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Well that could have been worse

Mike_Sheppard
Mike_Sheppard Member Posts: 696
edited May 2019 in THE MAIN WALL
I don’t have any more details. Just thought you guys would get a kick out of the relief valve... Was found by a co-worker. Was brand new.

The two lines coming down into the relief valve tapping are returns from zones....
Never stop learning.

Comments

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,387
    Once again- you can't fix stupid!
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    Solid_Fuel_ManIronman
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 16,485
    Little bit of shrapnel.

    Well, there's a lawsuit waiting to happen
    CLamb
  • Larry Weingarten
    Larry Weingarten Member Posts: 3,599
    I would not want to be the one who left that relief valve down stream of a shutoff.valve! Sorta like painting a bullseye on your back.

    Yours, Larry
  • Mike_Sheppard
    Mike_Sheppard Member Posts: 696
    > @Larry Weingarten said:
    > I would not want to be the one who left that relief valve down stream of a shutoff.valve! Sorta like painting a bullseye on your back.
    >
    > Yours, Larry

    Not only that, it’s also installed backwards!
    Never stop learning.
  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 3,791
    The mind boggles.
  • delta T
    delta T Member Posts: 884
    Well......at least the relief valve is installed in the upright position....*sigh*
    Solid_Fuel_ManCanuckerJean-David Beyer
  • ScottSecor
    ScottSecor Member Posts: 902
    With regard to the relief valve, it looks like they went with the lowest bidder, or was it the owner's brother in law that's kind of handy???

    What's left of the boiler and burner look like they may have been installed by a professional. Maybe not the very best installation, but probably acceptable. I'm guessing the installer was long gone when that relief valve was installed?
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 6,669
    Wow. So did some other control fail?

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

  • SeanBeans
    SeanBeans Member Posts: 520
    Ouch
  • Mike_Sheppard
    Mike_Sheppard Member Posts: 696
    To my knowledge, this was a brand new boiler. They had just installed it and started it up for the winter. I believe it was installed like this from day 1.
    Never stop learning.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,387
    edited May 2019
    Larry Weingarten said:

    But, if you’re not careful, stupid will fix you? >:)



    Yours, Larry

    If only it were that simple. Stupid usually "fixes" innocent people, and not in a good way.

    For the benefit of non-pros reading this- not sure what type of building this is in, but if the boiler had exploded worse than it did, it could have taken the whole building with it, along with everyone inside.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,387
    Mike_Sheppard said:

    To my knowledge, this was a brand new boiler. They had just installed it and started it up for the winter. I believe it was installed like this from day 1.

    In that case, if you haven't already done so, you need to go over the whole installation. No telling what else they did that was stupid, and you were the last one to touch it.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    CLamb
  • ScottSecor
    ScottSecor Member Posts: 902
    Wow, I just looked a little closer at the picture of the Powerflame burner. Notice the shutoff valve on the small pilot pressure regulator with the copper compression fitting. You are never supposed to install a shutoff valve on the vent of a gas pressure regulator. Must have been same guy that piped the boiler relief valve.

    I also noticed yet another shutoff valve that is piped into one of the 1/4 inch tapping on the bottom of the Honeywell gas valve, wonder where that goes?

    I realize all contractors make mistakes, but this one is getting more interesting as the story develops. After further review, I take back my earlier comment about it looking like a professional install. I hope no one got hurt!
  • ScottSecor
    ScottSecor Member Posts: 902
    Please keep us posted as things develop. Maybe we'll all learn something.

    Still wondering what failed first? With this limited information, my guess is the limits were incorrectly wired and did not turn off burner during an unsafe condition.
    ethicalpaul
  • Jean-David Beyer
    Jean-David Beyer Member Posts: 2,666
    Lucky that shutoff valve is closed off. That way it protects the pressure relief valve (installed backwards) from the rest of the system. Gawd!
  • Solid_Fuel_Man
    Solid_Fuel_Man Member Posts: 2,646
    edited May 2019
    With the welded steel pipe, and a boiler big enough to warrant that size Power Flame, I'm guessing this is at least a light commercial system. There are many things wrong here! Wow! While it is amusing now, that could have been catastrophic for sure.

    That really is the definition of stupid. Whoever did that should not be in the heating business. Valved relief....dumb, backwards relief........Stupid! Compressions on gas line....against code, valved ragulayor vent......Stupid! Returns T'd into relief port is just weird.

    I dont use the word stupid lightly when applied to people.
    Serving Northern Maine HVAC & Controls. I burn wood, it smells good!
  • RayWohlfarth
    RayWohlfarth Member Posts: 1,656
    @Mike_Sheppard Can I use that pic for my classes
    Ray Wohlfarth
    Boiler Lessons
  • Alan Welch
    Alan Welch Member Posts: 270
    Maybe the relief valve can be salvaged and used on the new boiler,
    Solid_Fuel_Man
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,387
    @Mike_Sheppard , I sure hope the licensing authorities get involved..............
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    Jean-David Beyer
  • Mike_Sheppard
    Mike_Sheppard Member Posts: 696
    > @ScottSecor said:
    > Wow, I just looked a little closer at the picture of the Powerflame burner. Notice the shutoff valve on the small pilot pressure regulator with the copper compression fitting. You are never supposed to install a shutoff valve on the vent of a gas pressure regulator. Must have been same guy that piped the boiler relief valve.
    >
    > I also noticed yet another shutoff valve that is piped into one of the 1/4 inch tapping on the bottom of the Honeywell gas valve, wonder where that goes?
    >
    > I realize all contractors make mistakes, but this one is getting more interesting as the story develops. After further review, I take back my earlier comment about it looking like a professional install. I hope no one got hurt!

    LOL! I did not even notice the valve on the vent. Wow!
    Never stop learning.
    ethicalpaul
  • Mike_Sheppard
    Mike_Sheppard Member Posts: 696
    edited May 2019
    > @RayWohlfarth said:
    > @Mike_Sheppard Can I use that pic for my classes

    Sure!

    I want to see it in your next book! Lol
    Never stop learning.
  • Mike_Sheppard
    Mike_Sheppard Member Posts: 696
    This was an apartment building.

    The boiler is gone by now. A new boiler with a proper install and permits was done.

    The section blew out because the relief valve was isolated. Those sections are rated for 80 psi. I’m sure it saw well above 80 psi.

    Nothing the controls could have done about it, it was a water boiler. No pressuretrols.
    Never stop learning.
  • ScottSecor
    ScottSecor Member Posts: 902
    Mike, was there no expansion tank on this system, or was that valved off too? Aquastats jumped too (wonder if they even installed them)?
  • Mike_Sheppard
    Mike_Sheppard Member Posts: 696
    @ScottSecor I am not sure. A co-worker was the one who found this and sent me pictures.
    Never stop learning.
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 16,485
    @ScottSecor

    Your right about the valve on the pilot regulator vent, I haden't noticed that. The other 1/4" coming of the bottom of the Honeywell valve is for checking gas pressure or it is sometimes used for a low gas pressure switch, although I don't like coming off the bottom for a safety control
  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 2,197
    Every once in a while we come across something like this.
    Can't help but wonder how many are installed in such a dangerous way. This is maybe the sixth boiler I have either seen in a picture or come across first hand.
    Makes me wonder, are installations getting worse or better? Is the qualified tech. surely becoming extinct?

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