Best Of

Re: RV water heater idea

One should look at co-generation to see what has been developped for heat recovery:
engine coolant + exhaust gases
I read about 40% of engine fuel is lost in exhaust gases

I was going to say, hx off of the coolant for the engine would be more effective.

Yes... as long as it does not void the engine waranty.

The most common DHW homebuilt around here is a 4" piece of ABS lay it in the sun for the day, a bicycle pump to pressurize it. I was looking for something a bit more reliable.

You will still need this if you don't move.

Sylvain

1

I cannot top these stories and I am happy to admit that. That being said, I think some will understand why we have always concentrated on heating. Yes, I have come home covered in black soot from head to toe (including eyes and nose). Yes, I have come home smelling like I was inside the Exxon refinery for days after being covered in #4 or #6 bunker C oil. Yes, I have come home wreaking of perfume after working in a fragrance factory for the day.

Many years ago I was taught the rules to be a plumber, I will mention them again for the uninformed. "Poop" flows downhill, don't bite your fingernails, and pay day is on Friday. The main reason I never became a plumber is, I bite my nails!

ScottSecor

5

Re: New York gas piping

according to the internet:

Pipe dope is any thread lubricant, thread sealing compound, or anaerobic chemical sealant that is used to make a pipe thread joint leakproof and pressure tight.[1] It is also referred to as "thread compound" or "pipe thread sealant."[2] Although common pipe threads are tapered and therefore will achieve an interference fit during proper assembly, machining and finishing variances usually result in a fit that does not result in 100 percent contact between the mating components. The application of pipe dope prior to assembly will fill the minute voids between the threads, thus making the joint pressure tight. Pipe dope also acts as a lubricant and helps prevent seizing of the mating parts, which can later cause difficulty during disassembly.

And everyone knows that the internet is always right!
References:
"Plant Engineering | Guidelines For Choosing A Pipe Thread Sealant". Plant Engineering. 1998-03-01. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
"How to Use Pipe Thread Sealant: An Essential Guide". QRFS - Thoughts on Fire Blog. 15 September 2020. Retrieved 2021-05-20.

But this is an important topic that remains at the top of my list of stuff that really matters, I will never stop thinking of how important the definition of Pipe Dope is to the pipe fitters of the world. Without this lively discussion about the fact that it is a lubricant or a sealant, there would be no reason to wage war against other countries. Religions could all agree on the afterlife, and the question about the Left Twixt or Right Twixt can never be resolved.

EdTheHeaterMan

2

Re: Your nightmare...

Just in case anyone is still smiling (but maybe a pang of guilt about it ) from the original post, now picture that it was probably someones job to go thru that spit/blood/tooth and fillings bits ... in order to get some nice metals. Its all tidy and mechanised now, of course.. but back then...

Dave Carpentier

1

Re: Your nightmare...

Yech You won the worst job condition ever

RayWohlfarth

1

Re: Your nightmare...

I'm out.

ChrisJ

4

Your nightmare...

I am a firm believer of using life stories as a learning tool. I know the jobs I made a mistake on, I never make that mistake again. I also believe life is a series of experiences, all of which have a lesson to be learned attached to them.
I would love to hear about the life experiences you all have had, and what the lesson may be. One of the hardest lessons I learned is also really gross.
This incident happened in my younger days when I thought I was a real hot shot plumber / heat guy. My boss gives me some blue prints for an expansion of a dentist office. All the work was to be done in this 3' wood framed crawl space that had suspended ceilings below that. It was a hard job to pipe as you needed all these services shoved into a tiny box. ( Air, water, vacuum etc ) so the dentist hand piece would work.
We were kicking ****. We had a majority of the work done in a few days. Considering you literally had to crawl over joist and it seemed like the dental chairs were a mile away.
The last service we had to connect to was vacuum. We had to cut into 2" PVC for tees to be installed in the vacuum line. It was anchored to the joist above. So.. my helper starts to cut the 2" PVC. All the sudden, 1/2 way thru the pipe snaps off and all this spit, water, blood and hunks of teeth falls directly on my helpers face and neck. I didn't notice the big sag in the line. Jim, my guy starts throwing up, then I didn't know sympathy barfing is a thing... It is. The smell ... omg it was horrible. There were 2 guys throwing up in a crawl space which has that suspended ceiling. What really sucked is the long ways to crawl to
get out. Words can't describe this experience.
This story really isn't over. We had to contact the office people, new ceiling tile. Without a doubt, this is the worst one I had. The lessons... yeah plural
Steve Noviello