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Re: Sidewall venting
@annie11771
Please see the Victory boiler manual attached. See page 4 it states that "all victory boiler models can be side wall vented" Page 5 has the horizontal venting instructions
When you say the chimney is collapsing do you know if it is the structural part of the chimney or the clay liner? A 1910 house may not have a liner.
In addition, usually it is just the upper part of the chimney that is exposed above the roof that deteriorates and they can usually be rebuilt from just below the roof.
But all cases are different I am just trying to find out what is going on and if whomever inspected it is exaggerating.
Please see the Victory boiler manual attached. See page 4 it states that "all victory boiler models can be side wall vented" Page 5 has the horizontal venting instructions
When you say the chimney is collapsing do you know if it is the structural part of the chimney or the clay liner? A 1910 house may not have a liner.
In addition, usually it is just the upper part of the chimney that is exposed above the roof that deteriorates and they can usually be rebuilt from just below the roof.
But all cases are different I am just trying to find out what is going on and if whomever inspected it is exaggerating.
Re: The case of Ray versus the A dimension
We should always have these discussions. When someone actually measures the actual performance of an assumption made by some dead man that maybe had a unique situation and therefore applied that "RULE" to every system regardless of the differences in the systems, we can see the "Myth Buster" at work. Thanks Paul for your comments and video. You actually taught me something so many months ago after our extensive discussion on that subject. 
The fact that the "Dimension A" is part of Steam textbooks means that at some point there was an issue, Could it have been on a system with steam mains that were too small and therefore there was a significant pressure drop off, or were there other factors …only the dead men know. But the explanation Ray offers does have its basis in physics of water and pressures and the like. So understanding that IF you happen to come across a one pipe system that does have that pressure drop issue, the Dimension A will resolve it. IF (and that is BIg IF PAUL) you find it, you can see the fix in your mind's eye without the need to install glass pipes and pressure gauges all over the place. But I really like the Weil McLain glass boiler and @ethicalpaul's glass pipes.
The fact that the "Dimension A" is part of Steam textbooks means that at some point there was an issue, Could it have been on a system with steam mains that were too small and therefore there was a significant pressure drop off, or were there other factors …only the dead men know. But the explanation Ray offers does have its basis in physics of water and pressures and the like. So understanding that IF you happen to come across a one pipe system that does have that pressure drop issue, the Dimension A will resolve it. IF (and that is BIg IF PAUL) you find it, you can see the fix in your mind's eye without the need to install glass pipes and pressure gauges all over the place. But I really like the Weil McLain glass boiler and @ethicalpaul's glass pipes.
Re: Need help evaluating a contractor/hydronic heat boiler plan
Code should / may require a back flow protector.
Either way their cheap insurance.
https://www.supplyhouse.com/Resideo-Braukmann-FM911-1-2-FM911-Backflow-Preventer-Boiler-Fill-Valve-Assembly-NPT-or-Sweat
Either way their cheap insurance.
https://www.supplyhouse.com/Resideo-Braukmann-FM911-1-2-FM911-Backflow-Preventer-Boiler-Fill-Valve-Assembly-NPT-or-Sweat
pecmsg
2
Re: New Burnham steam boiler only heats fully in the morning
Perhaps they all get hot only in the morning, because the thermostat is turned up from a low nighttime setback temp and has a longer run time than during the day when it is just maintaining. It seems like venting can be an issue, are the radiator vents adjustable?
hilltown
3
Re: Safety concerns and replacement options for a 140 co ppm 35 year old boiler
Some of the information you have been told is correct and some is incorrect.
CO readings in the flue are recommended to be "Less than 100PPM" is ok to run, less than 50 PPM is recommended.
Since you have a boiler the heat exchanger is not broken. If it was you would have water leaking out of it.
Also the boiler should be run at "steady state" meaning its all warmed up before readings are taken.
Put a cold pan of water on a gas stove burner and it will make CO until the water is warm.
