Help with installing my Garn/ piping layout

[Jim K in PA]

Brandon - Glad to hear you have found a contractor that can assist. Nothing like having eyes on the project directly to get to the right answer. Keith did respond to your email with the drawing (I spoke with him today) but perhaps it got "lost in the sauce". His advice was to find a good local contractor skilled in hydronics, which it appears you have already done.

There was a period where TWH was no longer the rep for PA, and I had not come on board yet. You did nothing wrong. I'll help as much as I can, and will at least arm you with some pointed questions for your contractor.

The GARN is a very efficient, simple device. It is also simple to connect to whatever system you want, but most of the design decisions have to be made based on the load side considerations, not the supply (GARN) side. As with any heat generation device, it converts fuel into heat, and has a supply and a return port. Beyond that the sky is the limit on how you build your system. The good news is that if you do the basics correctly (properly sized and insulated lines, etc.) you can correct any potential "mistakes" without having to touch the GARN side of the installation at all.

Jim

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the help. Jim I will be in touch with you. I met with a heating contractor yesterday who as far as I can tell is very knowledgable. He thinks I am on the right track. I just don't want to get it up and running and not perform as expected.

The other year when I purchased it I couldn't find a rep. "This warm house". Used to be but stopped right when I went to order. If someone else was I didn't mean to cut them out.

I have talked to Keith a few times. I sent him some drawings for review. I didn't hear back from him and figured he was too busy to review them.

Merry Christmas everyone.

 

[BHetrick10]

Thanks Jim

Did Keith say if he was going to send over the information again? Should I contact him again? I just came inside to warm up. Working on finishing insulation the last wall of the shop and a little more in the Garn shed. I will try to get some pics up soon.

I noticed Taco Flo Pro has some new BTU calc info. I am going to redo all my calcs.

Rough math looks like a 0012VFD for my primary and Bumble bees for secondaries. I am going to try to get some good numbers and see how close the bumble bee is for the primary. Right now it looks like I need 7gpm at 12 ft of head for the primary.

Anyone have any experience with these? Seems like a good price.

(broken link removed to http://www.ebay.com/itm/360791095645?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649)

 

[BHetrick10]

I finally figured out how to post pics. I am terrible with technology.

The first three are inside my Garn Shed. The third is where my water lines from the shop will come in the 6" conduit on the right. The ran a 6" pvc chase to the shop for the 4" insulated pipe to go through. I didnt want my pipe to fail and it be under my slab with know way of replacing it. It slides through nicely. The other three are for a future house and spares. The fourth pic is my tin transfer plates. #5 is my closet where the 6" line cones in and all my pex from the slab, as well as chases for my domestic and future domestic to house and out building. #6 Is the outside of the closet once the doores are shut.

 

[heaterman]

Thanks Jim

Did Keith say if he was going to send over the information again? Should I contact him again? I just came inside to warm up. Working on finishing insulation the last wall of the shop and a little more in the Garn shed. I will try to get some pics up soon.

I noticed Taco Flo Pro has some new BTU calc info. I am going to redo all my calcs.

Rough math looks like a 0012VFD for my primary and Bumble bees for secondaries. I am going to try to get some good numbers and see how close the bumble bee is for the primary. Right now it looks like I need 7gpm at 12 ft of head for the primary.

Anyone have any experience with these? Seems like a good price.

(broken link removed to http://www.ebay.com/itm/360791095645?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649)

Re: those manifolds.....

They are passable quality but not great. Lot's of non standard type gaskets that can leak down the road.
They are made by Rifeng (China) and if you ask for warranty information you will be told you have to deal directly with the manufacturer yourself. Yah......good luck with that unless you speak Mandarin and have a cheap rate on international phone calls.

That being said, we have used a few ourselves on jobs where the customer was concerned only with cost. One place we found that does have a few replacement parts for them is Pex Universe. I wouldn't buy them off Amazon personally. It's nice to have a U.S. place with Americans answering the phone if you have problems.

 

[maple1]

BHetrick10 - feel free to call or email me. I tried to PM you through the forum but I could not figure out a way to do that with the new forum software.

Hold you mouse cursor over 'Inbox' at the top of the page, then click 'start a new conversation' when that pops up.

 

[BHetrick10]

I am getting frustrated with BTU calcs. I did one last year and cant find it. I am having a hard time finding ratings for different materials for U and R values. I have 2 x 6 walls with 7/16 on inside and outside, R19 in walls and tyvek wrap on outside and then sided with Tin. That is for the walls. The roof is osb covered in tar paper and TIn. Below is how I constructed the walls in my bedroom which is in the attic.

I also included a piping layout. I suspect if I do not put an oil boiler in I could keep the system unpressurized and not need the plate exchanger, and keep my circs on the supplies.

Mixing valves are set up with the circ pulling through correct?