Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.

Workmanship

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes
Alan (California Radiant) Forbes Member Posts: 4,202
edited October 11 in THE MAIN WALL

There are often existing boiler installs where I know exactly who did the work by their piping workmanship.
This guy was a perfectionist and it stands head and shoulders above anyone else’s. From him, I learned to install copper x male unions on relief valves and female unions on x-tanks. It makes the next guy’s job so much easier.

But I still can’t cut insulation like he does.

8.33 lbs./gal. x 60 min./hr. x 20°ΔT = 10,000 BTU's/hour

Two btu per sq ft for degree difference for a slab
delcrossvCLambHeatingHelp.comMad Dog_2ChrisJTeemokSuperTechMikeAmannEdTheHeaterManIntplm.WaherHVACNUT

Comments

  • SlamDunk
    SlamDunk Member Posts: 1,655

    yeah, that is very nice work. Making it easier for the next guy is the finest way to show your craftsmanship.

    Alan (California Radiant) ForbesdelcrossvMikeAmannEdTheHeaterMan
  • delcrossv
    delcrossv Member Posts: 1,075

    Very nicely done!

    What's with the ground wire on the tank?

    Trying to squeeze the best out of a Weil-McLain JB-5 running a 1912 1 pipe system.
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 16,217

    @delcrossv

    Some locations want a bond wire between hot and cold. I am not sure if it is a NEC requirement……….yet.

    Its to make sure the HW is grounded since there is plastic everywhere now.

    delcrossvMikeAmann
  • Larry Weingarten
    Larry Weingarten Member Posts: 3,535

    It certainly is refreshing to see such attention to detail. Even the bonding wire is nicely shaped! Thanks 😊

    Yours, Larry

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 10,651

    Why a union on the expansion tank if it is small enough to unscrew?

    SuperTech
  • psb75
    psb75 Member Posts: 892

    I don't think those TPRV's are code compliant with all of those 90°'s in the piping and fittings beyond them.

  • Teemok
    Teemok Member, Email Confirmation Posts: 667
    edited October 12

    Way better than this slop I found last week. The mixing valve controller transformer sits unmounted on top of the box, has never been functional in 4 years. Flues are poorly supported with intake Y's on their sides. The clay floor sink is acid mush. The tape shot shows the location between a cold main 4" tee and the 2" cold side tailpiece of the mixer. There should be a recirculation balance tee and a check valve there. Found the both vfd pressure booster pumps running at 100% making hot water with friction. The list could go on….. sorry I had to tell somebody. I feel better now. Regarding your post, it's nice to see those clean joints and the pipe insulation fitted so well, it doesn't even need any electrical tape!

    delcrossv
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 7,434

    "Salivatin' like Pavlov's Dog..." Rolling Stones Mad Dog

  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 7,434
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,210

    @Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

    Have a look at what McMaster sells.
    Scroll down a bit to the fittings.

    That may not be what your guy used, but it could probably make your work look just as good.

    Single pipe quasi-vapor system. Typical operating pressure 0.14 - 0.43 oz. EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Control for Residential Steam boilers. Rectorseal Steamaster water treatment
    delcrossv
  • I see that. What a thoroughly nice selection. But I questioned him once about his materials and methods and he said it was all freehand and he’s not the kind of guy to embellish or stretch the truth. If you met him once, you would agree.

    8.33 lbs./gal. x 60 min./hr. x 20°ΔT = 10,000 BTU's/hour

    Two btu per sq ft for degree difference for a slab
  • Paul Pollets
    Paul Pollets Member Posts: 3,662

    Having a union makes it easier. Having a plastic mitre box and a sharp 10" serrated knife is required for cutting neoprene insulation.

    MikeAmann
  • This one is not serrated, but it goes through insulation "like butter".

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009MZI4W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    8.33 lbs./gal. x 60 min./hr. x 20°ΔT = 10,000 BTU's/hour

    Two btu per sq ft for degree difference for a slab
    delcrossv
  • HomerJSmith
    HomerJSmith Member Posts: 2,583

    The difference between 'just so' and extraordinary is ART. The Japanese make an art out of pouring tea. I always look to symmetry (ART) in the work I do. I get great satisfaction from that. Funny, when I start a project, I have no idea where to start or how to do it. Some how, it always turns out beautiful (which is symmetry) and functional. It's like ZEN, it proceeds out of doing.

    delcrossvAlan (California Radiant) ForbesEdTheHeaterMan
  • MikeAmann
    MikeAmann Member Posts: 1,040

    It's nice to see that he cleaned the flux residue from the joints (like I do) but he went the extra mile and cleaned the entire pipe. I use the insulation for 3 reasons:

    • help retain the heat (hot pipes) and prevent condensation (cold pipes)
    • helps prevent me from getting burned on the hot pipes
    • keeps the copper like new so future changes are much easier, esp. when sweating the joints

    delcrossvPC7060
  • hot1
    hot1 Member Posts: 9

    Incorrect insulation. Armoflex is for chilled water. Should befiber glass with asj

    delcrossvGGrossGroundUpJakeCK
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 9,053

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 9,053
    edited October 17

    Really? So foam insulation will not insulate on hot water pipes, only on cold water pipes. This is interesting, I never knew that. 25 years ago I installed a combination chiller/boiler system that uses the same pipes for the cold water in the summer and the hot water in the winter. I never told him that they needed to change the insulation each season. Besides, I put all kinds of muck on that insulation to make sure the vapor barrier was sound so condensation wouldn't form under the insulation.

    That would be a really labor intensive changeover each season, Glad I'm retired and don't need to deal with that anymore.

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

    GGrossLRCCBJ
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,210
    Single pipe quasi-vapor system. Typical operating pressure 0.14 - 0.43 oz. EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Control for Residential Steam boilers. Rectorseal Steamaster water treatment
  • tim smith
    tim smith Member Posts: 2,807

    epdm close cell is the good stuff rated for higher temps. The insul in OP photos is open cell I’m pretty sure and may only be rated to 160 but not totally sure on that. I’ve seen open cell melted to copper on 180 systems.

    ChrisJAlan (California Radiant) Forbes
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,210

    I think you're 100% right.

    The texture and color don't look like what I think of when someone says Armaflex.

    Single pipe quasi-vapor system. Typical operating pressure 0.14 - 0.43 oz. EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Control for Residential Steam boilers. Rectorseal Steamaster water treatment
  • 8.33 lbs./gal. x 60 min./hr. x 20°ΔT = 10,000 BTU's/hour

    Two btu per sq ft for degree difference for a slab