Best Of
Re: What boiler service tools do you carry with you?
open eyes and a open mind for starters
6 n 1 screw drive
1/4 deep socket set
fluke multi meter
assorted hand tools
Flash light
finally a pair of eye glasses
a working knowledge of the sequence of operations for the equipment you are servicing and knowing the safety devices which may be at fault
A good grip on the workings of controls ,opposite potentials,time delays ,flow switches ,magnetic starters voltage and over current, phase monitoring controls and how not to let the smoke out of a new control .
Being truthful and not broad brushing existing issues which may not be ideal but are not the root cause of the existing issue .
Only work on equipment which you are qualified and comfortable working on and being smart enough to known when your in over your head.
Knowing how a system should properly operate and when it is time for regular maintenance or that said maintenance has been deferred which is the underlying issue
And also have a possibly older smarter tech which when having a rough time you can call on for some intelligence discussion with about your issue .
Never be afraid to admit that your at a lose .
Honestest is always the best policy
peace and good luck clammy
clammy
Re: Smoke smell in house with oil boiler
Everybody happy? (See photo) Too early to tell if the problem is solved. Seems OK at the moment!
Woops, update eight hours later: the odor has returned. That leaves only one possibility I know of: chimney liner. I'm going back to wood heat—a more tolerable type of smoke. Investment so far in the smoke problem: $$$ for cleaning, damper, and two air purifiers.
After talking with the technician, my next house is going to have propane heat plus a heat pump.
Hemlock
Re: DIRECTION OF STEAM TRAVEL
I can't follow this piping from such close shots. I took the time to put the pieces together so I could see how bad this is. Here is what I have come up with. Compare it to the Weil McLain illustration 18 that i modified for 2 main risers.
When compared to the instructions, (with modification for 2 main risers) there are too many extra fittings and pipes, along with possible incorrect pitch that can cause the header to hold condensate from returning to the equalizer back the the boiler return, and even pushing water back up into the main. Now that will bang like crazy
I think @109A_5 illustrates the easiest fix for your contractor. Just as long as the Header is properly pitched towards the Equalizer, and the Hartford loop is properly constructed. that 24" dimension can be more than 24" to get dryer steam. The higher the better.
Let your contractor look at this set of diagrams so it is more better clearer. Picture being worth a thousand words … and all.
The close nipple on the Hartford loop is important. The longer that pipe is the more noise it can make.
Re: Residential Steam Boiler Replacement - EDR Questions
The good news is that there are a few well respected pro's on this site that service your area. I'm sure they will chime in soon.
100% agree with @STEAM DOCTOR
Boiler oil burner dripping oil
A small drip of oil (it's red) is coming from the oil burner of my boiler. It looks like it's coming from the black plug on the underside, where I indicated with the arrow. What would cause this? Our annual servicing is in 3 months. Is this more urgent than that?
I know nothing about boilers, so want to learn something about the issue before talking to a tech. Thanks!
Usgw
Re: Small shop/storage building
You can get a 55k mod con that will turn down to around 8,000 btu/ hr
I have a similar sized shop in Utah, 15k load with a Lochinvar 55k boiler locked at 18,000
The least expensive option will be a gas fired unit heater
hot_rod
Re: CastRads radiator install
@PC7060 that's a first class installation! Looks superb. And yes you're absolutely right - bleeder key, the 8mm hex allows you to adjust the lockshield valve (which incidentally is where that black rubber disc belongs), and finally a bottle opener to crack open a cold one at the end of the job!
Re: Furnace playing games
@SuperTech says: "The R8184G is antiquated technology. You will regret using that control when it prematurely wears out the electrodes and igniter. No oil burner should be operating with that control these days. "
This.
We have numerous customers in the "boonies" with electronic primaries and don't have trouble with them. If you're wary, get a spare control and program it for your burner.
"Spark during Run" is a NO. You don't need it. The only reason the old control left the spark on was because it was cheaper to make them that way- you didn't need the second relay.
