Page 4 of 6 FirstFirst 123456 LastLast
Results 61 to 80 of 112

Thread: Pics of install - let the comments fly

  1. #61
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    PA
    Posts
    80,602
    Post Likes
    Quote Originally Posted by Mr Bill View Post
    Man Brother I think some of me is rubbing off on you, I don't know if thats good or bad.
    LOL..

    Could be a combination of both.

  2. #62
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Princeton, NJ
    Posts
    627
    Post Likes
    Quote Originally Posted by dash View Post
    We don't do a lot of furnaces,the only thing I'd change is the way each return enters the furnace.May not be an issue ,but lower static would be gained,but may not be needed,can't tell from here.

    Have the static checked,is the best advice .
    His return duct's look more restrictive than mine and I have high static pressure.

    I agree that is the best advice.... to get the static pressure checked to make sure you are getting the CFM's out and not shortening the life of the motor....

    Key1

  3. #63
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Posts
    657
    Post Likes
    ughhhhhhhhhh........i haven't been coming here a long time but one thing is for sure.....i can't stand these type of threads.........just a bunch of desk jockeys killing some guys work....some may enjoy making themselves feel better by picking apart some other guys work apart.....constructive criticism i can see but nit picking it to death when the customer has no complaints is a waste of time IMHO.
    "The things you own end up owning you. "

    Tyler Durden

  4. #64
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Location
    Seattle, WA
    Posts
    8,352
    Post Likes
    Quote Originally Posted by beenthere View Post
    If it wasn't on a positive pressure drain, and ran further then it does, it would be a concern.
    But it is a concern. You and I can not dictate that for the life of that furnace that the condensate drain will always be positive or trapped with water or any other condition, as odd and far fetched as it may seem, that may happen in it's life expentacy or lack of maintenance.

    The drain is even more positive if the trap is dry, say, during winter. The furnace drain is also a positive source because it's directly inline with the draft inducer in some way or manner.

    Therefore there is a one to one mechanical connection, which doesn't and shouldn't be there.

    Maybe it's a one in a million chance but allowing the condensate drain to be mechanically connected to the furnace drain allows for that one in a million time when things don't go according to the book or our theories.

    A simple air gap between the two lines after the condensate trap will solve that problem. Or run the two seperately.
    "The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers it can bribe the public with the public's own money.
    - Alexis de Toqueville, 1835

  5. #65
    Join Date
    Jul 2001
    Location
    VA
    Posts
    2,801
    Post Likes
    Most of it is housekeeping issues with a few exceptions. The gas line I wouldn't leave like that long enough to walk to the truck. Some things the other guys mentioned I didn't pick up on myself so I learned something.

    I would just suggest to the OP that what you are witnessing in this thread is how we collectively push each other to a higher level in what we do. There isn't quite as much malice here as it might seem. This is what we do, then we all come out of the woodwork to try to help each other in a bind... I see it over and over.
    ___________________________________________


  6. #66
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    PA
    Posts
    80,602
    Post Likes
    The trap won't always have water in it. In the winter the A/C condensate drain won't.

    But by the time it dries out, the furnace condensate trap will be full.

    The A/C trap will always have a positive pressure when the blower motor is running.

    Most manufacturers approve that drain set up.

    If you plan for the 1 in a million on every install. Then no one will be able to afford to have anything installed.

  7. #67
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Ct
    Posts
    499
    Post Likes
    Quote Originally Posted by DPSwitch View Post
    I would just suggest to the OP that what you are witnessing in this thread is how we collectively push each other to a higher level in what we do. There isn't quite as much malice here as it might seem. This is what we do, then we all come out of the woodwork to try to help each other in a bind... I see it over and over.
    True story man. I've always kept the mindset while working that someone's around ready to critique everything I do. As time goes on, I notice myself trying to make every job a little better than the last one. Appearance isn't hard to accomplish and little things like level piping and neat wiring go a long way to the untrained eye. (Meaning the customer, aka, the one paying the bill.) It's your self respect and integrity that will lead you to perform the important (technical) parts of the install. The customer only see's two things, the finished work, and the bill.

  8. #68
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Location
    Seattle, WA
    Posts
    8,352
    Post Likes
    Don't know of any other way to explain this; that mechanically connection of the two circuits together -- the burner/flue circuit and the air supplied to the interior of the residence -- is not a good thing in any form.

    Price is not an issue cause seperating now or installing originally, the two circuits would take a matter of minutes and dollars.

