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Consider the smaller boiler. If you have a choice between a big boiler and a smaller boiler, give that little one a second look. I say this because I've been in boiler rooms on days when it was so cold outside I thought that the sunshine might freeze. In spite of this, those boilers were not running flat out, as they should have been. I've come to believe that 99.99% of the boilers in North America are oversized. Consider a smaller boiler and put the money you save into some other part of the system. Consider the smaller circulator. Same story here. Bigger isn't better when it comes to circulators. Bigger usually means you'll get velocity noise because in North America we have yet to fully recognize the beauty of differential-pressure regulators. We also zone like mad and then convince ourselves that there will be a day when every stinking zone and all the domestic hot water will be needed at the same instant. You ever see that happen in real life? I once visited a US military base where they had decided to standardize all their hydronic components. The circulator they chose was a two-horsepower, Bell & Gossett Series 60. They used it everywhere. They used it on a short loop of half-inch baseboard in the Base Commander's house. The velocity noise had that guy's head snapping like a dog seeing rabbits. Why did they do this? Because they could.
 Consider the other person's point of view. Learn to listen. This is a tough one because most people would much rather talk. I talk for a living, but given a choice, I'd much rather listen. I had a contractor on the phone recently. He was calling because he had a problem with an old steam system. He described the problem and asked me what could be the cause. I stated to tell him, but he cut me off and described the problem again. I heard him out, and then again tried to give him what I thought was the probable cause. He cut me off again and launched himself right back into the same speech. I finally gave up and just listened. Before long, he had absolutely convinced himself that his problem had no solution. Consider the steam pressure. When given a choice, always crank the pressure down on a steam heating system. We have pressuretrols and we have screwdrivers, and the urge to crank up the pressure is irresistible in most heating professionals born after 1950. Resist that urge and crank it down instead. When you do, the chances are great that the steam system will suddenly do what it's supposed to do.
Consider the pH of the steam boiler water. The Dead Men used to pour vinegar into steam boilers to prevent foaming. Foaming is what happens when the pH of water gets too high. You see foaming happen in hot tubs all the time. That white foam is there because the management keeps the pH of the hot tub high by adding chemicals to the water. They do this because folks often relieve their bladders while soaking in the hot tub. People also add chemicals to steam boilers. How come? Because they can! Steam boiler chemicals generally nudge the water's pH higher, and when the pH reaches 11, the water will foam. That can really mess up the system so always check the pH and lower it if necessary.
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| Dan Holohan - [Intro] | [Email] | [Website] |
| The views expressed in this article are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the management or staff of MasterPlumbers.com |
