FLU.... (ME)

[Deleted User]

Now, if you walked in and saw your (yeah, my personal boiler) in that situation, what would cross your mind? A problem with the flue pipe, right?

WRONG condensate breath...

Checked the switch, and it was fine. This fault code has to be hard booted to reset. WHich I did and it did. FLUke, I thought... It happens.

Come home last night to the same condition.

Try jumping out the stack pressure sensing switch to no avail. Start doing a tug trace on the wires, and find that it goes down below the vestibule to the condensate trap, where there are two sets of connections. One going to a float switch, and the other to a proximity switch.

Decide to do the right thing and go to HTP web site and download the most current version of the O&M manual. It points me back to the stack pressure switch, and sez if it won't reset after cleaing to replace the switch... Except that that switch ohmed out as good to go.

Go back down to other two switches in that string to find that the condensate outlet pipe is blocked, and the trap is full, and the float switch is open (DOH).

Pull the drain hose off, condensate POURS out onto the floor. Blow on the drain line and dislodge whatever it was that was blocking the drain. Disassemble trap for inspection and find a stringy slime in the trap receiver (EWWWww). Clear those obstructions, re-assemble, reset and fire up. Systems perking along just fine. Glad this didn't happen while I was in Mehico...

Points taken: HTP, you need to modify the trouble shooting section of your O&M manual to reflect the fact that there are two other conditons that can cause a FLU lockout. The proximity switch insures that the trap is properly installed. The float switch avoids a whole host of other issues associated with inadvertent leaks and water damage. Great ideas, both of them. Now, add them to you O&M manual.

2nd fact. Acidic slime? I'm not a bacterianician by any stretch of the imagination. I had no idea you could maintain bacterial growth in the presence of low (4.5pH) fluids. Should we be putting some copper sulphate crystals in the float chamber to avoid this condition?

Granted, I have intentionally NOT performed the required services on this unit since it was installed, but have performed visual inspections just to document deteriorization.

I am not servicing the unit intentionaly to see how it does in the "real world" settings of 'set it and forget it' maintenance.

Anyone else seeing this acidic slime?

Makes one wonder whats going on further down the waste stream...

In my waste stream, the condensate goes to a 5 gallon bucket with a condensate pump that lifts it the 3 feet up to the washing machine waste pipe. I have intentionally kept copper sulfate crystal in that receiver to dose my sanitary sewer for root control out in the yard main. Since starting this, I have not had to cable out my sewer (typically once a year), and there is NO sign of any bacterial action within the bucket.

Anyone else seen this?

BTW, interestingly enough, I didn't see any coffee grinds in the trap assembly, which I would have expected...

And while I am at it, THANKS HTP, I am extremely impressed with this little gem of a heat generator. Now, if you would just allow us access to the SIT controller like your competiton has you will be back in the drivers seat...

ME

Steve Gates_3

Had one last season in a Vito. Black,slimy and stringy.

ME, neat time you see the other Steve Gates tell him this Steve Gates says hi.

Derheatmeister

Slime

Yes,on all of my Installs i use a Condensate Neutralizer, I used to make them My self but i do not have time for that anymore so i Buy the Viessmann Neutralizer and in most of them i see a red Slime. In one chase it Clogged the Neutralizer and the condensate was Overflowing .Lucky that Gerd (My customer) was home to catch it. I just Rinsed out the Pellets and was back in Business. I guess that it was my Fault because when i did a yearly checkup i did not check that ! and yes , I am not a Bio Chemist, but this Slime,I Think,Likes Low PH,and in Some Cases there is no Lumen's. When i was working in the Photo Processing Industry We also had this Slime,In dark rooms. In a Last Tank (Water Tank).

Derheatmeister

FLU Vs.CO

Maybe it's better that you Boiler Read's Flu the customers may Think you Boiler has the flu ! Get This, One of my 3 Buderus Installs,The Customer calls me in a panic Because the Display Said :CO!. Which is not even in there error codes. After calling Buderus i found out that it's the Pressure Switch(WET side).

Dave Yates (GrandPAH)_2

just checked

my 5-gallon bucket of marble chips (discharge condensate tube on top in thin air from Munch - drain discharge tube extends down to within an inch of the bottom so condensate must filter down through the chips. An ugly concotion over the surface!

jp_2

Laptop connection????

i thought you can plug-in to the HTP?

[Deleted User]

I am plugged in...

but they limit the access to the operating parameters of control. Like for instance, I can progam a ramping program that I write (time vs temperature) withthe knoght. Can't with a munchie. Lots of other details as well, all which are extremely useful as it pertains to increasing operating efficiencies.

And I understand there is even more stuff coming out, like a non modulating interface into their 2 wire bus systems.

They both use the same SIT Italian controller...

ME

[Deleted User]

Roger....

Roger,,, er I mean Steve...NO, the OTHER Steve.:-)

Hope to see you at WS08

ME

jp_2

i see now

they put those two limit switches in series; I was never allowed to do that. if they would have kept them separate, you would have seen right away your problem!

other than the gas & temp controls, the boiler operation is so simple, its a shame they(all mod/con's) don't come with a diagnostic routine?????

that really bothers me about the prestige solo, apparently the control is not accessible.

GW

Slime

I had a customer call a couple of weeks ago with a Laars 200,000 BTU hot water heater. The fastest diagnostic on record... I powered up the unit, heard the gurgling, shut the power, pulled the condensate tubing at the bottom of the heater (water spewed all over), flipped the switch and away she went. I blew a big ole booger out of the vinyl tubing heading towards the home-made neutralizer. yuk.

gary

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

Steve Gates_3

He's architect,same name as mine(including middle). Thought for sure it was your outfit doing a warmboard for him upthere. Sorry won't see you due to a run of bad luck last summer. Very large financial hit.

[Deleted User]

Bummer dude...

Sorry to hear about the hit. I do remember the WB job and the guy with your name...

ME

[Deleted User]

Factory response...

is excellent. I now have in my possesion a directive of sorts regarding what I discovered on my own. It was out there, I just hadn't received anything on it,,,

Thanks Chuck. You are a perfect example of what I've come to recognize as the fastest response of an answer I've ever received to a question posted on the net by ME.

And people question the function of The Wall, and how manufacturers DO pay attention to their customers.

I rest my case...

ME

[Deleted User]

Google results...

for "fungal/algal growth in a low pH environment"

http://www.ukncc.co.uk/html/Databases/Growth and Media.htm

I guess it does it all the time. Saw one report that said the slime actual changed the low pH to a higher pH, and vice a versa, if the fluid is acidic it buffers it.

And maybe not...If I plant some copper sulfate there I'd bet it doesn't.

Guess its time to come out with a "trap treatment" to control pH acidic slime, or boogers as Jeff calls them:-)

Eathertons Acrid Acid Booger Buster...

Conveniently packaged in tank rail cars for quick and easy distribution to the location/railhead of your choice.

Call 1-900- NO MORE BOOGERS...

Investment oportunities...:-)

May we have your order?

ME

Glenn Harrison_2

ME if it helps any

I've been cleaning that slimy stuff out of condensate traps and hoses on 90%+ efficiency furnasties for the 17 years I've been servicing HVAC. I frequently have to scrape this stuff out of vinyl drain hoses in the units. I would be wiling to bet that there will be a lot more of it in mod-cons on radiant systems that will produce more condensate.