    Appreciate the input though.
    "The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers it can bribe the public with the public's own money.
    - Alexis de Toqueville, 1835

  9. #69
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    PA
    Posts
    80,602
    Post Likes
    I'm not saying that seperate connections wouldn't be better.
    But what was installed is an approved method.

  10. #70
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Ct
    Posts
    499
    Post Likes
    My big beef is the dryer vent. Those spine fins are a real pita to clean when they're jammed up nice with lint. The dryer vent is alot easier to move than the cond is.

    Smaller beef. It would have been just as easy to drop TWO cond drains into the pump.

    Medium sized beef with the disconnect. Especially if I have to risk closing a circuit with my elbow or forearm between the disconn and the grounded condenser. (At least I hope it's grounded, no joking there)

    Finally, big red tag beef. How's that second stage reg doing. the vent should be 10 FEET away from the cond, not 10 inches. Big time fail around here.

  11. #71
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    PA
    Posts
    80,602
    Post Likes
    Here its 36" for the reg/vent.

    A torch makes short work of lint with those spiney fins.

  12. #72
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Ct
    Posts
    499
    Post Likes
    Here, it's 36" to a window/door, and 10' to a source of ignition.

    On edit: BUT, lol, you can slap a ss reg on the side of a 400kBtu pool heater ( 18" away from 600deg exhaust), and nobody will say boo. go figure.

    I've used the torch on spines plugged with cottonwood, but never wanted to try it on lint figuring it would melt and stick to the coil even worse. I'll have to give it a go next spine cleaning.

  13. #73
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    156
    Post Likes
    Thread Starter
    Quote Originally Posted by gasoilair View Post
    My big beef is the dryer vent. Those spine fins are a real pita to clean when they're jammed up nice with lint. The dryer vent is alot easier to move than the cond is.
    I am concerned about this, but I can't think of anywhere to vent the dryer. I suppose I could move the vent over to the other side of the window, but that would only be moving it like 18 inches. Doubt that would be worth the trouble. I am open to suggestions on this problem.

    Quote Originally Posted by gasoilair View Post
    Medium sized beef with the disconnect. Especially if I have to risk closing a circuit with my elbow or forearm between the disconn and the grounded condenser. (At least I hope it's grounded, no joking there)
    This will be up to the inspector. If he fails it, the disconnect will need to be moved.

    Quote Originally Posted by gasoilair View Post
    Finally, big red tag beef. How's that second stage reg doing. the vent should be 10 FEET away from the cond, not 10 inches. Big time fail around here.
    Same thing as the disconnect, if it fails it will need to be moved. Not sure what you mean by "second stage reg", is that the vent to the outside?

    Assuming the vent needs to be moved, what are the codes? Are they limited to how many feet the run can be? How many 45s or 90s are allowed? What is the required rise? I'm just trying to get an idea on where it would need to be moved to.

    Thanks.

  14. #74
    Join Date
    Jul 2001
    Location
    VA
    Posts
    2,801
    Post Likes
    Quote Originally Posted by acobra289 View Post
    Assuming the vent needs to be moved, what are the codes? Are they limited to how many feet the run can be? How many 45s or 90s are allowed? What is the required rise? I'm just trying to get an idea on where it would need to be moved to.

    Thanks.
    If you have the installation guide that the unit came with...... all those clearances are in there.
    ___________________________________________


  15. #75
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Prata di Pordenone Italy
    Posts
    8,069
    Post Likes
    it looks like there are a few issues as mentioned already the disconnect could cause a turn down on inspection i cant commet on the furnace drain because here in south Texas 90% furnaces are very rare, but over all nice install and very nice equipment you should notice a nice savings on you utility bill ,one other thing if you did noy get the 10 parts and labor warranty i would

  16. #76
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    156
    Post Likes
    Thread Starter
    Quote Originally Posted by DPSwitch View Post
    If you have the installation guide that the unit came with...... all those clearances are in there.
    The left a bunch of paperwork with me. I'll look through it to see if I have the install guide.

    Quote Originally Posted by catmanacman View Post
    it looks like there are a few issues as mentioned already the disconnect could cause a turn down on inspection i cant comment on the furnace drain because here in south Texas 90% furnaces are very rare, but over all nice install and very nice equipment you should notice a nice savings on you utility bill ,one other thing if you did noy get the 10 parts and labor warranty i would
    I went with the 90% because I was told the 80% would have to be vented differently. And the cost to vent the 80 would push it close to the 90 so I might as well get the 90. I am hoping to save a least 50 bucks per month during cooling season. My old AC unit was probably about a negative 2 seer. lol Yes, I got the 10 year P&L warranty. That was very important to me.

