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Re: Well that isn't going to work (outdoor unit iced over)
Many years ago, in the 1980's I had a neighbor that had the same problem. This unit had a defect in operation that no factory service tech could fix. Consequently, the mfg gave him a 10 year 100% warranty including all service calls. In the 11th year he called me and asked for my help. Long story short, that heat pump had a bad condenser fan motor, a bad defrost timer, and a bad auto reset high pressure switch. The high pressure switch would cut off the compressor at 280 PSI which is not high enough to allow the unit to defrost. I replaced the necessary parts including the high pressure cut out and "shazam", the unit functioned correctly for the first time in 10+ years. There is a lot more to the story that puts the MFG in a bad light so enough for now. So, call a good HVAC and have that unit repaired. Having it iced up like it is will cost you a lot of money in operating $. My 2 cents.
Re: Tiny home in floor radiant hydronic heating (warmboard) help
About the only small enough lp heater is a 6,000 btu/ hr water heater. They are noisy and fairly inefficient
When you run a heat load on a tiny home, it is tiny also. I used a small electric boiler on an 8x20’ home I built. I actually downsized the element in the Thermo 2000 boiler.
One thing to be aware of is the amount of actual floor space to cover the load. With built ins you end up with maybe a 3’ wide strip of useable radiant floor heat. Mine was spray foamed and had good windows, so the load was under.2,000 btu/ hr. The heat from cooking or running a small over is about all you need for heat🤔
When you run a heat load on a tiny home, it is tiny also. I used a small electric boiler on an 8x20’ home I built. I actually downsized the element in the Thermo 2000 boiler.
One thing to be aware of is the amount of actual floor space to cover the load. With built ins you end up with maybe a 3’ wide strip of useable radiant floor heat. Mine was spray foamed and had good windows, so the load was under.2,000 btu/ hr. The heat from cooking or running a small over is about all you need for heat🤔
hot_rod
2
Re: Why is like this Inside Attic having lot of Moisturization Water on Top of Insulation in Winter
Gas fired appliances that are not properly vented can add a lot of moisture to the interior of a home. If you have any, check the combustion exhaust vents when they are running.
bburd
1
Re: Why is like this Inside Attic having lot of Moisturization Water on Top of Insulation in Winter
If it turns out you don't have a roof leak or an improperly terminated bath vent fan or stove hood fan venting in the attic, etc. Water vapor condenses when it's temperature drops below the dew point. Sheetrock and insulation is water permeable. If you have high humidity in the living space the moisture will migrate though the ceiling materials and will condense into water where it cools. Most of the time this happens on the underside of the roof sheathing in a poorly vented attic. In your case it may be happening at the insulation top surface. A cool very humid interior and very cold attic might create the results you are reporting. Lots of: breathing people, cooking, showers, plants or leaks, a wet slab, wet soil in the crawl space. The water is coming from somewhere!
Teemok
1
Re: Why is like this Inside Attic having lot of Moisturization Water on Top of Insulation in Winter
Hi, Is there a crawl space under your house? If so, have a look down there and see if there is any water or moist dirt. The water is coming from somewhere. ☔️
Yours, Larry
Ps. Also, have a look at your water meter. Is there any motion on the dial when no water is being used?
Yours, Larry
Ps. Also, have a look at your water meter. Is there any motion on the dial when no water is being used?
NEST With Two Wires
I've been using a resistor between the "C" and "W" terminals of the zone valve control with great success. The 220 ohm resistor that Taco recommends works, but the resistor gets very hot. I've gone back to the 1,000 ohm resistor that Taco used to supply. It provides less of a trickle current, but providing that the thermostat is off long enough, it will charge the NEST.
Clarification: The control pictured below is a pump control (Taco SR506) which does not have a large enough transformer to power any more than 2 or 3 power stealing thermostats. We added an external 75 VA transformer for the 6 NEST thermostats.


Clarification: The control pictured below is a pump control (Taco SR506) which does not have a large enough transformer to power any more than 2 or 3 power stealing thermostats. We added an external 75 VA transformer for the 6 NEST thermostats.


Re: Need new a/c or heat pump for hydro air handler- OxBox any good? Other suggestion?
If it were me, I'd go with a high SEER, high COP 2 stage heat pump for 3 heat stages, and the hydro coil also during defrost.
I'm not yet sold on the longevity of parts and repairs vs higher upfront cost for an inverter system. I've serviced some Bosch. I've setup and commissioned multiple Carrier Infinity systems, and they are pretty amazing, but for how long before $$$ repairs are needed.
There's also a much better chance of a tech having a contactor, or capacitor, or a condenser fan motor on the van than an inverter board for your exact system. But that's me.
Either way, vet the installer. Get references.
