New Weil Mclain Boiler Installation

icesailor

davidr said:

You guys rule. So much information. I figured they made reducing fittings but I figured I'd ask anyway. I am looking forward to getting Dan's books to really further my knowledge in this area, although you folks are pretty darn good yourselves.

The boiler isn't sitting completely level as it runs downhill toward the right front corner, not severe but clearly noticeable. I am unsure if I will have the man power to move this around, so is this a major problem going forward?

What is the advantage of the Weil kit over buying the pieces separately?

Thanks again guys.

It is said that with a big enough lever, you can move the world.

And with some big wide and fat washers, you can make it stay there

Steamhead

Robert O'Connor said:

If you're going to attempt to re-pipe this yourself, I'd suggest buying the Weil-McLain nipple kit from your supply house. It's a bit more money than doing it without it, but, I believe it will make at least the near boiler piping easier & the way the manufacturers spec's it.
Good Luck!

Didn't know W-M sold a kit for these, the way Burnham does for the MegaSteam........ is this something new?

j a_2

I am sure like u steamhead I would prefer to pipe it my way without a kit. Kits ate for kids. Lol

j a_2

Steamhead. I don't normally do this but a customerneeds a new boiler asap...oil now but wants to change to gas in spring. In this case I will convert can u suggest the best combo. 390 sg ft. Thanks

JStar

j a said:

Steamhead. I don't normally do this but a customerneeds a new boiler asap...oil now but wants to change to gas in spring. In this case I will convert can u suggest the best combo. 390 sg ft. Thanks

Peerless ECT-03 with a Carlin Ez-Gas / Ez-1 Oil.

j a_2

Here

Robert O'Connor_12

Didn't know W-M sold a kit for these, the way Burnham does for the MegaSteam........ is this something new?



Yes, I used one recently. Not sure of WM part number but looking at my supply house's part number (EG 50 PFEG-PEG KIT LG)
cost about $200 for the EG 50 kit. I used it on "one of those jobs" where I just needed to get out of there quickly. If you price it out, you can do it much cheaper from scratch, but hey, just couldn't beat the convenience & a small amount of time saved.
I think for someone like our OP, this would be ideal.

Snowmelt

My supply house puts them together, but of course there a w/m dealer.

j a_2

<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/5021738/uploads/FileUpload/17/6981ad2bf405448196eb0a55ef4c9f.jpg" />

j a_2

j a said:

Shame on him,the installer…But a little blame goes to the owner for not doing his/her homework….Its said most people come here after the fact….Besides the boiler not being correct, I would have serious concerns about make up air and venting, both of those can cause a lot more problems than bad heat and banging pipes….Its sad people cheap out and end up paying for it in safety and comfort…A whole other subject is the wiring……You can not afford to do this type of job the way you did….Your family expects you to keep them safe…I am sure you will do the right thing, after all the good advice you got from the above posters…..

just saying as I see it…like or dislike

davidr

Contractor is coming out this week, he is playing dumb. I will update you guys when I have something. I figure it'll be The Wall: Boiler Makeover Edition when I have something to report.

Thanks again for all the , dare I say, Heating Help.

michaelb0315

Here in Northern NJ I see heating systems installed incorrectly all the time. They call us in to "tune-up" the system because of surging and noise issues. Unfortunately for them, it's not that easy. Hopefully the contractor makes good on behalf of his improper installation. Best of luck!

KC_Jones

davidr said:

he is playing dumb.

I hope for your sake he is playing... Best of luck and if we can be any more help just say the word!

Fred

Best of luck. Have all the issues sited here on your list and have the installation manual in hand should he try to deter you from making the needed corrections. Keep us posted on how you make out!

Snowmelt

I'd just ask for my money back

Chapstick

Don't be scared dude. I just redid my entire piping system myself. All I had was the book you just ordered, the install manual, and the guys on here to consult with. Read the book !!! The principals will make perfect sense once you do and you'll see what's wrong with your system and you'll know why it's wrong. Granted, I have 15 years in the power generation industry so I'm very familiar with heavy tooling. If you're an office guy or a carpenter it might be a good idea to at very least get a guy that knows tools to help you out. You're gonna need tools. We had about 8k in tools here for ours.

davidr

If I have to end up doing this myself, I don't see why I would need 8k in tools. Could you please elaborate?

