Best Of
Re: Replumbing: Solder or Threads for Ball Valves
So then 2 male adaptors and a sweat union……..could be more than the ball valve itself. But I understand looking to the future.
But there are brass compression X male thread. I use them on pressure relief valve drop pipes to avoid the torch for replacement/removal of the PRV.
JUGHNE
Re: Seeking Engineer for Off-Grid Religious Facility Heating in the Mountain States
Solar is a potential option, however, the design of the structure was not set up for passive. Active solar has its own power challenges and more importantly, this building is being built in an area that sees minus 20 or more on many winter days. Solar will only be helpful during the shoulder seasons and there are complications in doing solar thermal without power.
The initial design we proposed involved Danfoss non- electric thermostats and zone valves, radiant floor heating in concrete, heated by a gasification wood boiler to use the abundant beetle kill pine, and two PV powered circulators backed up by battery that were mounted outside with the boiler. Super simple and effective.
Re: System 2000, nearly double the cost of Weil McLain, is it worth it?
Thank you all, this thread has been incredibly helpful and I don't want to start an argument! :-)
I'm going to get additional estimates for both options (@Roger I will get in touch with you for a referral), and I like everything I'm hearing about the EK. Given the state of the house though, and a limited budget, it sounds like it might make more sense to save money on the boiler and make the biggest possible investment in the insulation / airflow improvements. But I'll need to really work the numbers and then decide.
riny
Re: Observations on my old, rotted out wet return.
Add me to the list of those who don't like long meandering wet returns-especially in black pipe.
Circulators with IFC internal flow checks, some discovery.
I built this clear pump display to try and observe the small spring checks in action. The IFC fit right into the discharge of the circulators. They have a low "pop" pressure, around 1/2" psi.
First off you want to have some sort of strainer, filter, dirt separator in the piping. It doesn't take much more than a grain of sand to hold them open. See the particles on the paper towel.
On my first run I had some of the clear plastic machinings in the piping and it held the check completely open immediately.
Next the pump and circuit needs to be 100% air free. On first start the air entrained in the fluid would cause the check to bounce, flutter, chatter, pick a word. In this short demo loop it took less than a minute for the air separator to clean the fluid of all air. The check operated smoothly from then on.
Troubleshooters tell me they have replaced these damaged checks after 3-5 years of service. I suspect the checks chatter themselves to an early death.
The check is in a turbulent condition this close to the impeller. Most any check manufacturer asks for several pipe diameters distance between a pump discharge and the check.
All in all, properly protected and commissioned I do see the value in these spring type, conical seal type of checks in circulators.
hot_rod
Re: Observations on my old, rotted out wet return.
Don't confuse dry returns (two pipe) which can and usually do connect above the water line with steam main extensions (one pipe and the odd two pipe) which must NOT connect above the water line…
Re: Replumbing: Solder or Threads for Ball Valves
Okay, Back to the original question of sweat vs threaded connections for valves. My approach has long been to use threaded valves, as valves eventually fail. If I can build things so a torch is not needed the next time around, that's a plus in my mind. 😇
Yours, Larry
Re: System 2000, nearly double the cost of Weil McLain, is it worth it?
Before, it's only been about a month and a half with the new WH.
riny
Re: Utica now offering 12 year warranties, longest in industry
As a distributor my company processes a ton of warranties, I can count on on hand the number of times we have been declined and didn't get reimbursed. you need better manufacturers or suppliers, warranty claims are almost never denied in my experience, heck we were just considering dropping an entire brand over a single denied claim a few weeks ago.
GGross
Re: System 2000, nearly double the cost of Weil McLain, is it worth it?
I had only one experience with installing an EK before I retired. The proud owner of a EK 2000 was converting to gas, and the Oil fired system was only about 6 years old. I was offered the used boiler at a great price, and My Customer Service Rep was in need of a new boiler. The old Dynotherm was very efficient in its day but it was getting difficult to source parts for the old beast.
The EK2000 cut the fuel bill by 35% from the “properly installed and properly operating efficient Dynotherm”. I felt that the Dynotherm was as efficient as any new Weil McLain would be, and did not expect there to be any measurable savings. Well I was pleasantly surprised with the results. Understanding how the savings were realised gave me a new understanding of “Low Mass" and “Thermal purging” that I never really thought about before.
Sometimes you need to see it to believe it. I know I did, and, @Hot_water_fan , all the “irrelevant” mambo jumbo becomes REAL once you take the time to understand it.
As far as the cost of the WM being so much higher … I believe there may be some warranty left on the WM that might be offsetting the cost of the job, and a push pull is always a faster job than changing the system to accommodate the piping requirements of the EK design. Those two factors could be a major reason for the larger than usual $$$ difference.
You would need more facts to make that call @Roger . Could the contractor be purchasing the block only or the boiler less burner and using all the existing working parts from the old boiler on the replacement boiler. I believe your EK dealers are more on the reputable side of the scale that many of the other competitors might fall. Just my opinion.
Not saying that you are not reputable if you don’t sell EK, Just saying that you seem to hold your dealers to a higher standard in equipment knowledge and training, and that type of contractor is not as likely to be the shady contractor we all want to avoid.
