Nightmare in a closet

Unknown

always has the word " closet " in it . No, I don't practice an alternative lifestyle . It's just my job .

This was replacement of the original . I saw 3/8 pipes cut at floor level , so I'm guessing the home had radiant at one time . This had 3 baseboard zones , and one zone was teed off to another part of the house . An extra hot and cold brought the total to around 14 pipes to reconnect .

Unknown

Burnham RSA110

We scooted it over as far to the left as possible to have access to the prefab chimney . Something they never had before . And yes , Mr . Harper , if you read this post , I know we have clearance issues with the fluepipe . Someone did try to do the right thing and put that stiff asbestos panels behind the sheetrock , forget the brand name ?

Looks like a few horizontal pipes aren't too straight . Well , we did get them level , but level and square was just too tough . The pics really don't show how tight this area is . I pulled a hamstring connecting the oil lines .

DanHolohan

And

he's been using the wrong oil on the circulator.

Constantin

Oh my! Yikes!

I hope you didn't encounter Freddy Krueger in there. I imagine that only bagfulls of cat litter would overcome the sludge in that closet.

Luckily I wasn't drinking anything when I saw the "before" picture, as it probably would have been snarfed into my nasal cavity!

BTW, was there a sign at the entrance "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here"? Perhaps you can buy them a nice decorative plaque to commemorate the event?

Unknown

The kitty litter did not help

We had it down all day . It'll almost always get the floor clean . If you notice the after pic , it didn't even give the floor a lighter shade of spooge .

No signs on the entrance . Only the mindnumbing thought that I'm screwed . Well , me , Sal and George .

Unknown

They used

the wrong everything on this one .

Constantin

What a difference it makes...

... when someone thinks about future access. Your repiping everything from the ceiling on down cannot have been comfortable, but it certainly makes for much better access for future generations of service techs.

I really like the steel mini-manifold and the obvious attention to detail to get all the pipes, etc. straight. It's amazing how much room is freed up when someone thinks about pipe placement before whipping out the torch...

I hope those Taco pumps won't roar the way the 15-58FC's do in my new home... I hear that the Taco's aren't as sensitive to placement relative to the manifold... is that true?

J.C.A._3

Yikes!!!

Ron, you're worried about pipes looking straight in that cluster%$*@ ? (Think Peter Lory's voice...) Weelcome to the dungeon, hehehehehe)

Amazing is still the only word I can come up with to express your tenacity. My spine gets twisted just looking at those spaces. Captain Shoehorn indeed! Chris

Todd_9

Another great job Ron!

Only problem now is that when the homeowner sees all that empty space they will fill it up with all sorts of "valuable family heirloom" you know - the junk thats worth a million dollars after its ruined by a popped relief valve or spec of soot.

sootmonkey

wow

wow...what a difference......as a service tech., which boiler would I rather work on?....hmmmm......I think I will take the after boiler....VERY NICE WORK Ron jr. I hope you get paid well.

chuck shaw

Ron,

you never stop amazing me!!!!

Great work,

Chuck

lchmb

You know

I was feeling pretty lousy about my day, having spent it crawling under a frozen house. With ice and water everywhere, then I looked at that mess and felt better!! Good job my friend. Per the norm you do the best with a lousy situation!!!! Keep up the good work!

Unknown

Yeah , there wasn't much thought

involved when pipes were connected to the old boiler . My partner Sal ripped the old one out , and I'm thankful .

I did have the circs pointed back at first , but I thought they'd get in the way of cleaning the boiler . So one big swoop and they pointed forward . We fit in a B and G air separator also , it's hard to see back there . Jobs like this could really benefit from one of those Vertical Spirovents .

I haven't heard a pump roar from a 007 . They always sound so quiet you can't tell if they're on or not . Is it normal to hear noise with your brand pumps ?

Thanks again Constantin for the kind words . Responses like yours make my day .

Unknown

Actually , the job came out

much neater than I would've thought at 9 am this morning . Not up to the standards we see showcased here from you and many others , but not too bad either . I gotta give credit to Sal and George also . Sal piped everything he could behind me while I took on the boiler pipes . George cut pipes , cleaned fittings and ran to the truck for everything we needed .

Oh yeah , almost forgot . Whoever lives there had the hot water hose for the washing machine connected to a return purge valve on the boiler . And that's not the 1st time we seen that .

Thanks alot Chris .

Unknown

That's my first concern

Trying to make the boiler accessible . It's the least I can do for guys like you who mainly service equipment . I've seen the horror shows in some homes and my hat's off to anyone willing to work on them as is . Thanks Sootmonkey .

