Best Of
Re: Should I stick with tankless coil?
I don't agree for the simple reason that not everyone takes the time to turn off the switch in the summer, and only turn it on for the few minutes it takes to shower. The vast majority of boilers with tankless coil water heaters are left turned on 24/7.
Kudos to @burnout for being the exception.
My understanding of common water heaters and the cost to operate them.
- Electric water heaters are 100% efficient but the fuel is rather expensive compared to the alternative fuels. They are not connected to a vent so the stored heat in that tank will stay there longer.
- Gas Automatic water heaters for the most part are connected to a vent (like a chimney) allowing for constant movement of air thru the heat exchanger that can transfer stored heat in the tank to that moving air. So in my opinion, they are less desirable than a storage tank that is not connected to a vent. The fact that natural gas and in some cases propane costs so much less. That makes the down time loss is more desirable than the higher cost electric fuel
- Oil fired water heaters also are connected to vents and therefore are less desirable than a tank that is not connected to a vent So the same as a Gas Automatic.
- A coil in a heating boiler used for DHW is connected to just about the most inefficient system. No matter how efficient your burners are (Oil or Gas) the boiler will be set at a higher temperature by design, than the actual water temperature desired at the shower. That makes the temperature difference between the air that flows thru the boiler to the chimney during the down time much lower than the water temperature. More heat will transfer from the boiler to those passing air currents so more heat will be lost up the chimney. If you happen to have an inefficient burner connected to that boiler, then you have a real fuel wasting machine.
- The best water heating system is to use the most efficient heating boiler available for heating your home. That will have a very high recovery rate when connected to an indirect water tank. (much higher than the burners that come with Gas Automatic water heaters). Now by using the super high efficient burner system to transfer heated water to the indirect tank. When that tank is satisfied and there is no longer a call for hot water, the burner in the super efficient boiler will stop heating the water. Since the DHW storage tank is not connected to a tank, there is no heat transfer to the vent from the tank. That tank, if no hot water is used because everyone is at work or sleeping for hours, will not need the burner to run for as long as 20 hours. That means that when the boiler cools off as a result of being connected to a vent, the burner does not need to turn back on to maintain a higher temperature for DHW as it would with a tankless coil.
- The most efficient water heating systems are instant tankless water heaters. There is no stand by loss which is the largest waste of energy. No tank to get cold when no one is using hot water. There are two major problems with tankless water heaters
- They seem to make enough hot water for more than one shower at a time unless you install the largest model. That usually involver getting a larger electric service or larger gas pipe to feed all that energy on demand.
- They are expensive to install and repair because they have so many more moving parts.
- But they have been getting better over the years.
So I recommend an indirect with a new boiler
Re: Boiler running without a call for heat
To understand how a thermostat works you need to understand how a light switch works. When the switch connects the two wires that are connected to the switch, the circuit is completed and the light will illuminate
Same is true of a thermostat. When the room temperature drops the thermostat is a switch that turns on the heating system. When the room gets hotter, the thermostat turns off the switch.
If for some reason you get the wires to connect when the switch is open (OFF) The lightbulb does not know the switch is off. The light bulb only knows that the electric circuit is complete. I would look for the wire or thing that is completing the circuit to the zone valve that is open when that zone thermostat is not calling
HVAC PRO: "How long have you experienced this problem?"
Customer: "Since last Thursday"
Wife: "The day after you hung the new television on the wall"
Customer: "What does hanging the television on the wall have to do with the heater?"
HVAC PRO: "Let me look at that television bracket on the wall"
If you don't get it by now, then you need to hire a pro before you point the parts canon at the problem.
Re: ASME requirements
Finally spoke to the NJ state inspector.
He is calling out the NJ version of National Standard Plumbing Code as to why they are forcing us to use ASME rated tanks on this job. Since the combined input of the multiple boilers is well above the threshold of 200,000 BTU (might have been 250,000) we must use ASME tanks. This will add a significant cost to the owner, but we have no choice in the matter. Thankfully, the owner understands the issue and trusts us to do the right thing.
Just learned non ASME tanks are in stock. ASME rated tanks are eight weeks out…
Re: repairing a neglected chimney, flue, thimble, liner, and leaks
You need a chimney expert to inspect all of that. It is coming apart because water is leaking in through that failed masonry that someone tried to glue together by parging it. I suspect at very least it needs to be rebuilt from the roof line.
mattmia2
Re: Where can I find Pennsylvania code reqs for residential basement oil tanks?
Oil Tech Talk...Alan Mercurio...The Guru of things heating oil...he's in Penna too! Great guy. Mad Dog
Re: some help/advice, pressure shut off, pigtail
A short piece of the coiled outer sheath from a bicycle or lawnmower cable bent out at the working end to have a slight auger hook may act as a small custom snake. You could use a drill motor to turn it.
If the old pigtail is too much problem a new one with a few new pipe fittings could probably be added here (Red arrow in picture) assuming that tapping goes into the boiler, looks like that plug may come out easier.
If you choose to service the LWCO float assembly, Gasket paper can be found at most auto parts stores. On my McDonnell & Miller #67 LWCO I made the gasket from Red silicone sheet material so it is reusable and no more scraping old paper gaskets. Once set up to do so maintenance / inspection is easy.
109A_5
Re: Single Pipe Steam Boiler Replacement & Piping (Unusual header?) Advice for Amateur
Thanks for all your thoughtful comments/suggestions, the electrical sticker was from adding circuits for miniplits. I think the inspector spent a grand total of 20 seconds "inspecting" things and didn't say anything. The current drip pipe is 31 inches back from the box. I like the idea of re-routing it under the box for safety. I'll ask for it to be included in the estimate although I'll likely end up doing it myself.
Re: Boiler Heats House and Pool
I have since found out that copper tubing is encased in the gunite around the pool, so there’s no chlorine to worry about.
Interesting that it’s only a 007 circulator. My guess is that the 1” tubing leaving the mechanical room goes to a copper manifold with 1/2” tubing circling the pool.
Hot water cast iron radiator not heating
Hi, can anyone advise me on how to proceed. The plumber disconnected the radiator form the input and output valve bled the system that repeatingly. They also kept feeding it water from the furnace. They other radiators are working fine. Can anyone assist me in determing the problem. The plumber says to get a new radiator which I do not agree with.
Thanks in advance
clask