Opinions of dianoges

clammy

Recently looked at a steam system ,2 pipe what was a webster but the return trap was removed and a menorah of gortons where installed and most of the cross over traps where replaed except for a hidden one that was by pass and was hidden .The HO is unhappy with the systems performace of 2 large rads which are located in a sun porch .Of course these rads are on the longer of the mains  and do heat up after a good long cyle but HO is not happy.Aside from the 1 bad crossover trap none of the mains nor the dry returns or near boiler piping is insulated.The boiler is piped in dwv copper fittings  and no where near proper and the main take offs are 2.5 but only tied in from the boiler with 2 copper.Alot of knuckle heading has gone on including 2 recessed rads repiped in 1/2 copper with no traps and plently of raditor valves have been changed from orifice type to standard rad valves .Ho stated last year some 1 hour service co came and had  add to a stop leak to the system because the boiler was leaking steam .The HO seems to think that they will sell the home with this boiler still there in 5 years or so .She has also stated that 2 pros have come and done work on her system but she  was not happy with there results after they left because the rads did not heat to her likens .Aside from the mis piping ,bad crossover trap ,no insulation my one issue is that there is no loop seal on where the 2 dry returns are there tie togetherand drop as a single pipe instead of dropping below the watre line and then tieing together am i just being anal or am i right in my thoughts .Do any think that the HO may be asking to much from her system for what she wants to pay stating each contractor charges to much and each ripped her off she has stated she has been through at least 50 plumbers .I susrly know what the system needs except i do not want to get stuck with a no pay or a HO that excepts mircales from a few hours work on a system that has been knuckle headed for years .Also the original boiler watre line was about 43 inches the 25 year old peerless is about 24 alot of the old wet return is a bit above the boilers water line very funny stuff .What the feeling about balancing it out of heating the sun room .Peace and good luck clammy PS i was referred by a local supply house who she tryed to get there boiler steam guru guy there .

nicholas bonham-carter

homeowner expects miracles

this homeowner needs to order the steamy deal from the shop here. it will hopefully correct her unrealistic expectations. you can high-light the sections which pertain to her system, and its troubles.

when she knows a bit more, and recognizes that a 25 year old boiler, running on stop-leak will not last 5 years until she sells the house, then she will be ready for a proper replacement and re-pipe

this could be a classic case of someone who, in grasping at straws, ignores the one person who can throw a real life preserver to her.

what part of the boiler was leaking?--nbc

another thought on dealing with a situation [and a person like this]:

act as a consultant drawing up a list of all the changes which should be made, either to prolong the life of the present boiler, or to replace and re-pipe with a new one. make sure she understands that you are to be paid $X as your time is valuable, and productive. at the end of it she will have a job list which she can let out for bids to get the best price. think of the "story of stone soup"

would orifice disks help with the missing orifice valves?

sample list for prolonging present boiler which means it is difficult to touch the boiler without making it worse:

1.get pressure down.

2.make sure venting is adequate.

3.rectify any traps etc.

Jamie Hall

Good heavens, Clammy --

sounds like you really got a winner on this one.



As you well know (who am I to tell you how to handle the actual mechanics of this sort of thing?!) deknuckleheading this can be done -- but it is going to take a lot of work to get it to be reasonably right and, as is so often the case, I suspect that part fixes just won't do it -- sounds to me like one of those jobs where either one fixes it completely, or one just doesn't bother.



That said, maybe nbc has the right idea, with offering to go through the system -- for an appropriate fee (on this sort of work -- not just bashing away at the keyboard here, but actually going out and really checking things out, free advice is often worth exactly what you paid for it) -- and making a list of what needs to be done, with estimated costs and reasons.  And going over it for her.



It may be that she simply doesn't understand what she is asking.  On the other hand, if she's already been through a bunch of guys and complains about being ripped off, she may be someone one doesn't need as a client...

Gordo

I Think Jamie is Right

Whenever a customer starts complaining to you, a contractor, about the several other contractors in a row that have ripped them off, etc...well...if you touch their system, you're going to be the next one on  that customer's fecal roster.  They have ceased looking for a solution to their physical problems and are looking for hides to nail to their wall.



I have no doubts that you would be able to solve that customer's steam problems, if you were given a fair chance.  But you are unlikely to get that fair chance in this situation.



It's frustrating, isn't it?  Knowing that you can do the work, and seeing the problems that others have missed...your hands are just itching to grab that wrench and have at it , aren't they?



But.



But if your intuition is telling you to run, Run, and put  that person behind you.  I don't know about you, but when I ignore my intuition, and go ahead in spite of the clear warning signs,  oh boy do I lose.



Hope that later on, they soon move out of that house and the new owners somehow get your name and call you.  

clammy

A few more tib bits

This HO contact our host many many  years ago and was finally given some ones number ,who had came out and did some repairs that really needed to be done and she was not happy with it a few hours later.What i think i may do is just give her a number to a insulation company and have them insulate it and then give her a list of repairs to be done and she can get who ever to do it but not me .And gordo thanks for your insight i also am a gut feeling guy plus a buddy did work there and got stiffed the HO stated he was the best plumber that she ever had in her home but he would not return her calls .I asked him about her and he  barely remenber the job but it came back to him ,it seems i forget his rule which is if you stiff me i don'tpick up your calls nor does he return them.but  as i say like a small fish that to small to keep i toss them back to the sea and let them deal with some quick talking and  more knuckleheading  just what they deserve .Thanks  peace and good luck clammy