The owner of a 2,800-square foot home in New Milford, Penn., was experiencing uneven heat throughout the residence, limited hot water and high utility costs. The installation of a new hydronic heating system helped drive home significant energy savings and ensure that “no place like home” feeling. Kirk Walthers, owner of the two-story residence on Read more
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The owner of a 2,800-square foot home in New Milford, Penn., was experiencing uneven heat throughout the residence, limited hot water and high utility costs. The installation of a new hydronic heating system helped drive home significant energy savings and ensure that “no place like home” feeling.
Kirk Walthers, owner of the two-story residence on Main Street, sought a quick solution to alleviate his heating woes – not only for the comfort of himself and his family, but also because he rented space in the home to a hair salon business.
“We had an old steam boiler with a cracked block, and hot water heaters that were not providing adequate warm water,” said Walthers. “We figured it was time upgrade to a more efficient system to make the home more comfortable for us and guests – with the hope of reducing our utility bills in the process.”
Walthers contacted Jay Haggerty, owner of Haggerty’s Comfort Plus in New Milford, Penn., to handle the upgrade.
“An older model oil-fired steam boiler had exceeded its useful operating life and was not providing even heat throughout the home,” said Haggerty. “Additionally, an electric hot water heater was aging and inefficient.”
With the city planning to upgrade his neighborhood to natural gas in the near future, Walthers requested specification of a boiler that could operate on propane now and convert to gas later.
Haggerty recommended replacement of the old boiler and installation of a WM97+® 100K BTU boiler from Weil-McLain® – a unit that operates via propane or natural gas. The WM97+ is a wall mount boiler featuring a condensing stainless steel fire tube heat exchanger design and up to 95% AFUE.
Haggerty also specified a new Aqua Plus® indirect fired water heater to replace an electric 50-gallon unit.
Haggerty and team removed the old boiler and installed all new connections and ran copper piping in the boiler area. Installing the piping in some areas proved challenging.
“Part of the house was situated over a crawl space and navigating that space was challenging,” said Haggerty. “The house was built on large 8 x 8 square beams all the way around and we had to drill holes to get the pipe and tubing through the spaces.”
Walthers handled the removal of all of the steam radiators himself and Haggerty’s team installed the hot water baseboards.
The entire project was completed in less than two weeks.
“I’ve been using Weil-McLain systems since I’ve been involved in the heating business, and I’ve always liked them,” said Haggerty. The company provides great tech support and we’ve never had any issues with warranties.”
Walthers has experienced several benefits from the new Weil-McLain boiler and hot water heaters.
“The installation was a smooth process,” said Walthers. “And, the new water heater provides enough hot water for us and meets the needs of the salon.”
Walthers also appreciates the improved comfort in the home.
“The new heating system is quieter, takes up less space than the steam unit and produces a much nicer warmth,” said Walthers. “In fact, the house has never before been so comfortable.”
Most importantly, expensive heating bills are a part of the past.
“We’ve experienced drastically lower heating costs since the boiler installation – nearly 50% or better savings on those expenses,” added Walthers. “We actually have a credit on our propane bill now because we had paid ahead.”
ADEY, a U.K.-based company whose pioneering MagnaClean® magnetic filters were recently rolled out in the U.S., is now introducing a line of innovative, concentrated System Treatment Formulas designed to clean and protect hydronic heating systems. MC3+™ Cleaner and MC1+™ Protector both serve different purposes, but are both born of the same need to combat a Read more
ADEY, a U.K.-based company whose pioneering MagnaClean® magnetic filters were recently rolled out in the U.S., is now introducing a line of innovative, concentrated System Treatment Formulas designed to clean and protect hydronic heating systems. MC3+™ Cleaner and MC1+™ Protector both serve different purposes, but are both born of the same need to combat a frequently overlooked enemy of untreated hydronic heating systems – iron oxide sludge.
The Problem: Iron Oxide SludgeWith the advent of high-efficiency equipment, installers are finding that even in very small quantities, iron oxide sludge can potentially cause expensive damage – and significant drops in efficiency and performance – to boilers and ECM pumps. Both are particularly vulnerable to the damaging effects of sludge due to their narrower waterways, which can easily clog with debris. Dr. Neil Watson, ADEY Chief Technical Officer, sums it up this way: “Even the highest-quality boiler will deteriorate rapidly if it is fitted to a dirty system that hasn’t been flushed and cleaned effectively.”
