My third boiler install ever. (Glenn H.)

Eric_25

Excellent looking install!! Looking @ your piping layout it appears that you are pumping away and your purge valves are just above your pumps, I cannot see the return piping to tell what that looks like, Just wondering if I see this correctly and if so did it purge out OK. WE always pump away but install our purge valves on the return to purge in the direction of flow. Also any thoughts from anyone on the indoor reset on a multizone system, I have been reluctant to install the sensor on the GB142's we have installed on multizones for fear or inadequate water temp. on other zones as the load changes throughout the day.

Glenn Harrison_2

Here's some pictures of my latest project...

with my new boss, Wayne. Please keep in mind that this is not only the third boiler I have put in for Jett's Heating and Air, it is the third boiler I have put in EVER, since I have mainly been a service tech my entire career.

The project starts out in a very old farm house, as you can see in the pics by the stone foundation. The hous originally had a floor furnace for heat with grill in the ceiling between the first and second floors. Over the years the house has been added on to twice, been converted from the floor furnace to a gravity octopus furnace, and then converted to hydronic heat with four zones. The boiler is a US Radiator brand, Model no longer readable. Wayne originally thought it was a cast iron sectional boiler when he sold the job, but, to our suprise, it turned out to be a steel tubular boiler.

Pics 1, 2, & 4 are of the original boiler.

Glenn Harrison_2

Here are pics of the water heater and the lovely Boiler flue.

Somebody not too long ago Installed a new draft hood,at which point they reduced the boiler breech from 9" to 7", and then back to 9" after the hood. Too bad they didn't notice the flue pipe was rotted and barely holding on at the chimney thimble, or the hole in the bottom of the flue pipe near the chimney, where the patch is in pic 005

Glenn Harrison_2

and here is a pic of what's left of...

the zone valve manifold. As you can see, two zone valves had bad powerheads, which had been removed and were being regulated by manually spinning the dials open or closed as needed.

Glenn Harrison_2

Here's a couple of pics of what we found...

when we pulled the cabinet off. To our suprise, a steel tubular boiler. We very carefully hauled that sucker over to the side of the basement, where the owner will get a couple of friends with big torches to cut it into pieces and haul it out.

Glenn Harrison_2

And here are some pics of the gas conversion burner

I love the screwdriver trick used to keep the burner running. :O At least somebody had rewired the boiler so the limit would drop power to the burner. This system really was an accident waiting to happen!

Glenn Harrison_2

Here's the new system

Buderus GB142/30 Wall hung condensing boiler, and ST 200 53 gallon indirect water heater.

We started out by building a 2x4 wall on the old boiler platform. Then hung the boiler, reconnected all the 1" supplies and returns, piped in the water heater, and last removed the old water heater and moved the hot and cold lines over to the new tank. This project wound up taking 3 1/2 days. I would have had it done Friday night, but the B&G 1" flow control had cracked where I had installed the plug on the side, so I went back Saturday morning to change it out.

Unknown

The ol' mailbox

or the ol' doghouse , as some of us like to call these beasts . I'm glad you don't have to haul this out , they suck .

Unknown

You're kidding ?

This can't be the third boiler you put in . It looks so thought out and precise you gotta be joking with us . Really , really nice . What is the plywood supported by ? I like how you staggered the circs to get them closer together and easier to work on . Do you mind if I steal that stagger effect for my next multizone job ?

Really beautiful work Glenn . Your new company should feel lucky to have you .

Glenn Harrison_2

Here are some side view pics

showing how and why I took advantage of the wall we built to hide many of the pipes.

All of the original piping was hung at different ceiling heights, so I ran everything behind the wall at their existing heights, and then elbowed them to the same height and came thru the wall. I would have liked to have done more, but it wasn't in the budget for the project. I'm still quite happy with the way things came out, considering what I had to work with.

I would like to thank all you guys that have posted your installs here on the wall. I took a lot of your idea's and implimented them on this install to make it as neat and clean as possible.

