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Speaking of messed up venting...

Mike_Sheppard
Mike_Sheppard Member Posts: 696
How about this one. I ran this call last year. Boiler was dumping exhaust into room. CO monitors going off. They had another company come and replace the boiler and water heater vent piping. Comes out of smoke box as 10 inch single wall, connects to the outside wall of 8 inch double wall and runs horizontally all the way out of the building. They cut an opening in the double wall and installed an exhaust fan. I shut them down last year for unsafe conditions. I work for another company now and once again I am back here. Nothing has changed. They fired the boiler back up and ran it all winter.
Never stop learning.

Comments

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    And your bosses won't let you walk away from that job? That's what I'd do. If the owners don't want to spend the money to do it right, I wouldn't touch it. Too much liability.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    ratioRich_49delta T
  • Mike_Sheppard
    Mike_Sheppard Member Posts: 696
    edited July 2019
    They are on board with walking away from it. I will not leave this boiler running.

    The last company I worked for had the contract for these 30 properties. Now the new company I work for has the contract. I am visiting each site evaluating their equipment and operation.

    I am going to suggest trashing this boiler and installing two condensing. Perfect application, water source heat pump system. Plenty of room for direct venting right on the other side of the wall. No windows around.

    If they don't do that or fix the venting before winter, I will not be turning the boiler on.
    Never stop learning.
  • Timco
    Timco Member Posts: 3,040

    Just a guy running some pipes.
    SeanBeansSolid_Fuel_Man
  • Keith M
    Keith M Member Posts: 78
    Does the water heater actually fire for more than 3 seconds or so?
  • Mike_Sheppard
    Mike_Sheppard Member Posts: 696
    Here’s a terrible drawing of what they have there now.

    Trying to work this out with the fuel gas code book for vent sizing to see if it can even been done with these sizes and lengths.
    Never stop learning.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    Same installers as on those Weil-McLains you posted about earlier?
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Mike_Sheppard
    Mike_Sheppard Member Posts: 696
    edited July 2019
    @Steamhead I highly doubt it. Today was nothing but messed up systems.

    Picture this. Burnham boiler, water source heatpump system. Used a boiler circulator pump and a 3-way valve piped “primary secondary”. 3-way valve maintained 140 degree return temp on boiler. Burnham boiler gets removed, two Lochinvar copper fins get installed. Boiler loop with circulator and 3-way valve left in place, and copper fin boilers piped primary secondary into the other primary secondary. And the closely spaced Ts about 20 feet apart.

    Picture attached.

    Also, the venting done incorrectly on those copper fins as well. Common vented. No barometrics. Horizontal run longer than vertical. Both running with positive draft. If only one heater is running combustion exhaust flows backwards out of the other. And no rain cap on the top of the vent. Every time it rains water comes out of the casing on the heaters.
    Never stop learning.
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,164
    That's not a terrible drawing, @Mike_Sheppard -- that's a very good isometric. Rare to find anyone who can draw one these days!
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796

    @Steamhead I highly doubt it. Today was nothing but messed up systems.



    Picture this. Burnham boiler, water source heatpump system. Used a boiler circulator pump and a 3-way valve piped “primary secondary”. 3-way valve maintained 140 degree return temp on boiler. Burnham boiler gets removed, two Lochinvar copper fins get installed. Boiler loop with circulator and 3-way valve left in place, and copper fin boilers piped primary secondary into the other primary secondary. And the closely spaced Ts about 20 feet apart.



    Picture attached.



    Also, the venting done incorrectly on those copper fins as well. Common vented. No barometrics. Horizontal run longer than vertical. Both running with positive draft. If only one heater is running combustion exhaust flows backwards out of the other. And no rain cap on the top of the vent. Every time it rains water comes out of the casing on the heaters.

    Look at the bright side- it is possible to fix that mess, but you can't fix stupid!
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • STEVEusaPA
    STEVEusaPA Member Posts: 6,506
    edited July 2019

    Here’s a terrible drawing of what they have there now.



    Trying to work this out with the fuel gas code book for vent sizing to see if it can even been done with these sizes and lengths.

    I agree, nice drawing.
    Are you considering an actual power venter in that drawing or more of a draft inducer, maybe even a chimney top one would do?

    steve
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,453
    @Timco is that combustion air and flue tied together?
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,453
    It's a mystery why more are not killed by bad venting. Luck?
  • Mike_Sheppard
    Mike_Sheppard Member Posts: 696
    > @EBEBRATT-Ed said:
    > It's a mystery why more are not killed by bad venting. Luck?

    Well when you never enter your boiler room to look at your equipment the CO can’t get ya. Lol
    Never stop learning.
  • Mike_Sheppard
    Mike_Sheppard Member Posts: 696
    > @STEVEusaPA said:
    > Here’s a terrible drawing of what they have there now.
    >
    >
    >
    > Trying to work this out with the fuel gas code book for vent sizing to see if it can even been done with these sizes and lengths.
    >
    > I agree, nice drawing.
    > Are you considering an actual power venter in that drawing or more of a draft inducer, maybe even a chimney top one would do?

    To be honest, I don’t know yet. The boiler and burner are old and in bad shape. I’d like to see them agree to install condensing boilers. Perfect application (60-80 degree water) and there’s actually plenty of clearance from windows on the other side of the wall for the venting.

