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Only in San Francisco

Beautiful sunset with Mt. Tamalpais in the background. Oh, but what's that in the foreground. It's a bird, it's a plane; no............it's an outdoor hydronic heating system. Wall of Shame material?


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
Solid_Fuel_Man

Comments

  • Alan (California Radiant) Forbes
    Alan (California Radiant) Forbes Member Posts: 3,979
    edited December 2018
    Approved outdoor components?

    This was installed in 2007; not by me.

    How long would it last where you live?



    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
  • Voyager
    Voyager Member Posts: 393
    It depends on when it was installed. The first winter freeze would take it out. Could last 6 months or could last 6 hours if installed in January. 😂
  • STEVEusaPA
    STEVEusaPA Member Posts: 6,506
    edited December 2018
    Couldn’t even imagine standing on that roof with the San Francisco wind.
    Does the system have glycol?
    steve
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    The heat loss from that mess must be phenomenal. You can't fix stupid!
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,455
    At least he wired the pump with sealtight!!
    delta TCanucker
  • Solid_Fuel_Man
    Solid_Fuel_Man Member Posts: 2,646
    Hmmmm, my used milk jug which I fill with drinking water every morning was frozen when I got it out of the van at break time...

    Its amazing that circulator and manual reser high limit last in the rain.

    But hey they didn't use PVC for venting!
    Serving Northern Maine HVAC & Controls. I burn wood, it smells good!
  • We went there this morning and saw that they fabricated plastic covers for the pump and aquastat to stay dry.

    To tell you the truth, I was impressed and would have never thought it would have lasted 10 years. They even had an SR501 pump relay out there in a metal cabinet.
    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
  • Fred
    Fred Member Posts: 8,542
    nibs said:

    Gonna show that pic to my boiler and tell that it will be put outside if it misbehaves.

    Everytime I threaten my boiler or my cars, or anything else in this house, it calls my bluff.
    IronmanErin Holohan HaskellLe John
  • Solid_Fuel_Man
    Solid_Fuel_Man Member Posts: 2,646
    I just show my boiler my cutting torch. If it soots up or otherwise misbehaves I'll make it into a tractor weight, all while pointing to the tractor.

    Mod/cons are much more sensitive, threatening them to be made into a SS plate exchanger for DHW where the mineral content is very high usually straightens them out. But their circuit boards seem to the real misbehaviors, they are very strong willed.... diesel engine controllers with lots of heat and vibration has been my threat and has seemed to straighten them out.
    Serving Northern Maine HVAC & Controls. I burn wood, it smells good!
    NY_RobFred
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 5,804
    edited December 2018
    It's been open to the weather for 10 years?
    Not even a plywood shed and a 40w light bulb?
  • HVACNUT said:

    It's been open to the weather for 10 years?

    Not even a plywood shed and a 40w light bulb?

    Naked......in the raw.......totally exposed.

    We make our boiler rooms tough out West!

    At $1,000 per square foot in the Bay Area, homeowners can't afford to allocate living spaces to mechanical rooms.
    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
  • nibs
    nibs Member Posts: 511
    Perhaps they tell it that if it keeps behaving for another 10 yrs, they will let it come inside to use the bathroom.
  • Solid_Fuel_Man
    Solid_Fuel_Man Member Posts: 2,646
    Well that puts new light to rooftop unit!
    Serving Northern Maine HVAC & Controls. I burn wood, it smells good!
    STEVEusaPA
  • Fred
    Fred Member Posts: 8,542
    nibs said:

    Perhaps they tell it that if it keeps behaving for another 10 yrs, they will let it come inside to use the bathroom.

    It's outside, it can take a leak anytime it wants! :D
    CanuckerSolid_Fuel_Man
  • Le John
    Le John Member Posts: 226
    those poor little boilers exposed to the elements like that. Pure abuse.
  • nibs
    nibs Member Posts: 511
    Alan should have immediately reported this to the
    Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Boilers.
    Solid_Fuel_Man
  • fixitguy
    fixitguy Member Posts: 91
    Looks kinda like a pool heater with the exhaust on top.
  • Snowmelt
    Snowmelt Member Posts: 1,405
    im sure you all know thats a tankless water heaters. not even a boiler