The Solution: ADEY System Treatment FormulasEnter ADEY System Treatment Formulas. An integral part of the ADEY 5-Step Best Practice™ approach for cleaning and maintaining hydronic systems, MC3+ and MC1+ System Treatment Formulas work to produce results that ultimately boost system efficiency and performance.
MC3+ Cleaner, a concentrated liquid, works by loosening debris and scale so it can be harmlessly flushed from the system. The product can be left in the system for as little as one hour, or as long as 28 days. After the system is drained to flush loosened debris, system flow is restored. As a result, the system’s heating efficiency is also restored.
MC1+ Protector, also a concentrated liquid, is designed to be used after MC3+. It prevents scale buildup and dramatically slows the oxidation process that causes the formation of iron oxide sludge, maintaining system efficiency by keeping narrow waterways flowing freely. As a protective agent, MC1+ is designed to remain in the system without being flushed.Both products are available in single-use bottles or Rapid-Dose canisters fitted with an adaptor that delivers the formula in 20 seconds. Either delivery method treats 33 gallons, or up to 15 radiators, in a single treatment. Designed to work best in conjunction with ADEY MagnaClean magnetic filters, they can be delivered directly into a MagnaClean canister, or via the radiator or purge and fill point.
A Culture of Innovation“Everything we do is driven by innovation,” say Dr. Watson. In his position as Chief Technical Officer, that innovation extends to how ADEY creates and tests their products as well. ADEY has its own state-of-the-art laboratory, where products, including MC3+ and MC1+, are formulated and tested to make sure they meet stringent criteria for quality and consistency. “It’s something we can do that none of our competitors currently do, and I believe none of our competitors will be able to do,” says Dr. Watson.
Best Practices™ – Advancing the IndustryADEY System Treatment Formulas, like MC3+ and MC1+, are part of the foundation of ADEY’s Best Practice approach, a multi-step process designed with installers’ and end-users’ best interests in mind. John Vaughan, ADEY’s Managing Director, explains it this way:“For the past couple of years, we’ve been leading the charge in moving the industry towards the adoption of a best practice approach to ongoing heating system maintenance and protection, which includes system cleaning, magnetic filtration, chemical water treatment and water testing. This shift in focus was prompted by the development of ADEY’s own premium quality chemicals.” Designed specifically to work with ADEY magnetic filters, Vaughan says the company saw that a “holistic approach to water treatment could deliver even greater results in protecting systems from damaging corrosion.”ADEY’s work with leading boiler manufacturers in the U.K. has raised awareness among installers, and their customers, of the need for heating system maintenance to keep lengthy warranties intact. As the company’s complete line of residential and commercial MagnaClean magnetic filters gains ground in the United States, ADEY hopes to advance toward that same objective throughout North America.“Currently, our mission is to continue developing products that ensure installers are equipped with the best tools for the job, providing them with effective solutions that solve their everyday problems,” says Vaughan. “We also believe this is critical in driving the adoption of better standards across the industry. That’s why our biggest challenge is also our biggest opportunity – to inspire change.”
Source: ADEY® MC3+™ and MC1+™ System Treatment Formulas: Innovative Solutions that Combat Iron Oxide Sludge
Twelve new P x P reducer and P x FPT union options are available for the Viega MegaPress and MegaPressG systems for carbon steel piping systems. Viega introduces 12 new reducer and union options for the Viega MegaPress and MegaPressG systems for schedule 5 to schedule 40 carbon steel piping systems in sizes 1/2″ to Read more
Twelve new P x P reducer and P x FPT union options are available for the Viega MegaPress and MegaPressG systems for carbon steel piping systems.
Viega introduces 12 new reducer and union options for the Viega MegaPress and MegaPressG systems for schedule 5 to schedule 40 carbon steel piping systems in sizes 1/2″ to 2″.
The Viega MegaPress system uses modern cold press connections for pipe installation. The Viega MegaPress system is ideal for hydronic heat, chilled water, compressed air, fire sprinkler systems, low-pressure steam and vacuum lines. Viega MegaPressG fittings are designed for use in fuel oil and natural gas applications.
The MegaPress and MegaPressG P x P reducers and P x FPT unions are available in 1/2″, 3/4″, 1″, 1 1/4″, 1 1/2″ and 2″ sizes.
