Best Of
Re: Copper to Pex in hydronic heating for DIY
SharkBite is listed for that use, temperature and pressure. Large size reducing fittings are not always available.
Copper press to pex would be another good option. You can rent or borrow the press and crimp tool.
Compression fittings are also available. Use a pex fitting adapter to fit inside a coupling.Compression fittings are common in Euro hydronic systems.
hot_rod
Re: Old HP system failed: new refrigerant choice? new equipment reliability?
It is basically the same scale of project as putting new ductwork or hydronic piping and emitters in to a building, it is a lot of complicated labor to do it well and there are a lot of fiddly little parts you need to have too.
mattmia2
Re: Recommendation for highly reliable natural gas water heater?...
Hi, My approach isn't brand dependent. I'd make sure heater I got had a full, non pro-rated warranty, and hopefully good support where you are. I'd get only a six year warranty. I'd make sure the tank I got was able to accept a second, full length magnesium anode rod, and make sure the rod it comes with is magnesium, or is changed out to one. I'm not a fan of having aluminum in tap water. Beyond setting up the tank, I'd make sure the tank lived at water pressures in the 40 to 60 psi range without any big fluctuations. Finally, I'd make sure it got clean air for combustion. These days, replacing a tank can run thousands of dollars, which is why I try to keep older tanks that are in good shape, going. 😊
Yours, Larry
Re: J.P. Ward
Union factory jobs probably stand a better chance of attracting workers. $$ talks!
Unions were started to prevent factory workers from being exploited. But the wage issue probably would be higher also, further distances the factory from being competitive.
The questions to be asked is would you be willing to pay more for 100% made in USA products? How much more?
I'm not sure what you mean by the pay is good?
Average HVAC jobs pay more than factory jobs do around me, which would you chose? Which would a guidance councilor steer a hands on person too?
Most plumbing and HVAC shops around here will take you right out of high school and train you, earn while you learn the trade. Some shop pick up high school students after school for on the job training.
With the DOE being closed down, schools around here, trade tech included are loosing funding not gaining! Less affluent states when most of the factories are locating to will not have $$ to fund the shortfalls to education from the DOE
hot_rod
Re: New Propane Boiler Options
in winter months the heat comes from what ever warms the space. In the summer heat gains are from appliances, humans, but also thermal gains through ceiling, floor and wall insulation and windows. I’m sure the gains could be calculated then matched to the HPWH demand based on DHW consumption.
Thermal solar covers the majority of my DHW, and costs me a small ECM pump load :)
hot_rod
Re: Torque Wrench
when I worked on aircraft and needed to use a crows foot for a flare nut, I would have to do a calculation if I used it as a extention (straight out) because I added length to the wrench but if I used the crows foot at a 90, I didnt because it didnt add length. It mattered.
SlamDunk
Re: Oil to propane, Kingston NY area - EDITED.
Not when I put in realistic numbers for real world efficiency of my burner, expected efficiency of a modern gas unit, and the fuel cost in my area.
Propane ends up cheaper.
joea99
Re: DIY result, will it hold?
If you cleaned , fluxed and soldered the joints and they don't leak chances are they will not leak regardless of the way the outside looks. After the joint is soldered a wet rag wipe down will remove the excess flux and your fine.
Re: New steam boiler - newbie help
Over-flowing a boiler does not harm it. But depending on this "leaking" it might have accidentally indicated that your boiler has a hole rotted through it (the typical failure case for all boilers).
Where was it leaking?
Your boiler is piped fine in the photos you shared.
They are wanting to replace your existing boiler with the exact same model which might be OK, although it's very very common for the existing boiler to be oversized. Did they share with you the total "EDR" or "square feet of radiation" that they calculated? That's the total sq ft of radiator in your house, and that is how you size a boiler, so it's good that they measured your radiators.
Re: Now ya see why PVC on mod con flue is not a good idea
very first picture looks like it could have gone in a little bit further, maybe 1/4 to 1/2 inch but kind of hard to tell. my unprofessional view is operator error but again, what do i know. thanks matt for the topic. i learn something new all the time.