Please feel free to post any suggestions, as I would like to improve my install skills, just like I have always tried to improve my service skills.

lchmb

But you know

You can alway's tell when a service tech put's in a boiler...shutoff's everywhere! Incredible job Glenn, if this is only your 3rd system install, your new boss must be jumping for joy!! One thing I dont see though, on your gas line, a sediment trap and shutoff? Might be I'm missing them though...

Glenn Harrison_2

Ron, I will put my hand on the bible

I swear, this is my third boiler install ever. I started out 14 years ago pounding sheet metal for about 6 months, then got moved into service and have been doing service work ever since, except for the last three weeks where Wayne has had me doing a mix of things, which is fine by me.

You do have to keep in mind I have this affliction called anal retentiveness, and it reared it's ugly (or beautifull depending on how you look at it) head on this job. I'm sure glad it did tho. Not to brag to much, but I'm really proud of my self.

Thanks for the kind words Ron. From you I take them as the highest compliment.

By the way, the plywood is mounted on a standard 2x4 framed wall, that we made ourselves on site, which is secured to the concrete platform on the floor and to the floor joists and beam above. And yes, please feel free to use my pump idea. I'm pretty sure I borrowed it from somebody else here on the wall anyways.

Glenn Harrison_2

Funny thing,

that's what Wayne said to. He commented that I really must be thinking of the future. I asked him if he ever had to change a pump or PRV at 2:00 AM on a system with no valves, where you had to spend an extra 1 or 2 hours to drain and refill the system. He said no, thought about it for a second, then told me to put as many valves in as I need to make our lives easier.

And yes, he came down Thursday night to check things out, and his jaw dropped at what I had created, and it wasn't even done yet.

Thanks for the kind words.

Glenn Harrison_2

I'm glad too.

The staircase had Ron Jr. written all over it. 26" wide, very old, and fairly steep. We had a heck of a time just getting the new indirect down the stairs. There was no way that was coming out in one piece, even with a power stair lift.

Liberal Lenny_5

I have been to the Mountain Top

Great Work, you have a gift that only the Hyronics Gods can give, some may think you are crazy, but then some will bow to you. Great Job, Thumbs Up !!

Floyd_16

Darn it all....

If you would have only taken up my offer to move to Pa.!!!
I knew you could do boilers!!!!
Fine work my man..... Glad to hear that your back in the saddle and having fun to boot!!!! Keep it up... sounds like you'll get many oppurtunities to expand your horizons... go for it!!!

Floyd

Jeff Lawrence_24

What a job!

I may just 'steal' some of the things on the job, especially the staggered circulators.

I'm sure Wayne got a steal when he hired you. I think you both got a great deal.

Way to go, Glenn.

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S Ebels

Really nice Glenn

The system looks well thought out. I can tell you spent time in the service realm because you laid everything out accessibly. Good Job!!

Alan R. Mercurio_3

Glenn, Two things to say come to my mind the first is WOW! The second is I am so proud to have the privilege to call you a friend of mine. Actually maybe the second should have been the first but you know what I mean. Bless you buddy

Your friend in the industry,
Alan R. Mercurio

www.oiltechtalk.com

Weezbo

*~/:) you wouldnt be lookin for another job would you ?

primo

Constantin

Beautiful Install, Glenn!

I hope that the homeowner is as delighted by this install as the rest of us are here on the Wall. It's always heartening to see a scary system in the "beauty" section being transformed into a "beauty". Maybe we should open a "Beauty and the Beast" Gallery? :-P

But seriously, that's a fantastic install and I know what you mean when it comes to applying all those 2AM service call lessons to later installs. I went through the same thing when I started designing factories for my clients...