Your are right to be concerned about the CO level but I would not panic about it. As the MA Save auditor told you it is apparently not leaking CO into the house it is going up the flue.
The tough part is finding a knowledgeable technician. It could be a little soot on the burners or a burner knocked out of alignment or a minor gas pressure adjustment could fix this issue. There is no way to know the answer until someone works on it.
Post your location in MA. Someone may have a recommendation for a service tech.
CO readings in the flue are recommended to be "Less than 100PPM" is ok to run, less than 50 PPM is recommended.
Since you have a boiler the heat exchanger is not broken. If it was you would have water leaking out of it.
Also the boiler should be run at "steady state" meaning its all warmed up before readings are taken.
Put a cold pan of water on a gas stove burner and it will make CO until the water is warm.
Your are right to be concerned about the CO level but I would not panic about it. As the MA Save auditor told you it is apparently not leaking CO into the house it is going up the flue.
The tough part is finding a knowledgeable technician. It could be a little soot on the burners or a burner knocked out of alignment or a minor gas pressure adjustment could fix this issue. There is no way to know the answer until someone works on it.
Post your location in MA. Someone may have a recommendation for a service tech.
Gurgling sound in wall..
Hello folks- I'm getting this gurgling sound coming from the pipes in the wall to upstairs radiator. Steam heat..Thoughts
joe143
1
Re: Replacement circulator help?
I would steer you towards the brass version, can you get it into a horizontal run somewhere?
That rotating collar design adds some restriction.
That rotating collar design adds some restriction.
hot_rod
2
Re: Shorted Pump
A glass tube fuse that is loaded just above its rating for a long period or in a holder that is making poor contact or has a bad termination to it can melt the solder in the cap of the fuse instead of the element and weird things can happen. or it could just be a manufacturing defect.
The incandescent lamp in series is a good way to test the circulator without burning something else up.
The incandescent lamp in series is a good way to test the circulator without burning something else up.
mattmia2
2
Re: Split zone, 90º tee restricting flow to one side?
Ball type balance valves work fine.
Pull the ring on the Quicksetter, put a wrench on the valve and immediately as you start moving it you will witness the flow change
Like any valve selected to be used as a control valve, sizing is important
I would not crank a ball type valve more than 70- 80% The flow path is not so smooth when shut down that much
But if you are cranking it down that much you probably have the wrong size valve and a grossly oversized circ
Look at a balance valve as a fine tuning device, it is not intended to make large flow corrections
With fixed and variable orifice type, the fine thread hand wheel allows you to make very precise adjustments , fractions of a gallon. If you need to be that accurate
Engineers tend to focus on a type of valve they are familiar with, and spec that valve their entire career 😉
I take 5 different types of balancing valves to an engineers office for training, explain the features and benefits of the different technologies
Variable orifice, fixed orifice, ball, PIC, and thermal balance valve
Pull the ring on the Quicksetter, put a wrench on the valve and immediately as you start moving it you will witness the flow change
Like any valve selected to be used as a control valve, sizing is important
I would not crank a ball type valve more than 70- 80% The flow path is not so smooth when shut down that much
But if you are cranking it down that much you probably have the wrong size valve and a grossly oversized circ
Look at a balance valve as a fine tuning device, it is not intended to make large flow corrections
With fixed and variable orifice type, the fine thread hand wheel allows you to make very precise adjustments , fractions of a gallon. If you need to be that accurate
Engineers tend to focus on a type of valve they are familiar with, and spec that valve their entire career 😉
I take 5 different types of balancing valves to an engineers office for training, explain the features and benefits of the different technologies
Variable orifice, fixed orifice, ball, PIC, and thermal balance valve
hot_rod
1
Re: Split zone, 90º tee restricting flow to one side?
Indeed it would. The flow resistance in a straight line is... just the resistance in a half inch or so of pipe. The resistance in the leg of the T is much greater -- quite enough to make that sort of difference.