Unknown

We were on one job

A hanging GE replacement and aquabooster in a closet . My partner leaned the jackhammer against the wall , and I saw it going down in slow motion . Took out a case of cheap looking figurines . I'd be an idiot if I paid more than $20 for the set . But wouldn't you know , since we broke it the set became a rare collection worth a few grand . We could tell how rare they were , collecting years of dust . Funny how things appreciate so fast .

Thanks alot Todd .

Unknown

Aw Chuck

you make me smile . Thanks alot . How you been doing , man ?

Unknown

I think

I'd take this closet job anytime over crawling under a house in this weather . I hope you get compensated well for that kind of nightmare . Thanks again Lchmb .

Ted Laythe

Flow checks

Very neat install!

When I piped my flow check that close to the circulator on my own system, I got "pump roar". I've thought of cutting out the flow check and putting in a Taco 007ifc. Have you tried them yet? It should eliminate another step in the installation. I tried the IFC on a closet/pit/under the stairs install and so far so good.

TED

J.C.A._3

Fed the washer from the heating system?

Lets see...2 loads a week for however long they lived in the home = a crapload of makeup water.(Add 2 loads per week/per child) No wonder it only lasted 25 years!

Gotta hand it to you Ron, you see quite a few more "ingenious homeowner ideas" than I have. Rube Goldberg thought he had all the mouse traps figured....little did he learn about industrious homeowners. OY VEY!!!!! Chris

lchmb

yea

I was compensated real well, got to give my boss a bill for the doctor for frostbite on my ear's...:( God that hurt!! Have a warm week...:)

Unknown

I love the IFCs

The problem is getting a shipment of more than 6 at a time . They go faster than snapping your fingers . I'm hoping our plumbing supply decides to stock them en masse . Either that or I'd like to try the pump flange/valve/flocheck - all in one . That sounds sweet .

Taco recommends at least 12 inches between the pump and flowvalve . To tell you the truth , all us installers use a close nipple - on hundreds upon hundreds of installs . I've never heard a velocity noise yet . Thanks alot Ted .

EBEBRATT_2

Great Job, I am not sure but I think I may have turned around and run from this NIGHTMARE

Tony_8

If you mean

The B&G flo-chek flanges, they are excellent ! Fit any circ and the flange rotates 360 deg. No cavitation or air locking either

Uni R

Wow! Night and Day!

Super job... as always! When is this one airing on HVAC-TV?

BillW@honeywell

Way to go, Ron Jr!

Turns a mess into a nice job, and does it in a space that a cat couldn't manuver in. Great job!

Unknown

Did I mention the job

where the homeowner ran his own water line to the ice maker in his new fridge ? His first cup of chilled water was real funky . This guy pierced the oil line return pipe with his saddle valve . I got pics of that one somewhere .

Unknown

Not this one

Noone was currently living there , so we let loose with alot of un PC talk . I don't think there was any room for even the smallest camera . Maybe a birds eye view ? Thanks Uni R .

Unknown

This one

wouldn't have been so cramped if it didn't have all the extra piping . These homes usually have 2 3/4 zones and a hot and cold pipe . Someone went zone crazy in there . Thanks alot Bill .

Unknown

I'd be trying

to outrun you from this type of job , next time .

S Milne

Hey Closet Queen

Sorry Ron, could'nt help it

I am running out of accolades, so I 'll go back to the King of the shoehorn. Thanks for showing my guys how nice a replacement job can be.

You should see where Chris is working, you could park a trcuk in there. Wait, its a garage, there are trucks in there. Still alot of room.

Ron, are you going to wetstock ? Would love to see you.

Scott

Constantin

I'd love to see it...

... that story is right up there with the guy who tied into the glycolized radiant floor heating system with the kitchen fridge and was wondering why the ice cubes were coming pink, and sweet at the same time.

Like Dan Holohan said, "You can't make this stuff up!"

J.C.A._3

Yeah, You can park 3 trucks in there

Tons O' room! I still have to keep the burner 4'from the electrical panel, fit the circs for the main and the Super Stor, keep the burner 18" off the ground,(It's a garage) and be able to get to all the piping in,in case of any service needs. 8 X 10 WILL work and be accessable too.

I'll post some pictures tomorrow. It isn't the shoehorn Ron Jr. just showcased but there was a lot of figuring to do it right like he did, and make it servicable.

I'm the one who'll be servicing it, so you will all notice the nice little touches. Chris