Best Of
Re: Burner technicians -what’s going on in this industry?
Out here in the West the FFA is still very common in public schools, teaching welding, mechanics, animal husbandry etc. My 16 year old, daughter, is welding already.
Re: Experience I had with a boiler tech and what I learned along the way.
Not many people like you seem to be left. It's a shame that so few technicians who make a living doing this share your qualities.
Re: Burner technicians -what’s going on in this industry?
We attended the HVAC Tactical Awards at AHR and were in a room of 300+ young people who are passionate about working in the trades and spreading the word. Many of them have large followings on social media and use these tools to educate and get the word out about opportunities in the trades. They are reaching other young people where they are. The awards were for things like "Picture Perfect Install," emphasizing taking pride in the work. Dan Holohan was also honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. This event sells out each year and is filled with so much enthusiasm for the trades.
In this panel discussion from AHR, HVACR company owners discussed how they are recruiting. They're going to all of the career events at high schools, offering extensive training, and getting creative and recruiting from other industries. One panelist mentioned that he gets a lot of employees from Xerox who do hands-on work fixing copy machines.
And Bryan Orr recently launched The Grit Foundation ( ) with the mission to bridge the skills gap and teach kids the trades through camps.
Re: Started smelling "sulfur-ey" odor in the house.
Close the air band till the fire looks ok and the test for smoke. When you get a #1 smoke open the band slightly (make small adjustments) until you are just getting 0 smoke, take a Co2 you should be around 11-12.5%. Then open the air band a smidge until you drop the co2 about 1%. Then recheck the smoke.
Re: My first time using a purge valve after reading Pumping Away
Those 3 way valves with the drain are great after the water meter too, you can use them to drain the system at the lowest point or shut off the system with access to water through the drain depending on how you position the 3 way valve.
mattmia2
Re: Burner technicians -what’s going on in this industry?
The UA and the local I belong to has been trying hard to up there game in the training area. It used to be that the UA was plumbers & pipefitters only and they looked down on HVAC service and oil burner work. No longer they have embraced it.
I am not sure they have made a lot of progress with it but they are trying.
I have been out of touch since I retired from working and stopped teaching.
I do have a code update class to go to this Saturday to keep my Gasfitters license. (why I keep it I don't know but I can't let it go) but I will try and find out what is happening with training
Re: Bosch Greenstar Combi with excessive exhaust / Intake condensation
Well, Ironman, I think I owe you lunch. As I was disassembling the flue connector, I could feel water above it and the rust didn't line up. I'm guessing the installer twisted the top adapter and broke off both inspection ports. When I tried to loosen the plugs, I could feel them just spinning When I got it apart, they were both broke. From what I can tell, this is where the condensation was coming from. I'll know tomorrow when I get it back together.
TroyMn
Re: Soot in 5 months
I never liked that design with the angle plate. Check the chamber. Remove the front and vac from top and bottom. Stack temperature is too high. CO2 is too high. My Beckett OEM says 80°B, but that's not the issue. You don't pull a 0 smoke if it's not a 0 smoke.
HVACNUT
Re: Adjusting the Offset
I had a Weil McLain Rep on a site once and he told me if low fire is off and you break the seal and adjust it, do it in eighths on the turns. Then when its good, recheck High fire. It's easy to think the turns aren't making a difference because the analyzer needs time to analyze. And before you know it, you over or under shot by a ton. Nice and easy. Keep a load on the boiler and don't rush it.
HVACNUT