  17. #77
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    Toledo, Ohio, United States
    Posts
    12,974
    Post Likes
    Twilli says you could have saved money and reused the ultra vent
    No Heat No Cool You need Action Fast

  18. #78
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    156
    Post Likes
    Thread Starter
    Quote Originally Posted by twilli3967 View Post
    Twilli says you could have saved money and reused the ultra vent
    I wanted to just hook a garden hose to it and let it vent under the garage door. But they wouldn't do it.

  19. #79
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Ct
    Posts
    499
    Post Likes
    Quote Originally Posted by acobra289 View Post
    I am concerned about this, but I can't think of anywhere to vent the dryer. I suppose I could move the vent over to the other side of the window, but that would only be moving it like 18 inches. Doubt that would be worth the trouble. I am open to suggestions on this problem.

    The dryer vent could be a tough one. It looks like that side of the house is already pretty busy. Without seeing a larger view of the outside or the inside and type of construction, it would be nearly impossible to find a better location, especially over the internet. As you already know, moving it to the other side of that window wouldn't make any difference. The reason most all of us mentioned the dryer vent is that in this business, dryer vents are the number one no-no to have near a condenser. The lint screen in your dryer only catches the big stuff and most everything else will get blown out. Having another appliance that specifically needs to draw in large quantities of clean air positioned right near the dryer discharge is bad because the lint will stick to the condensing coil while the unit runs. (I think you said yours is a heat pump, so this will be year round) This lint blocking the air thru the coil will cause the efficiency to go down a couple of different ways. Your indoor temps will take longer achieve the set temp on the t-stat, meaning longer run times, and the compressor inside the unit will be running with a higher head pressure, meaning more current drawn, the result is higher than necessary electric bills. Not to mention shortening the equipment life by years.



    This will be up to the inspector. If he fails it, the disconnect will need to be moved.

    One thing to keep in mind is that inspectors aren't the 'know-all, end-all' to all the world's issues. This disconnect is a hazard to any person that needs to use it to power down this unit for service. Find the other threads floating around the general area regarding technicians losing they're lives from electrical problems on service calls. It's a very real problem and ultimately, whether the inspector says anything of not, you should, in my opinion anyway, get the disconnect moved. It's worth the piece of mind and it's the right thing to do.



    Same thing as the disconnect, if it fails it will need to be moved. Not sure what you mean by "second stage reg", is that the vent to the outside?

    Assuming the vent needs to be moved, what are the codes? Are they limited to how many feet the run can be? How many 45s or 90s are allowed? What is the required rise? I'm just trying to get an idea on where it would need to be moved to.

    This one wasn't really geared towards you as much as the other guys reading this thread. It's in regard to the existing 'second stage propane regulator' that is installed within inches of the condenser, (and dryer vent for that matter). Gas code here in CT states specific distances for mounting regulators from various things like sources of ignition, like the condenser, and windows and doors, etc. I just happened to notice in the pic how that regulator is right in the middle of the mix and how, in my area, an inspector would administer an immediate colonoscopy to the person that put it there. NFPA58 doesn't like regs too close to things because if something fails internal to the reg, it may release gas from the vent into the surrounding area. If the gas venting is great enough, it could be ignited by things like the electrical contactor inside the condensers electrical panel. Needless to say, nobody would ever wish this to happen, but wishes don't save lives, prudent measures do. The vent is threaded 3/4" NPT and designed to be piped away in situations like this. It could be piped with 3/4"PVC for a few bucks in parts, and it would solve a particular hazard.

    All in all, your install isn't that bad. If I had to give it a 1-5 score, I'd say 3.75. The things we all have mentioned here are relatively easy fixes and would insure a long and happy life for your new stuff.

    Thanks.
    .

  20. #80
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    Houston,Texas
    Posts
    23,010
    Post Likes
    So are we there yet? I would had hired all the critics here and you would have had the perfect a/c and heating system installation.

    Or this guy below would have done you a mighty fine job also:


    __________________________________________________ _______________________
    “Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards" ~ Vernon Law

    "It's what you learn after you know it all that counts." ~ John Wooden

    "When the teachers become unteachable we're all in trouble" ~ Mr. Bill

    "Remember "Pro" is only a name, it's not always a mindset determined to do everything correctly" ~ Mr. Bill




Page 4 of 6 FirstFirst 123456 LastLast

Quick Reply Quick Reply

Register Now

Please enter the name by which you would like to log-in and be known on this site.

Please enter a password for your user account. Note that passwords are case-sensitive.

Please enter a valid email address for yourself.

Log-in

Posting Permissions

  • You may post new threads
  • You may post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •