oddly piped indirect off of a steamer

GW

a good customer is buying a home and wanted me to case out the ac. This caught my eye; seems like a newb got their hands on this. I hate being the alarm guy when everything seems to be doing its job. Would you call this semi-lame or extra lame? Water dumping into the top of the boiler.

SWEI

...along with a CI wet rotor circ that probably won't last very long.

Steamhead

Boiler's looking pretty rough- maybe time for a new one with proper indirect tappings.

ChrisJ

Why is the base of the chimney all wet looking.
Also looks like water stain on the floor around the tank. Could this be from an unlined chimney?

GW

It's an interior chimney so I'm guessing it's unlined. I really wasn't asked to get into the heating system issues, the lady wanted a quote for new ac. I felt it would be pushing the envelope to start getting a list going for something she wasn't asking for.

I've seen lots of indirect piping on steam boilers but I've never seen water getting dropped into the top like this. Always something new under the sun

kcopp

Always a tough call....
I do believe there is a sticker on the SS Contender that states...."not to be used on Open heating systems".... That is a Open heating system. Its not going to last.

nicholas bonham-carter

If the prospective owner wants to know about the A/C, then they will also want to know about the condition of the boiler, and DHW.--NBC

DanHolohan

Gary, isn't that the air-separator tapping (if they were using hot water)? That has to be affecting the quality of the steam when both steam and the indirect are running.

Dan Foley

The vent damper is installed wrong.

- DF

ChrisJ

Dan Foley said:

The vent damper is installed wrong.

- DF

Wow, good catch.

GW now you have to notify them, this is a serious safety concern. While you're on the subject, mention the indirect.

JohnNY

Is that a black coupling on the water heater's relief valve? And what's going on with that strap on aquastat on the steam supply?

GW

Dan H yes that's where the relief goes, looks like the steam newb simply plopped a tee there and got an easy spot for the water heater return. That was the initial motivation to post the pics, i thought is was odd to sprinkle return water from the top of the boiler.

Johnny yes, isn't this common on all boilers? I always see black fittings on the relief (couplings, elbow, nips). It looks like the installer is running his dhw boiler call through the strap on. Which is kinda stupid cause once hot that pipe will stay hot for a spell, killing the burners.

Dan F do you mean draft hood? I now see theres a height issue. Good eyes.

NBC yes it's a tough call, I'll point these issues out ever so gently, she already laid out an ac budget and says "I don't have any more money". I'm kinda guessing she could find some if she needed to though.

Kcoop thanks I'll need to stick my head into the manual and see what it says. In any case it will probably stay put until it dies. At that point I could repipe the weirdness.

Thanks all, Gary

nicholas bonham-carter

She may be able to back out of the purchase, if she knows about these problems.--NBC

ChrisJ

The damper interferes with the spill switch and the function of the drafthood if the damper fails to open and yet somehow allows the burner to light.

The burner's going to spew CO into the room.

One of the functions of a drafthood is to allow normal operation of the burner in a blocked flue situation. The spill switch would also end up tripping, shutting the burner down.

All of that is out the window right now if that damper fails to open and it's switch fails to do it's job.

Dan Foley

Dan F do you mean draft hood? I now see theres a height issue. Good eyes.


Gary, the vent damper should be installed above the draft hood, not directly on the boiler.

Gordy

GW you need to bring this stuff up to the potential owner. If you don't, and she makes the purchase. When problems occur, and they will. You will be the one who was there, and never said a word.

That damper is a bad situation.

Send the buyer here we will back you up.

Gordy

ChrisJ said:

The damper interferes with the spill switch and the function of the drafthood if the damper fails to open and yet somehow allows the burner to light.

The burner's going to spew CO into the room.

One of the functions of a drafthood is to allow normal operation of the burner in a blocked flue situation. The spill switch would also end up tripping, shutting the burner down.

All of that is out the window right now if that damper fails to open and it's switch fails to do it's job.

Exactly!

Gordy

GW said:

It's an interior chimney so I'm guessing it's unlined. I really wasn't asked to get into the heating system issues, the lady wanted a quote for new ac. I felt it would be pushing the envelope to start getting a list going for something she wasn't asking for.



I've seen lots of indirect piping on steam boilers but I've never seen water getting dropped into the top like this. Always something new under the sun

It is a tough call if baby needs new shoes Gary. All though it's a tougher call to read about an incident in the paper, or see it in the news. You can't go back on that stuff. It's a safety issue. No replay once played.

Charlie from wmass

The vent damper needsto be disclosed, it is warm enough to red tag it without indangering the house temperature wise.

Charlie from wmass

Taking the high ground and disclosing the issues can 1 get you work, 2 loose you a customer, or 3 tick off the realtor and their client. But not disclosing it pre-purchase could hurt you in the eye of your client.later when this chicken comes home to roost.

GW

Ok I'll bring it up. The boiler looks dumpy so I really don't want to touch it unless I can overhaul the whole thing. I see your point on the damper.

She had a home inspector there as well, I'm positive it was on his radar becuse the realtor lady asked me if I could "make a cover for the burners". To that I said no.

Thanks, Gary

Abracadabra

Wonder if the aquastat on the steam supply is there to kill the burner in the summer when all you want is hot water and not heat.

GW

Yes that's my guess but what a weird place to put it. I need to find the right time and place to being all this stuff up, I hate sounding like a person trying to drum stuff up. Nobody likes "that guy".

JUGHNE

If this is a good customer and you have a good relationship, I believe she would appreciate you bring up these issues. It may help her in negotiations on the price if the deal isn't already done.

My son was looking at houses to buy, he told his mother he didn't want me to look at them because, "the old man would pick everything apart and point out all that was wrong that he could see".......so on the last house he had me come along. He ended up buying the house he lives in and was renting from us.

Not everyone wants to hear bad news.

Another relative buying a house wanted me to go along for the very reason of nit-picking on everything.

GW

Yes I can appreciate that, it's just the unsolicited comments that can be on the fence. We are doing the ac next week, a fair amount of work, she popped for the higher end equipment too. I'll figure out a way to bring up the topic

Tinman

A first for me - seeing a vent damper installed beneath the hood. Wow. Every company should have checks and balances to make sure things like that never happen.

SDSteam

Is that a flue gas exhaust stain coming out of where the return piping enters the boiler? Almost looks like a ghost of a flame....

GW

More sweetness on the clunker. We finished up the ac today. The ho is on Martha's Vineyard for another month or so, I'm sure I'll get a chance at some point to share the bad news. She just spent a bunch so I have to pace myself.

Paul S_3

dry returns connected above the water line, bullheaded tee

GW

Yes indeed

Paul S_3

I would definitely inform her...

GW

One job done, one to go