Best Of

Re: Nest CO alarm

Well ask the rep if he wants to put his money where his mouth is.
Set the burner to fire dirty at 70+ ppm CO, remove the flue pipe. Tell him to head down the basement, and you’ll come get him, wearing your respiratory, in an hour.
Think he’ll go for it? Lol
In reality, won’t kill a healthy person, but I wouldn’t want to risk an elderly person or immunocompromised to that exposure.

STEVEusaPA

3

The case of the boiler that wasn't a boiler, this weeks case.

I didnt get a chance to send a a preview this week. I was asked by a contractor to look at the boiler rooms in a sewage treatment plant. When done, they asked me to look at a boiler in another room. This one looked much different than a traditional boiler. They were having intermittent problems ever since it was installed. That was when I learned this boiler was not a boiler, it was a sludge heater. Yikes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz4vt9z9DxM

RayWohlfarth

5

Re: Spud removal, cut the thread. Am I sunk?

We've done this a bunch of times, and it's never as bad as it looks. I would put some extra dope in the cut, then dope both ends real good, and give it a shot before getting too carried away with other remedies. It will likely be fine. Next option would be to remove the bushing (though those old bushings are cast and very difficult to sawzall through, requiring many blades), and change the complete valve.

These don't seem to mind.

ChrisJ

2

Re: Question re siding; oil tank install failed inspection, being fixed, what about siding holes?

Done.

HVACNUT

4

Re: Question re siding; oil tank install failed inspection, being fixed, what about siding holes?

Always hire the pros...then they don't know the code anyway, smh

ethicalpaul

3

Re: Things to know about O2 ingress, corrosion, scale build up in hydronics

EdTheHeaterMan said:

I can breath much easier Bob, now that I have this information about Oxygen. Thanks Bob!

As long as you are breathing in and out, we’re in good hands

hot_rod

2

Re: vent damper question. Does it have to go vertical right off the top of the boiler?

I also have done that. but @EBEBRATT-Ed is correct about having some riser on the draft hood before the first elbow. Mounting the damper on the draft hood sort of guarantees that there is a 6" riser direcly off the vent hood. I would cut a 4" (6" including the crimp) riser on yours as long as there is a 1/4" per foot rise in the horizontal pipe.

That boiler does not need a vent damper to operate safely. It only needs it to operate efficiently enough to pass the certification process for the minimum efficiency government regulations. Placing it on the horizontal will not compromise the safety, It may however be an issue if there is ever a problem with home damage as a result of the boiler operation. If it ain't like the instructions say, then it goes back to the installer who done it. Are you properly insured?

Or as it says on some contractors trucks "Fully Insured".

I have always been partial to "partially insured". (that was a PUN)
I have never used the "not insured". But they don't put that on there trucks

I have seen those that are "Licensed and Insured"
While others are "Fully Licensed and insured"

Does that mean they are Fully licensed and partly insured?
Are the other guys only partly licensed and partly insured?
I think that if they are fully licensed and fully insured, they should say so on the truck.

Unless they pay for the lettering on the truck by the letter. That would add to the cost of the truck and make my price go up.

Am I starting to sound like George Carlin? RIP. Sorry! I'll shut up now.

EdTheHeaterMan

2

Re: vent damper question. Does it have to go vertical right off the top of the boiler?

Thanks @EdTheHeaterMan
That's exactly what I would probably end up with which is a few additional inches below the 90 with a small straight piece added but enough to maintain a slight upwards pitch since the fireplace and the unit is close together. But if worst comes to worst I'll have to pick up some brick and mortar