My worlds largest snowmelt system (ME)

Mark Eatherton1

My partner was in the office on Saturday trying to get caught up on his bids etc. He's RARELY in the office on a Saturday. The phone rings. My partner NEVER answers the phone on a Saturday, but something told him to do so and he did. The guy on the other end of the phone had read some articles I'd written and wanted to ask me some questions. Seems he lived in Minnesota (home of Target Corp.) and was having a new house built, and was having Radiant Ready installed and wanted to know if it was feasible to do more than one zone. He'd been told by the installing radiant contractor that he got just ONE zone for the basement, even though the manifold had like 8 circuits connected to it. Said it didn't seem right to him.

My partner answered all his questions and told him what he'd have to do in order for it to work correctly. He gracioulsy thanked my partner for his time, and said "Oh, by the way, we're building a new store in Silverthorne Colorado, and I want you to bid the snowmelt system..." He's a senior project developer for Target COrp.

That was the beginning. We then bid it four different times and 3 different ways, and finally were awarded the bid because we were the only ones bidding that were qualified to provide a 30 year warranty on the tube.

The bid auction thing sounds like a real good way to cut your own throat, and not feel it.

It PAYS to answer the phone on a Saturday. You never know who might be on the other end.

Thanks for asking!

ME

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[Deleted User]

Nearing completion...

I'm still here, nestled against the Gore Range/Eaglesnest primitive area, installing a 13,000 square foot snowmelt sytstem. This job has taken me more than one semester (16 weeks +) to get done. Just when I think I'm nearing completion, something pops up and sets me back a a day or two. Such is the nature of business. I just want to get done and move on to another project...

I don't want to overload you all with pictures, so I'll feed them to you a few at a time.

Here's what everyone on the Wall loves, BOILER ROOM.

Unfortunatley, (as usual) we have 5 pounds of system packed in a 2 pound room, and it is difficult to get a really good shot. Hope this suffices.

ME

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[Deleted User]

More tubing photos...

If you don't like looking at tubing pictures, I wouldn't bother opening the next group... Gosh my knees and back hurt!!!

ME

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Bob W._2

Looks like...

a new Cabelas

[Deleted User]

Actually...

It's a Target store. They open a new one every two days, and this one is slated for grand opening in March.

ME

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Roger Link

snowmelt design

ME, What size tubing did you use and how large are the P/K boilers? Did you have to do anything special to protect the tubing over the period of time it took to complete the work? Are the boilers dedicated strictly for the snowmelt? It is a great looking job but I am curious about those barrels. Are they containers for the glycol or were they used for some other reason?

Roger

Dan Foley1

Insulation

Nice looking work, Mark. I like the insulation on your boiler piping - looks sharp. Do you do the insulation or sub it out? -DF

Dave Yates (PAH)

WOW!

That is a thing of beauty - both inside & outside. If only they made clear concrete!

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Jackchips

How did you

land this project, Mark?

We had a request from a builder here in Mass that wanted us to join an auction, on line, to do the plumbing in a Target. They changed to a regular bid format at the last minute but I wonder if "Auctions" are going to be the wave of the future. We were even told we would be able to see the other bids up until the close bid time.

Mark Eatherton1

Roger, Roger...

It is 5/8" tube. limited to 250 foot lengths. The GC proivided tube protection when needed, the PKs are doing only snowmelt (2 @ 1.7 mill each) and the empty barrels are what we pumped into the system. 11 55 gallon drums cut 50-50. It took eighteen straight hours to fill the system. Smoked two pumps in the process and ended up having to haul glycol in 5 gallon buckets for the last two barrels.

My aching back!!

ME

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Mark Eatherton1

We use

Sweeney and Associates out of Denver Colorado for our piping insulation. Only way to fly.

ME

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Mike Kraft

Mr ME

Your crew has been busy to say the least!Looks like that tube need some guard dogs watching over it:) Must be tuff sleeping while that stuff is in the open.........not to mention daze of pouring.I'm sure this is a project you and yours will be happy to get over with.Interesting yarn of the evolution of the aquiring of the project also.

what is the paln for the run off?Seems like a storage systemwould be in the best interest for landscape irrigation?Retention ponds?

Great photos!

cheese

Jackchips

Isn't it just

great the way some things happen. We never know what return there is for being nice to someone.

Congrats to you and your partner.