Thanks.

vaporvac

I had to get two very big wrenches as I did a 4" header. I actually rented them, but later got a chance to buy them cheap, so I did. I rented the threader. I used a borrowed engine hoist to lift & move the boilers onto the concrete platform as well as a saw to cut through the main that needed reconfiguring. I have a large vise on my workbench that was handy for the header. The main cost was renting the threader and that wasn't much. JMExperience.

KC_Jones

davidr said:

If I have to end up doing this myself, I don't see why I would need 8k in tools. Could you please elaborate?



Thanks.

I agree with you on this. That being said we all approach projects differently and have different criteria. When I did mine I didn't go beyond 3" pipe. I had to buy 2 pipe wrenches (36") to handle that size, but beyond that I didn't have any other "specialty" tools. I didn't use a pipe threader as I did everything with standard nipple lengths. The only other possible specialty tool was my bench vise, but that is something I already had and I suspect many others do also. I also did all the work alone...which at times was frustrating, but I managed to make it work. I spent several months planning the piping which as a homeowner I have the luxury of doing....that's how I was able to not thread any pipe.

Fred

If you do it for a living, you invest in the best tools you can afford and for a variety of situations/circumstances. If you're doing it one time, you rent what you need, when you need it and it's fairly inexpensive.

icesailor

One time, I went into a big tool rental place on Cape Cod to buy a new Bosh carbide rotary drill bit. While at the counter, someone called to order the rental of a circular saw. To be delivered at a location 3 towns to the NE. For 3 days. I thought it was the funniest thing I had ever heard. Until the counterguy told me that they get rentals for Hole Hawgs, Sawzalls and drill bits. All the time. Some Woodies rent compressors and nail guns for individual jobs.

That's the competition.

JUGHNE

Ice, I was on a state job; water remediation system for UG tank leaks at old gas station. The GC rented everything from a backhoe, transit etc to a soldering torch. In conversation he said that all tool rental was reimbursed to him. He couldn't charge the state for his own tool use. So he had no capital outlay for anything.

I could have rented a pipe threader and been paid for rental. but had my own and couldn't add anything to my bill.

I have seen carpenters rent air guns & compressor and add it to the bill to unknowing customers who didn't realize more reputable guys furnish their own.

Maybe that is the reason for renting tools that we assume the tradesman should have in their truck.

j a_2

null If ever said shame on the owner I must admit it came of wrong....I blieve I said a little blame goes to the owner.....null

EBEBRATT-Ed

rental tools, I'm not an accountant but they could probably be deducted as a business expence!!!!!

j a_2

There is always two sides to every story..
From the pics and posting it does not look good for the installer. The home owner needs to hold him accountable... If he did as stated call him out on it...Some but not all people don't want a permit filed because there are code violations preexisting on there property and are afraid...For many reasons..Such as added bathrooms and not taxed for it.,.Can get ugly.

icesailor

JUGHNE said:

Ice, I was on a state job; water remediation system for UG tank leaks at old gas station. The GC rented everything from a backhoe, transit etc to a soldering torch. In conversation he said that all tool rental was reimbursed to him. He couldn't charge the state for his own tool use. So he had no capital outlay for anything.

I could have rented a pipe threader and been paid for rental. but had my own and couldn't add anything to my bill.

I have seen carpenters rent air guns & compressor and add it to the bill to unknowing customers who didn't realize more reputable guys furnish their own.

Maybe that is the reason for renting tools that we assume the tradesman should have in their truck.

If you buy a truck or tool, you have to depreciate it. If you rent or lease it, it is a direct cost and you can write off the total cost.

Both those costs are "Overhead". Which isn't the ceiling. If you rent a tool like a Power drive from ABC Rental, they have rental factors, how many times they have to rent it to pay it off with their profit. The more times past the rental/profit they can still rent it, the more money they make.

If you are using your labor profit to pay your n
business overhead, you belong working for someone, not yourself.

If I needed a new roof, and someone gave me a price of $10,000 to replace the roof, the whole job, start to finish, fine. If someone gave me a price to replace my roof for $10,000 and charged me extra for the rental of the staging, compressors and air guns, or gave me an itemized bill with that rental included, I'd tell him to stick it. Buy your own staging, air compressors and guns.

That's like taking a steak to the Outback Steakhouse and asking them to cook it in their Barbie.

IMO.