“Viega is happy to introduce the new series of reducers and unions to the MegaPress system,” said Derek Bower, product director, metal systems at Viega. “Our continuously growing Viega MegaPress line makes it even easier to use this innovative system for a large number of commercial, industrial and residential applications.”
More than 200 Viega MegaPress fittings are available ranging in sizes from 1/2″ to 2″ that include elbows, couplings, reducers, tees, reducing tees, threaded adapters, caps, flanges and unions. The fittings use a stainless steel grip ring with an EPDM sealing element for the Viega MegaPress system, or HNBR for the Viega MegaPressG, along with a stainless steel separator ring that ensures the sealing element and grip ring perform at maximum capacity.
Ideal for industrial, commercial and residential applications, the Viega MegaPress system is easy to use, flameless and environmentally friendly. It makes secure, water-tight and air-tight connections in seconds. The system performs well in both new installations and retrofit projects. The innovative addition to Viega’s product line leaves no joining material buildup, exposed threads or tarnish creating a clean, professional appearance. Viega MegaPress is also FM- and UL-compliant.
The patented Smart Connect® feature, available only from Viega, allows water to flow past an unpressed fitting, providing installers with added confidence in their connections.
Since the Viega MegaPress system is flameless, it is safer than traditional systems and eliminates the need for hot work permits. The system is clean, requiring no welding rods or cutting oils. It can be installed under flow conditions, making it ideal for maintenance or emergency repair jobs, and reducing costly downtime by decreasing plant shutdowns. The press technology also maintains the structural integrity of the pipe.
Viega’s MegaPress system is FM compliant for fire sprinkler applications and ASME B31 compliant for pressure and boiler piping and MegaPressG fittings are CSA LC4 compliant for fuel gas and oil applications. The system meets the most rigorous testing codes and standards in North America and is warranted against defects and workmanship.
A new intelligent toilet product just hitting the market offers an effective and affordable solution for anyone who has ever been subjected to a constant-flowing or over-flowing toilet. The Valvin unit is an electronically controlled valve actuator that can be integrated with any s tandard toilet tank fill valve to relieve the mess, stress, damage Read more
A new intelligent toilet product just hitting the market offers an effective and affordable solution for anyone who has ever been subjected to a constant-flowing or over-flowing toilet.
The Valvin unit is an electronically controlled valve actuator that can be integrated with any s tandard toilet tank fill valve to relieve the mess, stress, damage and costs of a malfunctioning toilet.
This patented intelligent valve is designed to turn off water flow in toilets when any abnormal activity is detected: an open flapper leak, a fill valve leak or even a silent flapper leak, and more.
If water begins leaking in any part of the toilet, the Valvin springs into action turning off the toilet fill valve regardless of the water level in the toilet tank.
Check out the Valvin in action here: http://www.stoptoiletleak.com/product.html
It also sports a multi-color LED which will indicate by color light the location in the toilet tank to where the leak is located.
The Valvin prevents water waste, keeps water bill costs from spiking and prevents expensive water damage to any home, apartment, business or public restrooms with tank toilets.
The unit is design to go into any one piece or two piece toilets and works with single flap per or dual flush toilets.
The Valvin unit ranges from $49.95 – $59.95 and is available at: www.StopToiletLeak.com
Watts Dead Level® Trench Drains incorporate a patented frame-anchored design that provides both structural stability and ease of installation. Self-aligning channels and anchors that tie directly to structural frame enable straight, level installations with little risk of floating. The flanged channel connections create solid joints and ensure proper alignment. The Dead Level Trench Drains come Read more
Watts Dead Level® Trench Drains incorporate a patented frame-anchored design that provides both structural stability and ease of installation.
Self-aligning channels and anchors that tie directly to structural frame enable straight, level installations with little risk of floating. The flanged channel connections create solid joints and ensure proper alignment.
The Dead Level Trench Drains come in standard 4-ft. sections; 1-ft. straight and combination corner/tee sections provide flexibility, completely eliminating the need for cutting in the field. All systems are shipped with plastic construction covers to protect grates and keep the drains free of debris during construction. To simplify specifications and ordering, the drains are priced and shipped by the foot, with all required installation hardware and accessories.
For more information visit Watts.com.