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Georgetown, KY
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Kenmore, WA
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Boiler Help needed
[#2] Posted: 05/15/2012 - 8:33:38 PM |  |  |
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So,
Was it in a space with 9,000 sf of volume or did they have some other means of getting combustion air into that room so that it will burn cleanly?
ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!
Mike
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Georgetown, KY
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 Boiler Help needed
[#3] Posted: 05/15/2012 - 9:13:00 PM | | |
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Nope. Not even close. 180,000 BTU gas fired boiler and 40,000 BTU gas fired water heater in a room 9'6" by 10'6" by 8" high = 798 CUBIC feet and NO combustion makeup air vents. Nary a one.
Some things you just shake your head at!
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Erby Crofutt
B4U Close Home Inspections
Georgetown, KY
www.b4uclose.com
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Northville, New York
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Boiler Help needed
[#4] Posted: 05/15/2012 - 11:29:19 PM | | |
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The union should be downstream of the gas shutoff valve (see the last picture).
Tom Corrigan
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Kenmore, WA
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Succasunna, NJ
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Boiler Help needed
[#6] Posted: 05/16/2012 - 03:07:05 AM | | |
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Here's so things I include just for informational purposes:
'The heating system has multiple zones; this also means there are zones valves present. These valves open & close to allow (hot) water to flow thru a specific zone. While all zone valves were tested, you must be aware these valves do wear out and replacement should be considered a maintenance issue.'
'There is no air scoop installed on this hot water system. Although not required, an air scoop is a good upgrade to eliminate air in the pipes. Air in the pipes makes the system noisy and can create air lock. You should consider having an air scoop installed to help eliminate noise.'
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Darren
Succasunna NJ
New Jersey Home Inspections
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Ridgewood, NJ
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Boiler Help needed
[#7] Posted: 05/16/2012 - 05:04:49 AM | | |
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Erby, the water supply feed is missing a backflow preventer valve.
You really ran that system for a solid hour?
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Neal Lewis
www.totalhomeinspectionservices.com |
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Chicago, IL
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Boiler Help needed
[#8] Posted: 05/16/2012 - 06:17:24 AM | | |
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Why not? American Standard is a good old boiler.
The pressure reducing valve acts as a back flow preventer, and the gas valve downstream of the union is a pilot shutoff. It's OK. Various locales can get picky about both, but both were considered SOP at the time this boiler was installed, and are actually just fine.
Has anyone ever seen a room big enough to accommodate the combustion appliances? I never do, and I never see combustion air vents (well, rarely).
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Kurt in Chicago
"If I smell it, it goes in the report".............Phillip Smith...2012
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Collins, NY
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Boiler Help needed
[#9] Posted: 05/16/2012 - 06:33:06 AM | | |
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If it ran for an hour it's broken.
Neal, boilers didn't require backflow preventers 50 years ago.
The zone valve arrangement is comical.
When the vinyl sheet flooring under it ignites it's efficiency will increase, but only briefly.
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Tom
http://clearcreekhomeinspection.com/
Life is tough enough as it is, it's tougher when your stupid. Don't do stupid things.
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DeWitt, Mi
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Boiler Help needed
[#10] Posted: 05/16/2012 - 07:26:28 AM | | |
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What is an air scoop? Something Jimmy Olsen might find at an air show?
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Les
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Chicago, IL
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Boiler Help needed
[#11] Posted: 05/16/2012 - 07:58:48 AM | | |
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I'm sure I can also come up with a couple more things to get persnickety about, but there's really nothing wrong with the boiler that a couple combustion air vents won't correct.
The thing ran for an hour because some other elements are entirely out of balance. That boiler's been there for 35+ years; folks did stuff different back then, air scoops were not common, zone controls were archaic, etc.
It's fine. About half the btu's of that leviathan are going up the chimney, that's why it ran for an hour.
I sometimes wonder if HI's are aware of "context". Everything is wrong in the book, so it's not an entirely useful way to look at stuff.
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Kurt in Chicago
"If I smell it, it goes in the report".............Phillip Smith...2012
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Victoria, British Columbia
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Boiler Help needed
[#12] Posted: 05/16/2012 - 08:56:26 AM | | |
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Give us the persnickety on that boiler. We already know it works. 
When the clients want additional info, "Why should we replace it or what can we do to improve or fix it?", that is when we want those details.
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Ridgewood, NJ
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Boiler Help needed
[#13] Posted: 05/16/2012 - 10:54:26 AM | | |
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Well, I look at boilers every single day. Even a steam boiler doesn't need to be run for an hour to determine if it's working. Put your hand on the returns after 15 minutes, even if they're cast iron rads.
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Neal Lewis
www.totalhomeinspectionservices.com |
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Georgetown, KY
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Chicago, IL
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Boiler Help needed
[#15] Posted: 05/16/2012 - 9:00:22 PM | | |
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Well, it was not at all clear......you jacked the thermostats and waited an hour. Seems reasonable to think it ran for an hour.
Either way, it's still not a bad deal. Those old American Standard boilers were great pieces of equipment. It's not a bad install for a boiler that's probably hitting 40+ years.
When it leaks in a few years, everyone can get as persnickety as they want when the new boiler goes in.
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Kurt in Chicago
"If I smell it, it goes in the report".............Phillip Smith...2012
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Georgetown, KY
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Succasunna, NJ
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Boiler Help needed
[#17] Posted: 05/18/2012 - 03:25:27 AM | | |
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Hey Neal;
Do you mention the lack of an air scoop?
I got a call back once because of air lock and no heat on the 2nd floor. Sears came out an told my client an air scoop is required so I got the call back. Ever since then, I note the lack of one.
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Darren
Succasunna NJ
New Jersey Home Inspections
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Ridgewood, NJ
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Boiler Help needed
[#18] Posted: 05/18/2012 - 06:17:30 AM | | |
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I haven't mentioned it, Darren. Thanks. I like the installs where there's a Spirovent...
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Neal Lewis
www.totalhomeinspectionservices.com |
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