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Originally Posted by Joehvac25

Hey chuck reading this months later I can barely understand what I said, let alone expect you too lol.

The buffer tank is only heated when there is a call for heat.

Yes, I think I got that

Originally Posted by Joehvac25

What I meant was on call for heat to the tank is maintained at a certain temp, not without a call for heat. I think I'm starting to split hairs here and I'm sure there won't be any or enuf gravity to make a difference it's just how it shows to install them in their manual.

Hey chuck reading this months later I can barely understand what I said, let alone expect you too lol.

The buffer tank is only heated when there is a call for heat.

Originally Posted by 4dblnkldude

I do not like ball valves on expansion tanks, but thats me. Very nice work though! I get laughed at for painting floor heat manifolds red and blue.

You like to drain half the system with the tank and have to fug around with air in the system?

Also no condensate drain on the exhaust close to boiler


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I do not like ball valves on expansion tanks, but thats me. Very nice work though! I get laughed at for painting floor heat manifolds red and blue.

Originally Posted by tlj000

Nice work.
But I must say I hate to see all that exposed copper mounted on un insulated masonry. (unless its insulated on the outside)

95% system mounted on a giant heatsink = ?%.

the board is mounted to an interior wall. there were no plans to insulate. i agree, it's a lot of copper but you have to realize too that this is a really old building downtown and there is no insulation in the walls. honestly, when comparing to the previous system, this new system will save the building owner tons.

Are u going to insulate?

Originally Posted by chuckcrj

There already is a check valve in the boiler pump, besides a little gravity flow through the boiler is a non-problem anyways.

The boiler buddy should never be maintained at a certain temp, it is just buffer. The boiler only needs to fire when a zone is calling. Buffer tanks are ONLY necessary when the heat loss of the smallest zone is less than the lowest firing rate of the boiler.

Example; If the boiler modulated down to 15,000 btu and the smallest zone has a heat loss of 16,000 btu's, a buffer tank is a waste of money.

What I meant was on call for heat to the tank is maintained at a certain temp, not without a call for heat. I think I'm starting to split hairs here and I'm sure there won't be any or enuf gravity to make a difference it's just how it shows to install them in their manual.

Originally Posted by Joehvac25

Hot water can flow out of the supply or return, also boiler side could gravity flow through boiler.

There already is a check valve in the boiler pump, besides a little gravity flow through the boiler is a non-problem anyways.

The boiler buddy should never be maintained at a certain temp, it is just buffer. The boiler only needs to fire when a zone is calling. Buffer tanks are ONLY necessary when the heat loss of the smallest zone is less than the lowest firing rate of the boiler.

Example; If the boiler modulated down to 15,000 btu and the smallest zone has a heat loss of 16,000 btu's, a buffer tank is a waste of money.

Hot water can flow out of the supply or return, also boiler side could gravity flow through boiler.

Originally Posted by Joehvac25

They want check valve right at tank, all four ports so no gravity flow.

Interesting, I'll have to look that up. Like Charles had mentioned.... it should be taken care of at the zone valves.

Originally Posted by rich pickering

Couldn't afford a coat of paint on the plywood?

A boiler drain between the ball valve and the x-tank would be nice for service.

I actually saw a drain like that on another boiler and thought it was a great idea.

Originally Posted by jnsrose

Do the install guys know you are putting up pictures of there work?

No they don't.

I put this up on the wall of pride cause I'm happy with their work. I'm not sure what your thoughts are but I have no bad intentions in this posting.

I think you have 1 to many spirovents also, the buffer tank has one.

Originally Posted by Wheelbaron

looks nice
clean

Thanks

Originally Posted by jlanesey

That's a lot of gas man! How do they split up the gas bill?

Install looks nice and clean though.

Would have taken the five minutes to paint the board though.

The heat is included in the rent, this building is really old and there is really no easy way to split up heating. As for the paint, I'll be posting more boiler pics in the future and we got a good one going in soon. Thanks

Originally Posted by chuckcrj

Nice clean boiler work!

Could have saved a pump by just using the buffer tank as your hydraulic seperation. I know, the low loss header comes with the boiler, which is why it always gets used.

That's an awesome point Charles! I suppose we would just have to fit in the pump and piping for the domestic but that would work. It does seem rather redundant now to have two points of hydraulic separation.

Nice work.
But I must say I hate to see all that exposed copper mounted on un insulated masonry. (unless its insulated on the outside)

95% system mounted on a giant heatsink = ?%.

Do the install guys know you are putting up pictures of there work?

Originally Posted by chuckcrj

Nice work!

Thanks, I enjoy this stuff!

Originally Posted by Joehvac25

I guess at long off periods the highly insulated tank could lose heat and fire the boiler, but after a closer look there is no aquastat on the buffer tank so I guess that wouldn't be an issue. We set them up with outdoor reset and Teckmar control so the boiler maintains tank temperature. Not to hijack but here's one I did.Attachment 340741Attachment 340751

Nice work!

Originally Posted by chuckcrj

I guess I don't understand why they would need any check valves in this application (other than the primary loop and the DHW loop of course). Gravity flow, if even possible on the boiler side, would not have any negative effect that I can think of.

But I've been wrong before!

I guess at long off periods the highly insulated tank could lose heat and fire the boiler, but after a closer look there is no aquastat on the buffer tank so I guess that wouldn't be an issue. We set them up with outdoor reset and Teckmar control so the boiler maintains tank temperature. Not to hijack but here's one I did.Attachment 340741Attachment 340751

Originally Posted by Joehvac25

I have seen it go up the returns even. All the buffer tanks I've installed have 4 check valves right in the manual. I agree that with zone valves you won't get any after them. Not sure but maybe even the boiler side could a little also. If I'm wrong it won't offend me to school me chuck, I know you know your beans.

I guess I don't understand why they would need any check valves in this application (other than the primary loop and the DHW loop of course). Gravity flow, if even possible on the boiler side, would not have any negative effect that I can think of.

But I've been wrong before!

Couldn't afford a coat of paint on the plywood?

A boiler drain between the ball valve and the x-tank would be nice for service.