Anyway, I really like your wall idea and the way that you mounted everything so logically. The shutoffs make life all the easier for the service technician and I can only hope for the appliance and the HO's that future maintenance will be on par with your install.

clammy

only the thrid

Wow for only your thrid that's amazing but all the isolation valves always shows that some one with service experence and the HO pocket in mind installed .Great lookin and layed out job hats off to yoou sir .Your new boss must be quite happy with you must feel like he got the deal of the century .On another not is that a custom made draft box that i see in the one photo haven't seen or installed one in years a dutch specical i remenber in my younger years .Again great looking job a true work of art peace and good luck clammy

Steamhead (in transit)

A clear case of \"cross-pollination\"

in which everyone wins.

Glenn, that's beautiful. And it shows how good ideas spread via the Wall.

Robert O'Connor_12

Glenn

I could use that screw driver back thank you!
Seriously great job!

Robert O'Connor/NJ

David Sutton_6

Glenn .......!!

i think you been holdin out on us!!! you must be a reincarnated dead men..thats a very good looking system!! keep up the good work you make us all look good!!..David

Al Corelli

Very nice work.

Mark Hunt

Very nice Glenn


Good to see you posting pics!

All my best.

Mark H

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Dr Pepper

Congrats on both...

the install and the move. Same thing here, no more Invensys/Erie, I'm with an A&E in Rockford for almost a year and busy!

Wayco Wayne_2

Beautiful Glenn

Everyone's already said it. Feels good, don't it.

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Glenn Harrison_2

Thanks Mark

I'm glad I'm doing, and am allowed to do, things worthy of taking pics and posting them amongst the greatest hydronic installers around. It's nice to have something other than a dead Racoon in a flue pipe to show off!

Glenn Harrison_2

Thank you Steve,

I'm being a little selfish with the design as I have a 50% chance of being the service tech on this unit, the other 50% chance going to the boss.

Glenn Harrison_2

Robert

Any time your in Chi town come see me to get it back ;-)

Thank you.

Glenn Harrison_2

Thanks Connie

The homeowner is beyond delighted, more like completly awe stricken with the change and quality of the job.

I am very glad they decided to spend the money and get the beast outof service. I'm really afraid one more winter would have had this family in the hospital, or worse.

I do hope they get this maintained regularly also. I did stongly advise them that neglegting this new system could be a very expensive proposition.

Glenn Harrison_2

Thank you Frank,

from the master of steam pipe repair, those are great wordsto hear.

Glenn Harrison_2

You know David,

I'm begining to think based on everybodys positive comments hear, that I have been holding myself back. I have accomplished more in the last few weeks than I think I did all summer. And the best part is while I may be tired when I go home, I still have a smile on my face, and I wake up with a smile to looking forward to the days adventures. I can't remember the last time I smiled so much.

Thank you for your wonderfull words of encouragement.

Glenn Harrison_2

Thanks Lenny

Your kind words are appreciated. Looks like I must be sane based on comments here on the wall.

Glenn Harrison_2

You know Floyd

I actually was about ready to start moving elsewhere, take somebody like yourself up on there offers. But then purely by chance this job came up and I'm having a blast now. The best part is Wayne and I are good for each other, as he wants to keep growing, and with jobs like this to show off, we should always have weeks in advance of work to do.

Thanks for you wonderfull words, and you offer.

Glenn Harrison_2

Jeff, you may borrow

anything you see, I would take it as the highest compliment.

Thank you

Glenn Harrison_2

Alan my friend

I will take either of those statements anytime and in no particular order! Beleive me the pleasure of calling you friend is mine, you have done so much for my knowledge and growth in this industry.

To bad it wasn't an oil burner tho

Thank you for all you have done, and continue to do Alan.

Glenn Harrison_2

Sorry Weez

I think I've found my calling and new home. Thanks for asking tho. And thanks for the compliments.

Glenn Harrison_2

Thanks Art,

I noticed you e-mail had changed, so I figured you had moved on. I'm sorry to loose my Erie contact, but I'm glad to hear your happy and busy also. Just out of curiosity, what are you job duties now.

And yes, I will still be servicing the greater Northwest Chicago area, primarily McHenry, Lake, and Kane counties.