Pellet Boiler - Isn't cutting the mustard
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I'll respectfully differ with you. We have dealt with the Amish in the past on animals and unless they think they are giving you a royal screwing, they fell they are getting taken. I won't sell them animals or hay for that matter. The only customer I ever got stiffed by was an Amishman. I took him on his word about payment and got screwed..... he never paid.
The reason I asked about the age of the equipment was maybe, just maybe, you can take up with the seller the fact that a greatly undersized unit was sold. Maybe get them involved in getting the correct sized unit changed out at mostLy their expense, the seller. I wouldn't be to concerned about getting a Harman boiler if the price is correct.
Maybe you just don't want to deal with the seller after what's happened. I wouldn't blame you but would at least give it some thought.
I wish you good results.
Maybe you just don't want to deal with the seller after what's happened. I wouldn't blame you but would at least give it some thought.
I wish you good results.
I'm sorry for your troubles. I can't throw the whole culture under the bus, just because this one entity didn't do things right. He is young and he will fix things; and it won't need to go to court. Last summer his buggy was struck by a car from behind, it killed then horse and he was punted out, with some pretty severe injuries. The accident wasn't his fault, but he probably won't go to court either, it's just their way. He hasn't fully recovered yet so he hasn't been back, yet. I live in a town that has 46% of the town's residents are Amish, the old order, the ultra traditionalist type. Many of them I would gladly hand them my keys, wallet, anything I own and never worry. He isn't one of them, BUT still, one, doesn't ruin the rest of them. They make great neighbors. I've had as many as 21 employee's and have been hung up by doctors, lawyers, builders...etc. You won't find me grouping them all together over one bad experience.
I didn't mean for this to go OT when I mentioned that it was an Amish handyman. Around here it, means that their rates are reasonable, for those with limited resources. That was my only reference. I apologize for bringing up a sore subject. I'm not sure of your time line, but I could make a few recommendations on how to handle your issue. Please PM me.
The family I started this thread for is a very hard working family. Some questions were raised about how the pellets would be loaded. The son lives down the street and the grandchildren live in town also. They are all good hardworking people. The mother could still lend a hand, but she doesn't need to.
Again, I didn't mean to bring up a sore subject, my apologies for not thinking ahead when I mentioned he was Amish.
No issue with me. I was recanting our experiences with the Amish as it relates to business. Nothing more. Not a sore subject with me. It was a learning experience that we chalked up to inexperience on our part. Life goes on. We are still her, we are still making money (farm) and all is good.
Lake Girl
Moderator
While there has been sound info provided, you could also pose your question in the boiler room forum ... https://www.hearth.com/talk/forums/the-boiler-room-wood-boilers-and-furnaces.13/ Might just be a rehash of what you have heard here though...
I hope you can help your friend and his mother in getting the heating sorted out. Stories like this always leave me disappointed.
I hope you can help your friend and his mother in getting the heating sorted out. Stories like this always leave me disappointed.
BadgerBoilerMN
Member
Dare I say; professional help is in order.
Where is her kin?
Where is health and human services?
Where are her fellow parishioners?
First and always, an ACCA Manual 'J' heat loads. The "should heat" rules of thumb used by the solid fuel industry to size their equipment are, as shamefully illustrated here, misleading. 150,000 btuh for 2300 sq.ft. in Indiana, seriously!
Having owned several homes such the one described here and specify insulation for many homes before we replace boilers, I can tell you it isn't cheap or easy. In fact and work on a century old home is more akin to restoration i.e. laborious and expensive.
I would think first of isolating the upper floor and having granny live on the main or most accessible level. Drain the upper floor radiators, this can be done without isolation if you know how. Operate a new direct vent--no chimney needed- oil or propane-fired boiler. Little old ladies don't take up much space, so isolate the second floor, choke off flow to a minimum don't freeze flow in the main floor rooms not used and see if the pellet boiler can be direct-vented with a Tjernland or the like.
Do not Google the solution, or get bad advice from your peers, get sound experienced advice from a local heating professional before someone gets hurt.
Where is her kin?
Where is health and human services?
Where are her fellow parishioners?
First and always, an ACCA Manual 'J' heat loads. The "should heat" rules of thumb used by the solid fuel industry to size their equipment are, as shamefully illustrated here, misleading. 150,000 btuh for 2300 sq.ft. in Indiana, seriously!
Having owned several homes such the one described here and specify insulation for many homes before we replace boilers, I can tell you it isn't cheap or easy. In fact and work on a century old home is more akin to restoration i.e. laborious and expensive.
I would think first of isolating the upper floor and having granny live on the main or most accessible level. Drain the upper floor radiators, this can be done without isolation if you know how. Operate a new direct vent--no chimney needed- oil or propane-fired boiler. Little old ladies don't take up much space, so isolate the second floor, choke off flow to a minimum don't freeze flow in the main floor rooms not used and see if the pellet boiler can be direct-vented with a Tjernland or the like.
Do not Google the solution, or get bad advice from your peers, get sound experienced advice from a local heating professional before someone gets hurt.
I believe the Hydroflex 60 is designed as a direct vent-no Tjernland required.
Lake Girl
Moderator
That's been part of the problem ... they thought they were getting sound advice from a professional. I can understand getting advice here and then getting information from the local heating firms. A way to validate if the next recommendation will fix the problem or just more money to the wind... On a fixed income, you can't afford to make too many mistakes.
As to closing off the second floor, I personally would not be purchasing another boiler that is undersized. At some point that second floor will be needed in the winter, whether by the current owner when she has friends/relatives staying or by a successive owner. Insulation would be my first step.
I just spent the morning with him, this is what we have discussed so far.
I was told Harman is getting away from pellet boilers, that may be a sufficient statement in and of itself.
It was agreed today that more insulation is a requirement. That his dad did put blown insulation in the walls years ago, he feels that it would have settled. He therefore has stated that it as if there isn't any. Maybe the walls need to be redone. It was also agreed that the attic insulation needs to be down and it will be a priority this summer. The existing insulation was old bats a couple on inches thick? He had the handyman put on a new truss roof system two summers ago. He is unsure whether the old insulation is still intact.
There is a definite need to add some blown in this summer.
The Harman is not capable of putting out 180* by itself, he was happy when he finally got over 140*
They will zone and close off the second floor. Each floor is 900 sq ft. 1800 total.
Running another boiler in tandem with this unit, this unit as a supplement maybe the correct answer.
Perhaps a direct vent boiler? At this point if the resources are there he feels a whole new system, low/NO weekly maintenance is the way to go. If it can't be done then finding another affordable boiler is the way to go.
I was told Harman is getting away from pellet boilers, that may be a sufficient statement in and of itself.
It was agreed today that more insulation is a requirement. That his dad did put blown insulation in the walls years ago, he feels that it would have settled. He therefore has stated that it as if there isn't any. Maybe the walls need to be redone. It was also agreed that the attic insulation needs to be down and it will be a priority this summer. The existing insulation was old bats a couple on inches thick? He had the handyman put on a new truss roof system two summers ago. He is unsure whether the old insulation is still intact.
There is a definite need to add some blown in this summer. The Harman is not capable of putting out 180* by itself, he was happy when he finally got over 140*
They will zone and close off the second floor. Each floor is 900 sq ft. 1800 total.
Running another boiler in tandem with this unit, this unit as a supplement maybe the correct answer.
Perhaps a direct vent boiler? At this point if the resources are there he feels a whole new system, low/NO weekly maintenance is the way to go. If it can't be done then finding another affordable boiler is the way to go.
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