Help on Dual Boiler setup Coal-Propane

[layoric]

Any further questions I'd have if I do it myself would be just wiring....

 

[maple1]

That still doesn't look quite right.

We also know very little about all your controls, and how they're wired & adjusted.

So, again, good luck.

(And I don't think I would agree with the last guy and his take on pumps vs. zone valves...)

 

[Bob Rohr]

he was saying we don't use zone valves any longer, no one should. We install pumps on every zone, otherwise you can't drain the lines all the way. ---- Pumps may be better, but the house only had one for years, and it worked just fine until it was fubar'd.

Boy you're finding some real dandys Keep looking

 

[layoric]

Boy you're finding some real dandys Keep looking

I think there are just a bunch of monkeys out here -

 

[Paso]

Series piping is never a good option for multiple boilers. You are always flowing thru and un-fired boiler. So a portion, possibly a large portion of the energy is going up the flue pipe and through jacket loss of dual boilers.

With series your dhw costs could offset what you are trying to save with coal as a source?

I found the loss is very negligible with two boilers in series and in our supreme cold spells it is like a insurance policy against freeze up.

With all the problems the original poster has had, a simple series set up would not have caused all the "grief"

I don't mean to be the dissenter or cause anyone to be offended but...... the OP wants to heat with cheap coal but if the coal goes out the propane furnace is right there on line ready to go without any attention, or action.
I switched to series and have been happy with the simplistic set up and spent my money on for when the power goes out.

 

[layoric]

Well, the jerk didn't show up today to complete the work. Left messages, no answer on phone. I'm a member of a legal plan service, I think that's the route to go now...

The coal fire went out last night, bucket of useless ash mixed with coal. Propane boiler did NOT fire when it went down in water temperature. Apparently there's something mis-wired as well. Since I know what and how to plumb them correctly at this point, depending on what my 3rd boiler guy says (or if HE shows up), I'll be finishing the job myself. Today was the last warm day, we need heat.

So if I could get some assistance on wiring, I'll take any pics and document the best I can what I have. Thanks to everyone --

 

[leon]

can you post some more pictures sometime?

Well, the jerk didn't show up today to complete the work. Left messages, no answer on phone. I'm a member of a legal plan service, I think that's the route to go now...

The coal fire went out last night, bucket of useless ash mixed with coal. Propane boiler did NOT fire when it went down in water temperature. Apparently there's something mis-wired as well. Since I know what and how to plumb them correctly at this point, depending on what my 3rd boiler guy says (or if HE shows up), I'll be finishing the job myself. Today was the last warm day, we need heat.

So if I could get some assistance on wiring, I'll take any pics and document the best I can what I have. Thanks to everyone --

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Can you purchase a couple of paint pens from the local hardware store?

One white and one blue

Use the white one for the hot water to the zones to trace the flow to the four
zones and the blue one for the return piping if it is possible to trace it from
the four zones.

Once you have mapped the pipe routes for all the zones you can place flow direction arrows in the drawings for your use and for us to look at.

How far are you from Lindas Diner on Route 34 North in Locke????

You have a military term with your heating S.N.A.F.U.

Situation Normal All F------d UP

Plumbing the boilers in series or parallel with a circulator dedicated only to
maintaining both the boiler temperatures with the second pump to pump
heated water to the zones is the way to go "IF" I was stabbed in the back
like this.

In for a penny in for a pound, is there any reason cannot you move the
propane boiler next to the coal stoker to simplify the pipe runs and to
solve your plumbing issues?? I fully realise you will need to add stove pipe
for the exhaust gas but you will gain simplicty in the plumbing in my opinion.

I would also have a nice long chat with the folks at Dennis Coal explaining once again the problems you are having with their installer.

And tell them you want your money back as this can and will be a red flag for them as crap still flows uphill when a subcontractor screws up royally affecting a sellers potential sales in the future as goodwill in and of itself has tremendous value economically.

I would also let Mr. Somers know as this affects him and his partner as the manufacturers.

 

[layoric]

can you post some more pictures sometime?



------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Can you purchase a couple of paint pens from the local hardware store?

One white and one blue

Use the white one for the hot water to the zones to trace the flow to the four
zones and the blue one for the return piping if it is possible to trace it from
the four zones.

Once you have mapped the pipe routes for all the zones you can place flow direction arrows in the drawings for your use and for us to look at.

How far are you from Lindas Diner on Route 34 North in Locke????

You have a military term with your heating S.N.A.F.U.

Situation Normal All F------d UP

Plumbing the boilers in series or parallel with a circulator dedicated only to
maintaining both the boiler temperatures with the second pump to pump
heated water to the zones is the way to go "IF" I was stabbed in the back
like this.

In for a penny in for a pound, is there any reason cannot you move the
propane boiler next to the coal stoker to simplify the pipe runs and to
solve your plumbing issues?? I fully realise you will need to add stove pipe
for the exhaust gas but you will gain simplicty in the plumbing in my opinion.

I would also have a nice long chat with the folks at Dennis Coal explaining once again the problems you are having with their installer.

And tell them you want your money back as this can and will be a red flag for them as crap still flows uphill when a subcontractor screws up royally affecting a sellers potential sales in the future as goodwill in and of itself has tremendous value economically.

I would also let Mr. Somers know as this affects him and his partner as the manufacturers.

Guy finally called back yesterday. Said he had family issues. Yeah but you couldn't take 1 minute for a phone call? So he came back and after I showed him what and where to tie into, and him rewiring the lp boiler, everything is finally working! However, I had to bleed air out of a zone as he turned it all on with some of the valves off...

The lp boiler also fires on its own. Basically I told him we have to get this to look like the diagram.

The only issue now is that I believe the lp boiler will only fire if a zone calls for heat, not if temp drops below its set temp of 140, so DHW may have an issue keeping up with demand. I believe I'll have to get an external storage tankas a buffer. If I can't figure that out I'll post another topic.

 

[layoric]

Btw, the 3rd hvac guy never called or showed up for an estimate either.