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Can you point me toward a good Steam/Hydronic Boiler Troubleshooting Flow Chart?
JohnNY
Member Posts: 3,287
I'm updating some service personnel binders and would love to include a flowchart for the newer techs to follow. Do you know of anything worth copying and including?
Many thanks in advance,
John
Many thanks in advance,
John
Contact John "JohnNY" Cataneo, NYC Master Plumber, Lic 1784
Consulting & Troubleshooting
Heating in NYC or NJ.
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Consulting & Troubleshooting
Heating in NYC or NJ.
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I've never seen one, John, and I wonder if one would even be possible, with all the possible variations out there...Br. Jamie, osb
Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England0 -
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I've started making one and run into exactly that problem. It would probably have to be product specific.Jamie Hall said:I've never seen one, John, and I wonder if one would even be possible, with all the possible variations out there...
Contact John "JohnNY" Cataneo, NYC Master Plumber, Lic 1784
Consulting & Troubleshooting
Heating in NYC or NJ.
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You would need a zillion iterations. I'd keep it simple and break it down into the systems: fuel delivery, power, controls, t'stat, sensors, heat exchange/ TD, circulation of heat transfer media (water, steam, glycol), exhaust venting,, safeties and limits, combustion analysis, etc.
That way regardless of each installation, you can use a process of elimination if you understand the sequence of operation and what each system is doing.
For instance, heat transfer includes sufficient media (water, steam, glycol), GPM, delta T, how clean the HX is, supply and return temps, etc. You can have great pipe sizing, flow, radiation, etc. but if the boiler is all clogged up with soot and scale it isn't going to transfer heat from the flames as efficiently as a clean boiler. If the chimney is partially blocked, undersized, weak draft, restrictive, etc. then it may not transfer heat properly or too much and it vents out the base.
I doubt you could write an efficient, effective flow chart that would take into consideration a vent damper's wiring and sequence on the same page as the role of a CAD cell or stack limit on an oil primary. Now, add to that aftermarket components such as power venters, air kits, etc. then add in CAZ depressurization, chimney inspection, improper piping, improper radiation, improper flow in piping, etc. and where does it end? Just so much to consider.0 -
John, I agree that there may be too many variables for a flow chart.
If you're updating service personnel binders, I recommend checking out Al Levi's book, The 7-Power Contractor. He gives fantastic advice on how to streamline your processes and set your team up for success. He's got some great info on his website too.
And there's always A Pocketful of Steam Problems (with Solutions!) for troubleshooting steam-heating problems.President
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Hey Erin,
Do you still have the golden rules book???
We use that along with the pocket full and it helps our guys.
Of course for steam just give them a copy of the lost art.0 -
Not sure if I have a flow chart but I am sure I have step by step procedures for both steam and forced hot water systems. I will check my instruction manuals at the training center to see what I have.0
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John Here is one I included in my book on boiler service. Hope this helps.
RayRay Wohlfarth
Boiler Lessons1 -
@kevinj - Yes, the Golden Rules book can be found here: http://astore.amazon.com/heatinghelp-20/detail/0996477225
Happy to hear it!President
HeatingHelp.com0 -
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Wow. Great help here. Thanks, @RayWohlfarth @Tim McElwain and @Erin Holohan Haskell
I'm determined to make this chart and help streamline the process. Ray, what you sent here is exactly what I've had in mind.Contact John "JohnNY" Cataneo, NYC Master Plumber, Lic 1784
Consulting & Troubleshooting
Heating in NYC or NJ.
Classes1 -
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I think what would be great is to write an app that was editable on the fly with questions and possible solutions available in a descending likelihood format. In other words a searchable data base for the steam/hydronic industry. If we started with a template that could be added as we go would be of incredible use. Amazing what a motivated group could build. 1000s of years of experience in one place. Heatapedia2
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Here's what I've got so far. It isn't much. I'm going to incorporate @RayWohlfarth's chart in here somehow now:
Contact John "JohnNY" Cataneo, NYC Master Plumber, Lic 1784
Consulting & Troubleshooting
Heating in NYC or NJ.
Classes0
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