Best Of
Re: Pex sizing
3/4" is used in MAYBE 5% of wood boiler applications. The most common by a landslide is 1", with 1-1/4" being next in line. OWB typically have a large volume of storage onboard and can tolerate a higher delta T due to mixing in the water jacket which allows a smaller diameter line, but realistically a 1" PEX loop at 200ft total and a 26-99 sized circ will flow about 7 GPM and with a 40* delta would supply 140,000 BTU. The 400k BTU Central you mentioned is a bit of a scam as they use their 400G of storage to create a 400k "first hour" delivery, while the actual continuous output is less than half of that. Most OWB using their full capacity are serving more than one building so the above example of a 200ft loop of 1" with an additional building using an additional 200ft loop of 1" to another building, we're approaching 300k capacity with only 1" PEX. Calculate your required BTU and flow rate, then you can size your lines and circ accordingly.
GroundUp
Re: Hot Water Recirculating system?
Assuming that you have a dedicated return line from the furthest hot water tap bsck to the boiler room, you can operate it constantly so there is no need for any sensor at al. That would be a waste of energy since you probably only use that hot water tap for 20 to 50 minutes per day. sp for more than 23 hours per day you would be sending hot water out to the piping system just so it can give off heat to the walls and crawl spaces where the hot water pipes are located.
I had an interesting idea when i lived in a single Ranch Home in New Jersey. Connect the recirc pump to the light switch in the bathroom. when you go in to use the facilities, the first thing you do is to turn on the light. that will also start the pump to move all the cold water from the hot water lines so by the time you are ready to wash your hands, the hot water is already there.
Don't forget to turn out the light when your are done. you will be wasting more than just the electric for the light bulb.
Re: prebuilt pump headers for wall hung boilers
There are a few out there like RHT and FloorHeat that offer one-size-fits-all type units with no reference to the actual loads and flow rates. I custom build them to the application in my shop and have them all over the country, but am often a little more expensive than the others due to the custom nature. I'd be happy to discuss your application if you'd like, www.groundupradiant.com
GroundUp
Re: Looks like this place had an Illinois Engineering Co. Vapor system
At our old shop we had 2 T87s to run the boiler. One was set at 60 degrees and went straight to the boiler. That was the night stat.
The other T87 set at 70 ran through a time clock to the boiler. I guess they had a old time clock kicking around instead of buying a day/night stat.
Re: New press
^^ ^^
What Ed said.
The barrel grip may get into some tight places better, but the pistol grip is more ergonomic.
Either way, you have to think through your piping layout so that you don’t press yourself into a corner.
Ironman
Re: Gas valve/solenoid stuck open on old Janitrol boiler
Oh, are there thoughts about this!
I'm in the reliability over efficiency camp but I have to admit that, with a little creative accounting, the efficiency camp looks pretty good. 😉
ratio
Re: 1920s Steam System - How to Add Main Vents
This statement is also system dependent.
" The amount of venting depends on the ability of the boiler to provide steam. When pressure builds up before the main is hot all the way around, then you know you need more venting. "
My system never goes over 2 inches of water column regardless if the main vent is used or valved off. The predominant benefit (main vent versus no (or poor) main venting) is with a hot main the steam will propagate faster, purging the air out as fast as possible, filling the main with steam as fast as possible.
You want enough venting so when the mains are hot the steam will fill the main as fast as possible. There is a point of diminishing returns. Since even with a hot main the steam will only move so fast.
109A_5
Re: Gas valve/solenoid stuck open on old Janitrol boiler
vent dampers save very little. Some say 1-2%
Re: calculating Nozzle flow rate
your absolutely right, I was misreading the formula and getting the square root last.
Thank you!
Robert_H