Best Of
Re: Why does Gorton not make adjustable rad vents?
It would still be increased cost because 1) they would still want to make the fixed orifice model for reasons aforementioned and 2) although non-orificed units could be inventoried unpackaged easily enough it would require costly labor to match them to the correct orifice and install it before shipment (cheap enough in China but certainly not here in the US).
Re: “That’s an easy job”
"That's an easy job". In our work-world this will be "ever-green." Don't you love it when the call comes in from a familiar client: "I have a small problem. It's an easy fix and it won't take you long."
This is client optimism coming from the other end of the phone. You and I are "the expert", "pipe-whisperer", diagnostician, fixer, "miracle worker." WE are the ones to ultimately decide: what the problem is, how to fix it, how long it will take (many time WE don't even know….), and ultimately how hard or EASY the job was! Only then do we make out the invoice. Sigh.
psb75
Re: York Furnace - 3 Weeks & No Heat - What Parts?
one more thing. i'd look at where that brass nipple screws in to the pressure switch and make sure they didn't plug up the inlet to the diaphragm with dope or tape. make sure however it vents to the atmosphere is clear too, there may be some sort of intention restriction on it to limit the amount of gas that can leak if the diaphragm breaks.
mattmia2
Re: Fire box rebuild
The kit does come with a bottle but the instructions say to use the entire bottle under the floor blanket
Robert_H
Re: New Return Pipe Noise During Renovation
Wanted to say thanks to everyone on this thread for the help troubleshooting all along the way.
And especially @ezzy who came in and fixed our system in a day. We haven’t heard a thing since it was done. Amazing. A true pro. Very grateful for this wall!
JodiMe
Re: Boiler size confusion
1.20 x.63=.756
I am a big fan of down firing and always have been. Many on here will say it can't be done or shouldn't be done. and I get drowned out. IMHO it solves a lot of issues especially if the boiler is oversized.
Back in the day I worked on a ton of coal-oil conversions and the boilers were all oversized. Old houses two families with large chimneys and draft that would take your arm off. A few fire bricks in the boiler flue to slow down the draft and a new draft regulator and a smaller nozzle with increased pump pressure to make the old clunky burners burn better.
I got news. If you down fire and your stack temp goes down (which it will) your efficiency goes up. Whats not to like??
All that is needed is a stack temp of about 325 minimum (100 over boiler water temp) the right combustion head if you down fire and some common sense. With some of the old boiler and burners you may need to do some combustion chamber work, not so much with todays equipment.
The boilers only concern is being overfired (above its rating) or underfired to much (condensation)
I suspect the MFGs are concerned with meeting efficiency guidelines and don't want to stray too much
Re: Long-term project to update old hydronic -- let's start with the Mercoid switch!
You can't go wrong picking the larger tank volume.
Re: Boiler size confusion
You could probably go down to a 1.10 or 1.00 nozzle.
I like to think of it as hitting the target wall or brushing the target wall. Brushing the target wall shouldn't be an issue. Hitting the target wall hard may be an issue. The chamber material get hot quickly and reflects heat back into the fire. This was required with older burners that didn't burn clean.
Modern burners are much better. If the flame is hitting the target wall too much you would get smoke and soot and may build carbon on the combustion chamber which is called flame impingement
But the flame hitting the target wall is usually a non issue.
Re: Piping for New Steam Boiler
All mains need vents or crossovers. Even the "short " one.
I'd leave the dry returns from those rads as presently configured. No need to reinvent the wheel.
Does that short main have a drip at the far end or is it pitched back towards the boiler?