House #1 Hydronic Heating System, NTI Boiler, Weil Mclean DHW

[stevieb031969]

Impressive,I know the basics and this system spoke for itself.Thumbs up!!!

[wrathchild11]

very nice!!

[tyjaco1]

Can you go poor man style and just use a water heater? Set it up just like the water heater that feeds your home. It's basically the same thing isn't it? Or can you just plumb into the water heater, becuase I have a dual stage hater heater that can double as a boiler?

[thundersticks]

@tyjaco1 you could if the heater has a heat exchanger designed for that use. You will still need at the very least a circulator, expansion tank, air remover and a basic controller of some sort. Some people simply use a 110volt thermostat to turn the circulator on and off. That type of system will keep the chill off of a floor, but won't be the most efficient way to heat an entire home. A condensing boiler is designed for space heating and most are 89% plus efficient. These NTI's are 96%

[tyjaco1]

@thundersticks Thanks, our tank is 96% efficient and the pipe is only laid in the basement and garage. I only wanted it in the slab. Every where else in the house where there is tile I installed electric floor heating. Just wanted to take the bite out of the air.

[thundersticks]

@tyjaco1 @tyjaco1 wow, I would be VERY interested in what kind of storage tank that you have that is 96% efficient with a secondary heat exchanger. What brand and model number heater are you using? The only unit on the market that I am aware of other than the NTI boilers that is above 95% efficient is the Navien on demand water heater that claims 98%.....but very clearly states in the warranty that space heating voids all warranty. What unit are you using? Alberta is not electric heat friendly!

[tyjaco1]

@thundersticks oops my bad, just went and looked at the tank...it's an GSW envirosense power direct vent. Sorry, just telling you what i was told...never really looked at it before. looks like i'm gonna learn soon enough, lol

[thundersticks]

@tyjaco1 it also totally depends what the water is circulating through. I have seen tubing simply hanging in a joist space, laying on a slab with a 2X4floor over top of it, laying in the sand under a slab.....all are terribly innefficient......but work. Pay a professional, you will save money in the long run.

[tyjaco1]

@thundersticks I have already laid pex pipe and suspended it in the slab so it is about 1" into the surface of the slab with 2' styrofoam insulation between the sand and the slab. I was told you can use your water heater and set it up as an "open system" and i know my tank is more than sufficient. All i need now are the pumps, valves, manifolds, expansion tank, and someone to set it up...lol. All i did was the dirty part of the job, just hoping I don't need to buy an expensive instant heater.

[thundersticks]

@tyjaco1 if you set it up as an open system no expansion tank is required. Devise a float method to keep the system "full" as water evaporates. An open system is more succeptible to water acidity/alkalinity problems as there is constant new water added throughout the year. An "insant heater" is NOT a boiler. You can do whatever you like being the homeowner, me being a contractor I have to follow the rules and do things the best way I know how. Hope it works out well, show us a video when done!

[dano415]

@thundersticks It depends on the "Professional". A license doesn't mean much in hydronics.

[thundersticks]

@dano415 isn't that the truth, I spend most of my winters repairing systems that were installed by other contractors.

[thundersticks]

@manuelito Thanks for the comment. This is in a 2000sq/ft home. In Alberta the wiring is done by an electrician. I just did the hydronic install.

[manuelito489]

very clean exept for the electrical that should be on conduit could be on the way of a repair or maintenance its insulation is very soft. other than that exelent comercial grade installation

[wrathchild11]

@manuelito489 all electrical 110V is done with BX cable..low voltage control wire looks really good and neat...completely within code...most plumbers are better at wiring a boiler than "sparkies" anyway.

[thundersticks]

@wrathchild11 it usually takes me longer to explain how to wire it than it would for me to actually wire it lately too.....

[brandonhusser]

Nice installation, any chance you would spend a few mins on the phone to help out someone that's new to hydronic heating? I just purchased a home that is only dried in and has heat PEX installed in the slab. I'm wanting to implement it for heating and would also like to install the tubing in the floor of the second floor. I've researched as much as I can but it would help to speak to someone in person. My home location is in north central Arkansas. Thanks

[thundersticks]

@brandonhusser I don't know that a phone call would be feasible. Perhaps a fairly detailed email here and I can help. If you are adding tubing to an existing wood floor from underneath the Rehau Rauplate heat transfer plates are a great product. Easy to install and great transfer rates compared to some of the other products on the market.

[TheSolarmike]

A work of art!

We have a NTI 200 as well and i love it.

I am making a solar thermal and wood fired boiler system with 600 gallons of water in a insulated cistern that is going to serve us well.

Oh and I am off grid with a photovoltaic power system that even runs my welder

Technology rules

[thundersticks]

@TheSolarmike that is excellent! I am planning to be off grid with my next home as well. With LED lighting and the battery technology now it is amazing what is possible.

[ericmck2000]

Very nicly laid out.



[thundersticks]

@ericmck2000 Thank you, working on another bigger system right now. Fourteen zones, will have some stuff up on that in a few weeks too.

[velidm]

Very nice

[stevegoff420]

Nice job!...was any of that purchased per built manifold pieces? Also right above the instantaneous hot water heater is that a low water cut off control all the way up at the top of the system?

[thundersticks]

@stevegoff420 Nope, everything was laid out and built from scratch myself. I am a journeyman plumber/gasfitter with 22yrs in the trades. Yes that is a low water cut off at the highest point in the system. It is not an instantaneous heater however, it is an NTI Trinity Ti boiler designed for space heating purposes. Most on demand heaters simply aren't designed for space heating, and state so in their warranty. Thanks for having a look.

[infectus5]

Very clean setup.

[thundersticks]

@infectus5 Thanks! Appreciate you noticing, not many do.