I'm not yet sold on the longevity of parts and repairs vs higher upfront cost for an inverter system. I've serviced some Bosch. I've setup and commissioned multiple Carrier Infinity systems, and they are pretty amazing, but for how long before $$$ repairs are needed.
There's also a much better chance of a tech having a contactor, or capacitor, or a condenser fan motor on the van than an inverter board for your exact system. But that's me.
Either way, vet the installer. Get references.
HVACNUT
2
Re: Thread sealant cure
I've been tempted to mix up some expando and try it out. Rumor on the streets is it's impossible to get back apart.EBEBRATT-Ed said:Only when using "Expando" on a high-pressure oil line that ran at like 400 deg.
ChrisJ
1
Re: Are there seriously no leveling shims I can just buy?
Thanks everyone for the comments. I've summarized some options that look decent:
I did manage to find furniture foot stops; most are too thick and not interlocking so it was hard to find. One ok option is the "stable the table" brand. These are 1/8" thick and nesting. 12 pack for $19 means $1.58 apiece. The downside is the 2.2" OD, awkwardly large, but they are brown to blend with the floor.
https://amazon.com/Stable-Multi-use-Furniture-Protector-Loveseats/dp/B0BMW95691
Metal disks or washers - tons of options but you have to hunt a bit. Most are too thin (a tall stack would be unstable and annoying to set up) or have too big of a center hole. For reference, a quarter is 0.955" OD and 0.069 thick. The aluminum or steel disks (not washers) from McMaster were minimum 1/2" thick, too thick. Most stainless washers are really thin, 0.05" typical.
Black steel washers, 1" OD, 0.28" ID, thickness 1/8". $1.18 apiece. https://mcmaster.com/92140A112
Fender washers - seems like a great choice. Available from any hardware store. Dimensions are good. 1.25" OD, 1/4" ID, 1/8" thick. https://homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1-4-in-x-1-1-4-in-Zinc-Plated-Fender-Washer-100-Pack-804790/204276327
Interlocking washers - couldn't find it.
Stamping blanks - usually too thin.
Wood disks - available from Michael's. 1.5" OD. Thickness? Not listed, looks to be at least 1/8". Wood? It's a mystery. Price? $0.22 apiece. https://michaels.com/product/wood-discs-1-12-10049505
Wood disks from woodpecker's - shipping isn't free, but it's a guaranteed hardwood (birch) and it comes in various sizes, super cheap from $0.12 - $0.21 apiece if you buy at least 25. https://woodpeckerscrafts.com/wood-circles-wooden-discs/#/filter:custom_material:Solid$2520Birch
Similar wood disks from American Woodcrafter's Supply. https://americanwoodcrafterssupply.com/catalog/wooden-discs-wooden-circles/wooden-discs-wooden-circles/
I ended up buying a bunch of different sized pieces from Woodpecker's. Total was $21 including shipping for 100 pieces.
I did manage to find furniture foot stops; most are too thick and not interlocking so it was hard to find. One ok option is the "stable the table" brand. These are 1/8" thick and nesting. 12 pack for $19 means $1.58 apiece. The downside is the 2.2" OD, awkwardly large, but they are brown to blend with the floor.
https://amazon.com/Stable-Multi-use-Furniture-Protector-Loveseats/dp/B0BMW95691
Metal disks or washers - tons of options but you have to hunt a bit. Most are too thin (a tall stack would be unstable and annoying to set up) or have too big of a center hole. For reference, a quarter is 0.955" OD and 0.069 thick. The aluminum or steel disks (not washers) from McMaster were minimum 1/2" thick, too thick. Most stainless washers are really thin, 0.05" typical.
Black steel washers, 1" OD, 0.28" ID, thickness 1/8". $1.18 apiece. https://mcmaster.com/92140A112
Fender washers - seems like a great choice. Available from any hardware store. Dimensions are good. 1.25" OD, 1/4" ID, 1/8" thick. https://homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1-4-in-x-1-1-4-in-Zinc-Plated-Fender-Washer-100-Pack-804790/204276327
Interlocking washers - couldn't find it.
Stamping blanks - usually too thin.
Wood disks - available from Michael's. 1.5" OD. Thickness? Not listed, looks to be at least 1/8". Wood? It's a mystery. Price? $0.22 apiece. https://michaels.com/product/wood-discs-1-12-10049505
Wood disks from woodpecker's - shipping isn't free, but it's a guaranteed hardwood (birch) and it comes in various sizes, super cheap from $0.12 - $0.21 apiece if you buy at least 25. https://woodpeckerscrafts.com/wood-circles-wooden-discs/#/filter:custom_material:Solid$2520Birch
Similar wood disks from American Woodcrafter's Supply. https://americanwoodcrafterssupply.com/catalog/wooden-discs-wooden-circles/wooden-discs-wooden-circles/
I ended up buying a bunch of different sized pieces from Woodpecker's. Total was $21 including shipping for 100 pieces.
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