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Another Gravity Conversion
Ironman
Member Posts: 7,612
We're in the process of marrying another set of UFT's to an old gravity system.
Here's a few pics. More to come later.
Breaking down the old American Standard boiler.
We moved the new boilers around to the right side and re-piped them so there would be no head-knockers getting to the boilers.
Trying to find the right spot for the expansion tank. Might hang this one with threaded rod.
Here's a few pics. More to come later.
Breaking down the old American Standard boiler.
We moved the new boilers around to the right side and re-piped them so there would be no head-knockers getting to the boilers.
Trying to find the right spot for the expansion tank. Might hang this one with threaded rod.
Bob Boan
You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
8
Comments
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What is the heat load on this house?
What model HTP?
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Looking great, as always!
There was an error rendering this rich post.
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That old tee in the middle of the 6th picture down. I never new what they were made of cast or malleable.
I just know when I see those ....that's old stuff
Nice job1 -
They both are well over 100 years old. The left one is a 300# malleable. I'm not sure about the right one.Bob Boan
You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.0 -
@Ironman
have seen those fittings before but never had to cut one out to see what it was made of. I did cut out a 3" cast iron coupling on an old condensate line a couple of years back. That was a first, I have only seen steel and malleable couplings before.
When I see those fittings I tiptoe buy0 -
Some more pics.
Radiators are gonna get soda blasted and painted.
This one fell over on one of the GC's men and broke four toes.
We'd used automotive tire dollies on an even larger one because of the rounded bottom on these and showed them how to do it, but they used this flat dolly with only two men trying to control it.
The boilers are piped up.
Bob Boan
You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
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OUCH!
Broke my big toe once taking a radiator off the truck. Went straight to the ER I didn't take my shoe off I new it was broken.
They all laughed at the ER. "A car radiator" they said.0 -
Beautiful, Bob!
Can’t wait to see the finished radiators.There was an error rendering this rich post.
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Nice neat work. Is it ok to reduce those flues?Contact John "JohnNY" Cataneo, NYC Master Plumber, Lic 1784
Consulting & Troubleshooting
Heating in NYC or NJ.
Classes1 -
Yes, the manual allows 2" on all sizes up to 50'. The boilers are 120k, each.JohnNY said:Nice neat work. Is it ok to reduce those flues?
That corner was the only place we could vent them, and as you can see, there's a lot going on there. There's a bay window that starts right above the right boiler and we still have two more 1" black pipes coming down in the left corner that have to be connected. You can see the holes for them in the upper left corner in this pic. They have to connect back to the large gravity piping to keep everything balanced.
Keeping it 2" gave us a little more flexibility.
Bob Boan
You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.0 -
I see you are using your patented hydraulic separator with the twins.Serving Northern Maine HVAC & Controls. I burn wood, it smells good!1
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When you make the iron separator. Do you install any mesh media installed inside?0
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TRVs on the radiators?0
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Bob Boan
You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.0 -
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Cleaning brushes?1
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Honestly there would not have to be anything.0
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awesome job where was this project? what was the oil burner on the oil boiler?Skilled labor isn’t cheap, cheap labor isn’t skilled.0
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At the moment, there's air in it.Danny Scully said:@ironman you gotta let the cat out already. Just tell us what’s in the damn thing!
Bob Boan
You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.1 -
The bottom of the cross might have "cow magnets" inside.
You unscrew the bell reducer to remove them for cleaning.
Great looking job and use of space!1 -
"wide place in the road" is all you need1
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Wide pipe, low top to bottom velocity give you the required separation.
Adding some "edges" inside will greatly enhance micro air and dirt separation.
A magnet would want to be in a non magnetic well, or else the whole enchilada turns into a mag sep.
Nice clean piping, and a hidden talent Bob "hot rod" Rohr
trainer for Caleffi NA
Living the hydronic dream
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Superb, Bob. Thanks so much for sharing it all with us. I need some Bengay after just looking at those radiators.Retired and loving it.2
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Its crazy how clean that old American Standard boiler is. I'm so used to oil!Serving Northern Maine HVAC & Controls. I burn wood, it smells good!0
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Why not all?Ironman said:> @MikeT_Swampeast_MO said:
> TRVs on the radiators?
Some.0 -
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$$MikeT_Swampeast_MO said:
Why not all?Ironman said:> @MikeT_Swampeast_MO said:
> TRVs on the radiators?
Some.
A well balanced gravity system shouldn't need them on all, but that would be ideal.
Bob Boan
You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.0 -
You seem to be enthusiastic about HTP boilers, but I have read some pretty nasty comments about them on "the web." So, what's your take on that?0
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Remember that a bad installer can make a good boiler underperform, and die an early death. Naturally the installer blames the boiler, like the “Bad Workman” blaming his tools!
Very few people will post a good review, so that leaves only those who have had a bad experience to post the bad review.—NBC3 -
^^ ^^
This.Bob Boan
You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.0 -
Like what NBC said
High efficiency condensing boiler and combi boiler need the following.
Sized correctly. If over sized the boiler can short cycle causing many ignitions causing parts to fail prematurely.
Not piping the high efficiency boiler in correctly.
Micro zoning without a buffer tank causing short cycling on and off of the boiler to many times.
Not proper venting. Bringing in exhaust gas instead of 100% fresh air for combustion. This will kill a high efficiency boiler in few year.
Not addressing water quality. Not installing a magnetic separation unit.
Contractors that install the high efficiency condensing boiler and combi boiler and they do not put testing equipment on the boiler to set it up properly.
Still the contractor can do everything correctly and if the home owner does not have yearly maintenance done on their boiler and they neglect the boiler this can cause problems down the road.0 -
I would like to see some of the bad reviews, and read between the lines to understand what problems the homeowner had with a particular make of boiler.
Bob’s list of potential installation shortcomings is all together more frequent than we might think, based on postings here from perplexed homeowners seeking a solution to their problems. This is especially true, when the owner buys a mis-sized high efficiency boiler online, and expects the local craigslist trunk-slammer to read the instructions, and install it properly.—NBC1 -
No doubt the early entries, like HTP took some arrows in the back pioneering mod cons in the US. Not every product developed in Europe transitions to the US way of doing hydronics. A boiler is merely a boxful various manufacturers components, the name on the front assumes responsibility for those parts quality and compatibility.
With so many choices now, over 65, there seems to be a competition to build them at lower and lower price points. I think it is wise that manufacturers offer at least a good and best option.
Eliminating control features is one cost cutting step, but also not not all fire tube heat exchangers are equal. Taking size and material out if the usual path to a pricepoint product offering.
I feel that a 15 year life expectancy is the norm. Most manufacturers start out a product line with a "sunset" date in mind. Evolution continues, I hear rumors of Viessmann 19:1 turndown options?
I suspect after 15 years parts will be hard to come by as models phase out.
Product support on a boiler is also a big concern. A rep and dealer that takes the time to learn the product, stay updated on training, and learn the common installer mistakes and help them avoid them.
DIYers and Box Store sales is a whole 'nother chapter.Bob "hot rod" Rohr
trainer for Caleffi NA
Living the hydronic dream0 -
I also give a lot of credit to the manufacturers who appear here and offer help. That really goes a long way.Retired and loving it.3
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I've beeninstalling HTP products for a number of years. I've been using the EFT models and have had 0 callbacks/issues, I tried the uft (installed 2) & had a number of issues so I went back to the EFT and now unfortunately HTP is doing away with the EFT. So it looks like I'm going to Triangle Tube after my the current install I'm on finishes up...nice install on those UFT's, I like the seperator.
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