Re: Why????
Cheer up. In Scotland most of the plumbing on older buildings (and some of them are really old -- like four or five hundred years) is just plain outside. It's easier than trying to run through stone. It's also easy to fix when it freezes. It also freezes...
Fuel Savings Update
This is something everyone should see, not just steam people.
We replaced this old Columbia boiler almost two years ago with a Burnham MegaSteam. Today we serviced it, and the owners told us the new boiler and upgraded piping resulted in a one-third reduction in the amount of oil they burned. And this was before correcting for the much colder winter we had last year!
http://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/148292/megasteaming-by-the-river
See, it CAN be done, WITHOUT an expensive and risky hot-water conversion!
We replaced this old Columbia boiler almost two years ago with a Burnham MegaSteam. Today we serviced it, and the owners told us the new boiler and upgraded piping resulted in a one-third reduction in the amount of oil they burned. And this was before correcting for the much colder winter we had last year!
http://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/148292/megasteaming-by-the-river
See, it CAN be done, WITHOUT an expensive and risky hot-water conversion!
Re: working with ThermoFin, and shower wall radiant
Gordy, we used a rigid fiberglass for support to insure good contact. Important to insulate behind the radiant source, otherwise you WILL get gains into areas that may not need or want it, even inside walls. Recommend doubling R value in outside walls (use rigid foam).
In my professional opinion and personal experience, radiant walls are one of THE most overlooked opportunities for radiant retrofit in this radiant world. It is much less noticeable to lose 1-1/2" of wall space then it is to lose 1-1/2" to 2" of floor to ceiling height. It works better than a floor as it pertains to the human comfort factor because your body has the ability to absorb more radiant energy than it would from a floor, and due to the fact that you are not in contact with the surface, the wall can generate more BTUH than a floor can. Remember, its about human comfort FIRST, and building conditioning SECOND. We need to change our way of thinking in this regards.
Try it out on your own home first, and once convinced, it will make you a believer and make convincing your customers will be getting the information from a first hand, experienced source.
Floors have their applications (bathrooms, swimming pools, etc) but walls AND ceilings can be done for less money and deliver just as good a radiant experience as floors can.
If we as an industry are going to push the ball forward, we are going to have to start thinking outside of the typical hydronic box.
Thanks for the excellent post HR. You are truly a radiant pioneer.
ME
In my professional opinion and personal experience, radiant walls are one of THE most overlooked opportunities for radiant retrofit in this radiant world. It is much less noticeable to lose 1-1/2" of wall space then it is to lose 1-1/2" to 2" of floor to ceiling height. It works better than a floor as it pertains to the human comfort factor because your body has the ability to absorb more radiant energy than it would from a floor, and due to the fact that you are not in contact with the surface, the wall can generate more BTUH than a floor can. Remember, its about human comfort FIRST, and building conditioning SECOND. We need to change our way of thinking in this regards.
Try it out on your own home first, and once convinced, it will make you a believer and make convincing your customers will be getting the information from a first hand, experienced source.
Floors have their applications (bathrooms, swimming pools, etc) but walls AND ceilings can be done for less money and deliver just as good a radiant experience as floors can.
If we as an industry are going to push the ball forward, we are going to have to start thinking outside of the typical hydronic box.
Thanks for the excellent post HR. You are truly a radiant pioneer.
ME
Re: Basic energy flow question...
I'd like to know exactly HOW they measure the cores temperature, seeings as how the temperature is hot enough to vaporize pretty much any temperature sensing devices that I am aware of... And just who the heck are "they"... THEY are everywhere... :-)
ME
ME
Re: Hiring Mechanics... Is there anyone out there at all these days?
Whats up everyone. First time posting. I saw this in my email and had to jump in. I am 34 years old and have been plumbing since 02. It has been the best decision I ever made. I spent several years goofing off in college at my parents expense like an ahole. Came home got lucky with a plumbing job from my uncle. Got my masters license 2 years ago. Honestly going thru night school I was the youngest back 10 yrs ago. When I do my CEUs I still am the youngest by many years. For some reason younger guys do not see plumbing as a viable future. Wow are they wrong. I have many friends that have great jobs after college, I still bring home more money. I guess it was just the way my father raised me to have a strong work ethic. I never played video games or had the internet and all the tech kids have now. Played all sports, built crap around the house, stuff like that. Society has screwed the future of hard working mechanics. You dont see kids out playing building forts. I recently took a photo of 7 kids on a bball court playing on their cell phones. Basketball sitting next to the hoop. Its horrible.
I recently dragged my 26 year old brother into this. He had no mechanical ability until working with me. Now he loves this. ****, you should have seen his face the first time I let him solder.
We need to get the youth in here.
For all you old timers out there still kicking it daily in the plumbing trenches, my hats off to each and everyone of you. It is hard work and appreciated by me your fellow plumber.
I recently dragged my 26 year old brother into this. He had no mechanical ability until working with me. Now he loves this. ****, you should have seen his face the first time I let him solder.
We need to get the youth in here.
For all you old timers out there still kicking it daily in the plumbing trenches, my hats off to each and everyone of you. It is hard work and appreciated by me your fellow plumber.
Re: Yet another poor install
Home inspection is racket. Giving the buyer a false sense of security for 4-5 hundred dollars.
Gordy
5
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.