HYDRONICS
B y B o b “ Ho t R o d ” R o h r
A few things about
system design and installation
T
here really is no excuse for improperly designing and installing a hydronic system. Since the world has moved online, we have been treated to pictures of all types of jobs from around the planet. If you visit any of the chatrooms or Instagram regularly you will see botched or compromised jobs. Not only sloppy systems or poor workmanship, there are many installations that bump right up against what many pros consider dangerous, or at the very least, not in code compliance. I’d like to think all hydronic jobs are designed and piped to do the job efficiently and safely, and get installed correctly and that installers are following the manufacturers’ guidelines at a bare minimum. That being said, over the many years I have been pulling wrenches, the bad installs are not going away, or even down in numbers. Here is a handful of avoidable mistakes when starting a hydronic system design and/or installation. Perhaps this list of to-dos looks overwhelming. It does take time, written procedures and communication to implement these best practices. So, start now and don’t stop. If your employees are all on the same page the job, and outcome, will be proper and predictable. May these suggestions become your company’s standards.
Don’t guess on design. We are living in the information age. Answers are just a click or call away. But also know there is plenty of bad advice and information to go around. I recently acquired an empty steel barrel from a neighbour who has a cabinet shop. These 50-gallon drums contained lacquer thinner, and he had dozens that are non-returnable, and not easily scrapped or recycled. There was a trace of liquid in the sealed drums and plenty of fumes still coming out when I opened it. So, I thought I would Google and YouTube search for the safest way to remove one end to make a wood scrap storage container. One fellow suggested a cutting
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M e c h a n i c a l
B u s i n e s s
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“If you do not have the time or willingness to do the first design steps, hire it out.”
torch. However, another wisely advised a clever, spark-free pneumatic shear. Choose your YouTube experts carefully. If you do not have the time or willingness to do the first design steps, hire it out. Suppliers, reps and manufacturers may help with load calculations and system design. The shopping list to start assembling your parts and pieces might also be included. Retired plumbers and mechanical folks often start consulting businesses. Call around to get a feel for what a design consultant can supply and your comfort level with their experience and abilities. Therefore, if you are inclined to ask for help or an opinion on a system, first you need to qualify the source. The horse’s mouth, to use an old analogy, is often considered to be the manufacturer of the product. For the most part, the factory tech support lines are handled by qualified people. However, in these days of labour shortages, not every position is filled by a knowledgeable, experienced support person. If it sounds like they are reading from a script when you have them on the line ... they probably are.
