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California bans hydronic heating installations.

Mark Eatherton
Mark Eatherton Member Posts: 5,853
Dateline April 1, 2016

The governor of California who earlier this year declared an emergency drought reduction program has unveiled the multi tiered water and energy reduction programs for Californians. The water crisis in California has fallen to the point that whole cities are being shut down due to the lack of water for hygiene purposes. There are people leaving the state in droves in an effort to find water. Today, the governor declared that it is illegal to use water in hydronic heating systems. "We just can't afford to waste water on keeping people warm. Having water to drink takes precedents over the non critical use for heating, therefore we have declared it illegal to use water for any purpose other than drinking."

Mark Eatherton, Executive Director of the Radiant Professionals Alliance was asked to comment on the changes. "Times are tough. When the tough gets going, the going gets tough. This is extremely unfortunate, and we are working on new system designs that are completely compatible with sea water." According to the RPA, other than certain types of stainless steel heat exchangers, most all other non ferrous components are compatible with sea water. Stated Eatherton "Our research has proven that we can utilize salty sea water in these systems with little to no problems. We are doing this in an effort to keep hydronics alive, but it is going to take some time to get these new systems on line. In the mean time, we are looking to the use of certain alcohol spirits to provide a good fluid and the antifreeze characteristic necessary for these systems. We are depending on the Vodka industry to help us in testing these systems for compliance to existing codes and standards."

Boiler manufacturers have stated that they are working on a carbon composite heat exchanger capable of withstanding the corrosive nature of sea water brine. Paul Jinkowitz of Lockinvar said that their first effort at using a carbon composite heat exchanger with Vodka didn't really go quite as well as they had planned. "We had fire departments from 4 surrounding counties on standby as we fired the first protype unit in the lab. It flashed over and there was a huge flash and bang and the whole shebang caught on fire... It took about 2 hours to quench the flames" . He said off the record that the heat exchanger burned just like the magnesium prototype that they tested years ago in an effort to make the worlds first 2.5 million btuH wall hung boiler.

For more information, please direct your browser to www.happyaprilfoolsday.com

:sweat_smile:
It's not so much a case of "You got what you paid for", as it is a matter of "You DIDN'T get what you DIDN'T pay for, and you're NOT going to get what you thought you were in the way of comfort". Borrowed from Heatboy.
njtommySWEI4JohnpipeEricAuneRoohollah

Comments

  • Leon82
    Leon82 Member Posts: 684
    April fools!
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 15,584
    I realized what this was as I clicked on it.

    :)
    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
    Mark Eatherton
  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,476
    As long as they don't ban the use of ice in my G&T's!

    Bob
    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
    GordyMark Eatherton
  • njtommy
    njtommy Member Posts: 1,105
    Lol
  • Paul S_3
    Paul S_3 Member Posts: 1,261
    Lmao
    ASM Mechanical Company
    Located in Staten Island NY
    Servicing all 5 boroughs of NYC.
    347-692-4777
    ASMMECHANICALCORP@GMAIL.COM
    ASMHVACNYC.COM
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/asm-mechanical-company
    Mark Eatherton
  • Fred
    Fred Member Posts: 8,542
    HAHA, I realized this was a joke when I read this: Mark Eatherton, Executive Director of the Radiant Professionals Alliance was asked to comment on the changes. "Times are tough. When the tough gets going, the going gets tough
    Mark Eatherton
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,042
    The headline title gave it away.....now what might draw more looks would be: "California Promoting Steam Heating" As hydronic heating is falling from favor because of excessive water demands of such systems, it has been recently discovered that steam boilers are required to be filled only a 1/3 to 1/2 full for good operation. The pipes connected to this unit are empty of water, thus the savings for the entire state is to be calculated beyond comprehension. ;) ....it sounds really green doesn't it?
    Mark Eatherton
  • gennady
    gennady Member Posts: 839
    I took it very seriously.
    jonny88Mark Eatherton
  • Robert O'Connor_12
    Robert O'Connor_12 Member Posts: 728
    B)
  • lchmb
    lchmb Member Posts: 2,997
    I wonder how i can transport all that vodka without it disappearing....
  • Docfletcher
    Docfletcher Member Posts: 487
    edited April 2016
    Stealing this. :)
    Mark Eatherton
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    JUGHNE said:

    The headline title gave it away.....now what might draw more looks would be: "California Promoting Steam Heating" As hydronic heating is falling from favor because of excessive water demands of such systems, it has been recently discovered that steam boilers are required to be filled only a 1/3 to 1/2 full for good operation. The pipes connected to this unit are empty of water, thus the savings for the entire state is to be calculated beyond comprehension. ;) ....it sounds really green doesn't it?

    That should have been included in "Greening Steam"- hey Dan, here's something for the second edition o:)
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • rick in Alaska
    rick in Alaska Member Posts: 1,457
    I wouldn't put it past California though to do something like that.....
    You never know.
    Rick
    kcopp
  • Big-D
    Big-D Member Posts: 21
    chuckle chuckle
  • It was back in 1996 or 1997 when we installed radiant heating in Jerry Brown's new "commune" down by the train station in Oakland. The mechanical engineer specified ¾" tubing spaced on three foot centers and it was a fight to get him to let us install smaller tubing at a closer spacing.
    I was on my hands and knees tying ½" polybutylene to the rebar when Jerry Brown walks over to me and asks about the polybutylene lawsuits he'd been reading about. Wow, I thought: This guy is pretty well read.
    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
    kcopp
  • John Mills_5
    John Mills_5 Member Posts: 950
    I'm with Rick, I thought it was true cuz it sounds just like something California would do. Good one!
    EricAune
  • Mark Eatherton
    Mark Eatherton Member Posts: 5,853

    It was back in 1996 or 1997 when we installed radiant heating in Jerry Brown's new "commune" down by the train station in Oakland. The mechanical engineer specified ¾" tubing spaced on three foot centers and it was a fight to get him to let us install smaller tubing at a closer spacing.
    I was on my hands and knees tying ½" polybutylene to the rebar when Jerry Brown walks over to me and asks about the polybutylene lawsuits he'd been reading about. Wow, I thought: This guy is pretty well read.

    Must be a lawyer... Most are.

    ME
    It's not so much a case of "You got what you paid for", as it is a matter of "You DIDN'T get what you DIDN'T pay for, and you're NOT going to get what you thought you were in the way of comfort". Borrowed from Heatboy.
  • Weezbo
    Weezbo Member Posts: 6,232
    edited June 2016
    Immediately my mind thought of a long time childhood friend who installs Reverse osmosis machines . He lives in Bermuda . plenty of ocean . = Solution.
    april fools day did not even occur to me as i am focused upon pLS Wirsbo 1"90's .
    Who would have thought a mere 12 or 13 years later they would be difficult to find on the wholesalers shelves.?
    Funny Mark. :)
    Weezbo *~/:)
    Zman
  • SWEI
    SWEI Member Posts: 7,356
    Weezbo said:

    i am focused upon pLS Wirsbo 1"90's .
    Who would have thought a mere 12 or 13 years later they would be difficult to find on the wholesalers shelves?

    There's a worldwide shortage of the resin those (and a lot of other poly fittings) are made from. Lots of stuff from many vendors on allocation.

    Welcome back -- it's been awhile.
  • Mark Eatherton
    Mark Eatherton Member Posts: 5,853
    Good to see you Weez! Don't be a stranger :smile:

    ME
    It's not so much a case of "You got what you paid for", as it is a matter of "You DIDN'T get what you DIDN'T pay for, and you're NOT going to get what you thought you were in the way of comfort". Borrowed from Heatboy.