Is this guy servicing your heating system?

USING THE AIR OUTSIDE TO HEAT AND COOL YOUR HOME.

When we think about air conditioners we think of them as appliances that cool a space.  In reality they are removing the heat, yes this is splitting hairs, but it explains how we can use these same appliances to provide heat in the winter as well.

Have you ever stood next to an outdoor condenser and felt the hot air blowing out of it?  This is the condenser unit rejecting the heat from inside.  These units work by flowing refrigerant in a loop thru the outdoor and indoor unit picking heat up inside and dropping it off outside.

The refrigerant can absorb and reject heat by constantly changing its state from a liquid to a gas and back, when it is passing thru the indoor unit or evaporator it changes from liquid to gas and absorbs heat.  The gas is then run through the outdoor unit or condenser where it is condensed back to a liquid and the heat is rejected.  In the winter a heat pump unit can reverse this process and take the heat from outside and bring it inside to provide heating. 

On the inside the heating or cooling process has generally been limited to an air based system.  However by adding a refrigerant to water heat exchanger indoors we can transfer the energy to water, now we have an air to water heat pump.

If we cycle the water thru heat emitters that are designed for lower temperatures such as radiant, panel radiators or specially designed air handlers we have a very efficient heating and cooling system that is using up to 75% renewable (free energy) and dramatically reducing carbon emissions.

Since the indoor heat emitters are hydronic it is very simple to pipe in a supplemental heat source like a wood, gas or oil boiler for the really cold days.  Accessories like solar kits and water heaters allow the user to reduce their energy consumption even further.

Take a look at the Daikin Altherma system here.

What do those pressure gauges on a pump tell us?

I was speaking with a good friend this week who was trying to quiet down the cavitation in a couple of centrifugal pumps that sounded like rock tumblers.  He had already taken a look at the pressure differential across the pumps and noted that it was minimal, but didn’t know what the numbers should be.  So we needed to start with the designed flow rate of 57GPM (gallons per minute).   The pump curve (fig. 1) showed that the pump would flow 57GPM at 65TDH (feet of head).

    Figure 1 

   

To convert the feet of head to a pressure reading we can divide the head by the pressure caused by the height of water above any given point.  Approximately 2.3 feet of water height equals 1 PSI, so in this case:

          65 TDH / 2.3 = 28.26

Now all we had to do was add the 28.26 PSI to the reading at the suction side and we could get the pump in the ballpark.  Since our suction side pressure was 30 PSI we needed to get to 58 PSI on the discharge, which was done by adjusting the Bell & Gossett Triple Duty Valve.  Once the adjustment was made the pump quieted down and the building occupants were happy.  Although not an exact method of balancing it will keep everyone happy till the balancer gets there with his pressure differential readout kit to set it up. 


So the gauges actually tell us how many feet of head the pump is generating when operating and by using the pump curve chart we can figure out the flow rate through the pump at that head pressure.

Something to keep in mind is the pressure readings work opposite of flow as the pressure goes up the feet of head increases and the flow goes down and vice versa. Also if the pressure is to low and the flow is too high you can get a pressure drop in the eye of the impeller that could cause the liquid to flash to a vapor creating air bubbles, as these bubbles move out along the impeller vane they will collapse and cause pump cavitation.  As these bubbles collapse they create tiny pits on the impeller in as little as a few hours these pits can add up and cause serious damage to an impeller.   


Next time you are called to a noisy pump take a look at the pressure differential and make sure the pump is operating along its curve, if not a little balancing might save a lot of problems later.

Does the right hand know what the left hand is doing?

Imagine driving your car down the road with your eyes closed and the pedal to the floor board waiting for your passenger to yell stop.  That is what happens when your boiler sits in the basement waiting for the zone control to tell it to go, stop, go and so on.  The boiler doesn't know if it is connected to one zone or to twenty, it just assumes that if I am told to go I must need all my BTU’s right now.

What if we could have the thermostats talk to each other and the boiler control with just two wires, and they could set the water temperatures and control the firing rate of the boiler.  Well the Tekmar House Control and communicating thermostats can do just that and so much more.

More information here

Opportunities with Thermal Solar

Lochinvar Corporation of Nashville and TiSun of Austria have joined together to offer commercial thermal solar products in the United States.  With an abundance of Federal, State and Local rebate programs adding solar to your job may provide the need financial incentives to close the jobs.  So the next time your looking at a commercial heating or domestic hot water job, think about adding a solar option.  The Lochinvar/TiSun panels have a SRCC OG-100 rating and a 10 year limited warranty. 

