Best Of
Re: Navien condensing boiler settings troubles
@bjohnhy Thanks for the helpful hints here, as they help confirm that I'm on the right track dealing with this issue. Seems to be just a matter of dialing things in from here, which will take some time, naturally. I am unlikely to upgrade the values of the current insulation, unless I go with rigid foam exterior insulation and vinyl siding over the brick. Time will tell. For now, I have further lowered the operating temps to a minimum of 25 degrees C and a maximum of 68 degrees C. So far, the heating is very even and smooth, completely unlike the characteristics of my previous boilers. Woohoo!
Mobi
Re: Something Just Doesn't sound right about this
I’m not sure why you’re trying to remove that plug, but I would get back to where you can remove the entire fitting if necessary.
And I’ve seen the handle of a 5’ Rigid pipe wrench bend from four men with a cheater pipe on it, but I’ve never seen a Rigid jaw break. You get what you pay for and that’s why quality contractors buy quality tools, not Chinese junk.
Ironman
Re: Single Riser BUT no equilizer?! one Pipe Steam: gravity return
Sounds like the boiler needs to be replaced or the BIG gamble of regasketing it which might be a waiste of time once you get it apart. Your noted questions I suspect you already know the answers to since you have the manual on the book. You just want a bunch of people to confirm your findings to make the other installer look bad? I would open up the LWCO and look for mud for my own liability reasons and if I found some in there I wouldnt run it until rectified. You can blow it down all you want but if 100 steam guys are brought into court because a LWCO failed due to sludge then they and the jury are going to blame you, suggesting that your not telling the truth about blowing it down. Ive seen regularly blown down LWCO's get sludge in them.
Re: Additional Low Water Cutoff
Just to add a result-oriented insight to Dan's article and comment from the esteemed Mad Dog 2 :
Significantly reduced the number of explosions
Did Boilers have less explosions after the invention of the hartford loop
The invention of the Hartford Loop in 1919 significantly reduced the number of explosions and cracked boilers in the steam boiler industry. This safety feature allowed condensate to re-enter the boiler but prevented complete loss of steam boiler water should a leak develop elsewhere in the condensate return line. The Hartford Loop was mandated by the Hartford Steam Boiler Insurance Company to ensure boiler safety and prevent catastrophic failure associated with a dry-fire scenario. The Loop's design helped maintain pressure balance between steam feed to radiators and return feed of condensation to the boiler, thus reducing the risk of boiler instability and explosion. InspectAPedia+5
Source: InspectApedia
Regards,
RTW
P.S. I may as well add Ben Franklin's so called "lighting rods" that he chose not to patent were installed ubiquitously throughout European cities and reduced frequency of fires caused by lighting that had proliferated prior to the invention
RTW
Re: Explosive steam being released from discharge pipe
I agree with @Steamhead , @ethicalpaul and others about the pigtail being plugged.
Also the gauge is on the same pigtail as the pressure control. so that could be why the gauge is not reading high pressure when the relief valve blows off.
This is not rocket science. If you can turn a wrench you can fix it yourself.
Kill the power and take the pressure control gauge and pigtail off the boiler. Make sure everything is clean and re assemble . You can use teflon tape or any pipe dope.
If the pigtail proves to be plugged and you can't clean it put a new brass one on.
If you cant get a new pigtail easily just use 1/4" brass or black fittings nipples elbows and tee to get it running. You can change the fittings later when the weather warms up
Re: Strange one-pipe plumbing, potentially dangerous?
Well if it helps the vent in the radiator in the stairwell right outside of my unit is banging, and clanking around while water shoots out the steam vent.
motolly
Re: Koi Pond warming....
The Williamson on the left has been the dedicated pool heater/boiler for the Gunite pool for the last 25 years. I repiped for boiler protection (in a very tight corner and around his tool shelves) and to provide pond warming, so this boiler now gets year round use. WIRING BY OTHERS. Next time I'm there I'll bring a bag of zip ties. Mad Dog
Re: Supplemental electric
@bburd Thank you I have to agree the house will be set up in a series loop. This can be confirmed by closing the door in the basement which separates east and west sides of the house. With all dampers open the east side will maintain 3-4 degrees warmer than west side.
If I knew I was going to spend 20 years in this house I would be looking at basement renovation and changing main floor heat over to in floor.
But I think the electric supplement is best solution, thinking we may sell in the next 5ish years.
It is a 15x15 bedroom. Original 1976 wood windows and 1976 insulation. Power is 16 cents/kw
Tonerlow
Re: Hoffman 75 valves letting out steam
Vent tapping's on the side of the pipe are not the best but thats what you have.
I don't know if this will work but it may be worth a try.
Take the vent nipple and elbow off and just leave the short nipple coming out of the main. Put a tee like a 1 1/4 x 1 1/4 x 1/2 " with the branch on the short nipple coming out of the main. Put a 1 1/4 nipple and a reducer and the vent on as long as possible to get the vent up to the ceiling. On the bottom of the tee put a reducer and a valve to be able to blow the rust out occasionally.
It may not help but it will reduce the velocity going to the vent so any water will drop to the bottom. Cheap $$$ to try it. The vents belong on top of the pipe