Best Of
Re: Draft
Since 'draft' is technically the pressure differential btw the flue gases and the CAZ due to reduced flue gas density from the heat, we use that as an indirect measure of mass flow. We say a venting system 'has a good draft' when in actuality, we mean it is flowing about 0.8 meters per second according to ASHRAE. That means at that pressure differential we get a certain velocity, which, when it encounters flow restrictions, reduces the actual flow compared to a short, straight, smooth conduit, we interpret that as 'draft'.
A sig. or smoke source can only demonstrate a draft hood is just as stupid as those who think it serves a safety function. It is a separation of noxious flue gases from the one dedicated exhaust conduit with no instructions, directions or legal requirements for those gases to find their way into said conduit. Air and flue gases are stupid and will go where a pressure gradient forces them and there is a pathway for movement.
If we take CAZ air and suck it up a stack, that makes room for more stuff, such as the byproducts of combustion. Those get entrained with the CAZ air, now referred to as 'combustion air', combined with some extra CAZ air that was standing around not doing anything or paying attention and it all heads for the exit. However, some dope put a hallway at the room exit with big, wide-open doors but crosses his fingers everyone will instinctively know, without signs, to know which way to go and no penalty for cheating and taking the side short cuts.
If we allow just the flue gases to exhaust, some will hang out along the walls like punk kids at school and damage the walls. However, if we dump a lot more people moving briskly down the hall, everyone tends to move along and there isn't as much graffiti or damage to the walls of the hallway.
It helps to refer to it as 'draft pressure' and 'mass flow' of flue gases as two entirely distinct, separate concepts.
Draft hoods suck figuratively but not literally. You would have to apply smoke 360 degrees around a typical draft hood to ensure a lack of spillage. Some spill switches recommend doing this test to determine at what point on the compass you mount the switch. One problem is, you need it at one point normally then another when the adjacent clothes dryer kicks in or the furnace with the leaky return ducts fires up. Or, replace it with a barometric damper that focuses a backdraft directly towards one spill switch and you have a modicum of safety enhancement.
Re: Draft
Juvenile Delinquent and graffiti on the walls… what an awesome analogy Spoken like a true teacher!
That will draw a picture in your minds eye!
Re: PH in Water
the installation manual has that info, uf it is plain water.
If it has chemicals or glycol, use the product manual
For stainless type boilers, chloride level is critical, TDS also.
hot_rod
Re: Replace a Munchkin boiler before it fails, or keep it going?
it’s an odds game at this point.
I suspect boiler prices will continue to go up as they are mainly imported parts even if they are assembled here.
What are todays tariff numbers for China and the EU? 10, 30, 50%. The tariff game will also lead to shortages at some point, limiting options and driving prices even higher.
hot_rod
Re: "Yelp"/ angi list for contractors.
It's not that crooks have more rights than we do, it's just that they'll do things that we won't.
Unfortunately, if we do the same things as the crooks, then we're no longer the good guys…
ratio
Re: "Yelp"/ angi list for contractors.
Its ok to have an "enemies list," just don't write it down..ask President Nixon! Ha ha...This is where belonging to contractor organizations, like PHCC is very beneficial: You get around other legit outfits and network accordingly.
In my neck of the woods, we share this intel "off the record" with a quick phone call. "Hey Sweeney...I just looked at a job you were at ( bid on, et cetera)…what's the deal with these people???"
Me: "Be careful with them. They bounced the first check, played games with the $$$$." This protects all of us legit & honorable outfits from the bad actors out there. Mad Dog
Re: "Yelp"/ angi list for contractors.
My boss and I went back to the shop one day patting each other on the back and talking in the office because we had sold the largest job we ever had at that time.
The owner after hearing all this chatter for 20 min or so came in and said. "the biggest job in the world doesn't mean crap until we get paid". "I want to know who is paying the bill and when there going to pay"
And he was right.
It's more important to know who your working for.
And as smart as he was in business even that owner got taken a couple of times.
We had a customer I won't name but they are/were one of the largest handgun MFGs. I am in Western, Ma so you can figure it out.
We had done work for them for 35 years or more including selling them tons of fuel oil.
They had a new 'assistant" in the purchasing dept. I bid a job there and he was told to get 3 prices. I was the low bidder. He called me and told me to order the equipment. He said the PO would be coming in a couple of weeks. This job was 150k which was a big job for us 45 years ago. Time went on , No PO another week, no PO.
I was scared I would get fired if I screwed up this account which was worth a lot to our company. I went to my boss and explained it. I had called the PA 3 times to get the PO and he was stalling me. He said "don't order the equipment , something is wrong". I said but "this is a big account" he said 'what are you going to do when you order the equipment with no PO and you find out this guy (the PA) gets fired"
And he was right.
We didn't get the job he was waiting for a kickback before he issued the PO. I was to young and naive to realize what he wanted. He did get fired a year later when they found out what he was doing.
There are dirty people everywhere. Develop your senses. When something seems to good …it is. When something seems wrong…it is,
Some people live their whole lives and get off suing people. Stay away from them.
Re: "Yelp"/ angi list for contractors.
As has been said, don't do it. The type of "client" to which you refer almost always has at least one tame lawyer handy. I might add that this is much the same mentality which takes advantage of landlords…
Re: Material price increases due to govermental tarrifs
or could it be Asian products resemble Caleffi?
one relay brand I recall shows “assembled in Mexico, components from China. A double whammy😗
hot_rod