Pex is Pex right? Maybe not.

A recent study of Roth Industries X-Pert S5 by Jana Laboratories Inc. concluded that “By protecting the EVOH barrier layer, the five layer technology is seen to provide significant advantages for handling, installation and operation of hydronic systems and the EVOH layer itself has been demonstrated through testing to provide the barrier protection required to protect the rest of the hydronic system from oxygen damage.” 

Read the full report here

ICFs emerge as building blocks of sustainable construction

Take a look at this interesting article on a house built with Insulated Concrete Forms.Read the full article.

Lime Scale Accumulation: The Energy Thief

Water is used in a wide range of commercial applications.  Every day, businesses and facilities heat water to serve the needs of their customers and patrons.  While restaurants, laundromats, hotels and car washes all require very large amounts of hot water to stay in business, nearly all companies rely on hot water in one way or another.  Each year, a significant portion of their overhead is allotted to the fuel required to heat water, and everyday that allotment becomes slightly larger.  However, many do not realize what they lose each year due to the negative by-products of heating water.

Read More Here

Smart Building: High Performance HVAC

A workshop for HVAC contractors & other building professionals

15 dates during the fall of 2011 - dates TBD
8:00 am - 11:00 am
various locations through Massachusetts - locations TBD

The new Massachusetts building code carries with it a number of additional requirements regarding both the sizing of mechanical systems and the installation of their associated ductwork. This workshop will provide a detailed description of the new code requirements and help to you increase customer satisfaction and reduce callbacks.

This workshop will cover:
-Code Changes
-Performance Testing
-ACCA Manual J, S, and D
-Tips and Tricks for Duct Sealing
-Resources and Guidance
-Rebates and Incentives

Dates and Locations: TBD, will be finalized by September.
Cost: $25 which includes a light breakfast and lunch
CEUs/LUs: available from BBRS for building officials and CSL renewals, AIA and BPI

For more information, please contact Lisa Karlin at training@cetonline.org or 413-586-7350 x240

WHY IS THE BOILER WATER BLACK?

From our good friend John Pemerton, Lochinvar's National Service Manager comes this explanation:

"The black discoloration sounds like the magnetite layer from the carbon pipe is breaking down.  All carbon steel boiler pipe will have a layer of iron oxide form as water passes through.  With a minimum of oxygen the layer will turn black, domestic water turns brownish red or orange, this is why boiler water is almost always black when drained.  If new water is introduced or the system flushed, the magnetite layer can break loose this is most likely what you are seeing."  

ARE YOU WORTH YOUR PRICE?

The PHCC of MA will be hosting a special workshop on Saturday, November 12, 2011 on ways to calculate your costs, profit and pricing.  This workshop is presented by Contractors, John Klesaris & Owen Geoghegan.

Download a flyer here.

Warming to idea of in-floor heating | Homes | London Free Press

An interesting article in the London Free Press this week talks about in-floor heating using radiation, convection and conduction to provide all around comfort. The article was written by Shellie Chowns, the President of the London Home Builders’ Association.

Warming to idea of in-floor heating | Homes | London Free Press

Oak Square YMCA gets in SYNC

Faced with repairing their standard efficiency boiler again the YMCA turned to Kurt Hudson of LC Anderson, Inc. for a better solution. The location of the atmospheric boiler near the chlorine equipment was the main culprit in its premature failure. The 1.3 million BTU boiler was responsible for heating the Y's 3 pools and providing hot water to the reheat coils in the dehumidification system. LC Anderson's crew installed the SYNC boiler from Lochinvar with its true sealed combustion design the chlorine equipment would not be a factor. Also the SYNC boasts an impressive 10:1 turn down with thermal efficiency's in excess of 94%.

How Much is 5 Million Dollars Worth to you.

Did you know that Roth Industries Double Wall Oil Tanks come with a 15 year warranty and a 10 year insurance policy worth up to 5 million dollars.  Every Roth Double Wall Tank comes with this level of protection as long as it is installed by a certified contractor.  Roth tanks are manufactured in Watertown, NY.

See the first tank off the line

Lochinvar Announces 2011-2012 VIP Program

Lochinvar has released the details on this years VIP Program, this years program includes increased marketing support, more ways to win a trip to Nashville and as always great prizes for registering your boilers.  Take a look as Lochinvar’s Director of Marketing Stirling Boston details this years program.

 Watch the Video Here