    If they don’t go for that then I guess I need to figure out the venting. I’ve been studying the IGFC to prepare for master gasfitting test, I guess this is the time to study venting and figure it out. I’m pretty certain a rooftop exhaust fan would have to be used, Exhausto/Enervex etc. Costly option. The boiler vent piping will have to be changed.

    I spent my week vacation at the beach this year reading the IGFC. Need to read it again because I didn’t retain enough.
    Never stop learning.
  • Timco
    Timco Member Posts: 3,040

    @Timco is that combustion air and flue tied together?

    Yessir, indeed it is. Homeowner attempt at concentric venting...
    Just a guy running some pipes.
  • Mike_Sheppard
    Mike_Sheppard Member Posts: 696
    > @Timco said:
    > @Timco is that combustion air and flue tied together?
    >
    > Yessir, indeed it is. Homeowner attempt at concentric venting...

    Exhaust is warmer so it travels along the top of the vent. Intake air is cooler so it travels along the bottom. Basic physics 🙄🙄🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️
    Never stop learning.
    Solid_Fuel_Mandelta T
  • Henry
    Henry Member Posts: 998
    According to code, the main vent where the boiler joins with the DHW boilers, should be 14 inches. The draft inducer is a band aid. Is there sufficient combustion air as per NFPA 54?
  • Henry
    Henry Member Posts: 998
    Also, we have a 2/3 rule which means your horizontal can only be 2/3 in length of the vertical. The two DHW boiler are supposed to be joined by a 12 Y connection.
  • Mike_Sheppard
    Mike_Sheppard Member Posts: 696
    edited July 2019
    Henry said:

    According to code, the main vent where the boiler joins with the DHW boilers, should be 14 inches. The draft inducer is a band aid. Is there sufficient combustion air as per NFPA 54?

    @Henry did you size that with the IFGC? If so would you mind elaborating on how you sized it? Trying to understand this better.

    There is indeed sufficient combustion air. Surprisingly.
    Never stop learning.
  • Zman
    Zman Member Posts: 7,561

    Here’s a terrible drawing of what they have there now.



    Trying to work this out with the fuel gas code book for vent sizing to see if it can even been done with these sizes and lengths.

    The drawing is great, I wish I could draw that well.
    The content is horrible! I am not sure it is appropriate for the internet :D

    Please keep this post updated when and if you come up with a solution. That's a tough one...
    "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough"
    Albert Einstein
  • Mike_Sheppard
    Mike_Sheppard Member Posts: 696
    > @Zman said:
    > Here’s a terrible drawing of what they have there now.
    >
    >
    >
    > Trying to work this out with the fuel gas code book for vent sizing to see if it can even been done with these sizes and lengths.
    >
    > The drawing is great, I wish I could draw that well.
    > The content is horrible! I am not sure it is appropriate for the internet :D
    >
    > Please keep this post updated when and if you come up with a solution. That's a tough one...

    Hope you’re being sarcastic. A straight edge a few straight lines lol.

    As soon as I fully understand vent sizing out of the IFGC I will come up with something.

    I still think losing the boiler and putting in a couple condensing running at 70 degrees would be perfect.
    Never stop learning.
  • Henry
    Henry Member Posts: 998
    edited July 2019
    B149.1 is similar to NFPA 54. The size of the common vent connection must be the same area of both or more vents. Your picture shows a T connection which is not permitted. It must be a Y.
  • Mike_Sheppard
    Mike_Sheppard Member Posts: 696
    @henry the connection actually is a Y. I didn’t know how to draw it properly.

    Can an exhaust fan and addition of a barometric damper on the boiler make up for the undersized venting? (Venting from boiler to common vent would have to be changed either way).
    Never stop learning.
  • Henry
    Henry Member Posts: 998
    The copper fin have a T connection as per your picture
  • Mike_Sheppard
    Mike_Sheppard Member Posts: 696
    @Henry oh my bad. I was thinking of the boiler connection rather than the water heater connections. You’re right, they’re both tees. Now that I think if it, I almost never see Y connections anywhere. It’s always T connections.
    Never stop learning.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    Mike, that may be because Y connections are not required in your area, as long as the cross-sectional area is big enough. That's true in Baltimore as well- we've never had an inspector call us out on a T connection.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Solid_Fuel_Man
    Solid_Fuel_Man Member Posts: 2,646
    With condensing boilers now, I pretty much have to laugh at those who still want to use high temp boilers on low temp systems and mess with return protection. There are a few exceptions, but very few.
    Serving Northern Maine HVAC & Controls. I burn wood, it smells good!
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    If a cast-iron boiler is piped properly, it will outlast a condensing boiler by at least a decade. I'm sure that figures into a lot of decisions.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Henry
    Henry Member Posts: 998
    Our code does not permit T nor does your NFPA54. All chimney vent manufacturers will design with Y connections. With an undersized chimney it is easy for combustion gases to come out of an appliance not in use specially with T connections. Been there, seen that, rebuilt the whole vent system.
  • Mike_Sheppard
    Mike_Sheppard Member Posts: 696
    I see new installs all the time with T connections that pass inspection like Steamhead mentioned. I’ll have to do some digging on this one.
    Never stop learning.