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  1. J

    Sticker Shock - Boiler for Radiant Heat

    I think there is a some misinformation and misunderstanding here with regard to water heater vs boiler. Flail has it right, there is absolutely no issue with using a tank water heater for this service aside from the space sacrifice of the tank itself. The issues and debate apply to tankless...
  2. J

    Unit heater install question

    I did my propane modine. Pretty easy. I'd never done gas before but it was pretty straight forward and a buddy of mine works for a distributor and is a former tech so had the equipment for doing the final hookup on gas and signed off on the install for me. I'd bet if you do most of the install...
  3. J

    Attic moisture???

    This, or at least most likely. Even if your problem goes beyond this, this is very important. The warm moist air from showering if leaking into a cold area will condense and given this is a daily occurrence will never dry properly. Understanding the importance of controlling air leakage has come...
  4. J

    Cleaning steel prior to welding

    I'm not expert in the specifics of this hazard but use brake cleaner and weld on a regular basis. My understanding is that in your situation you should be fine. As old wizard said brake cleaner dries/evaporates very very quickly, I don't think days old cleaner is a concern at all. I think the...
  5. J

    Is there a way to vent my shop in the summer without letting in humidity?

    Your best bet for what you are trying to accomplish is a cheap window AC. It's basically the same machine as a dehumidifier but you put the hot parts on the outside. Won't cost any more to run.
  6. J

    Radiant Hydronic Tuning Tips...?

    You didn't mention any under slab insulation did you? If you don't have it you're pumping a bunch of heat right into the ground, especially on start up.
  7. J

    Opinions on foundation work

    I had never done block work before and did my own stem wall, it looks significantly better than this.
  8. J

    How to back into Max Live load?

    Google "AWC span calculator" to find the calculator I used. If you have a lot of wind and are really concerned, pay attention to joining the roof to the walls properly and then anchoring the whole business to the ground.
  9. J

    How to back into Max Live load?

    Assuming #2 SPF in Maine. I can't help directly convert depth to psf but if you are doing what those inputs suggest you don't need to worry about snow and you are way overbuilding. Doing as suggested above and just upping the number in the AWC calc I'm seeing over 200lb/ft^2 live load, just...
  10. J

    insulation black due to air infiltration

    It could be either mold or soot. Air leaks will carry moisture with them and condense on cold surfaces, which can then cause mold. Other times of year it might be perfectly dry as it is now. Air leaks would certainly carry soot too but I don't think it would have spread that much from the leak...
  11. J

    Solar panels on top of a 4-post lift?

    Very good point....cost wise barely any difference.
  12. J

    Solar panels on top of a 4-post lift?

    I love this idea. Should work great. I have solar panels on my roof and the hardware holding them together is tiny in comparison to anything on a lift. The racking is around 2.5" x 1.25" aluminum extrusion. The lift will be fine, the structure on top will require some design work.
  13. J

    Belt Grinder

    2nd the multitool recommendation, especially if you specifically want a grinding wheel on the other side. I have one on an old 8" Craftsman block grinder and it's amazing. The multitool itself is great, but it needs a good grinder to power it. I can't remember the amperage on mine right now, but...
  14. J

    Heater and venting

    Without knowing our location a couple of general comments. First the code required vapor barrier on the warm side is likely outdated and should be adhered to with caution. Current code regulation talks to vapor retarders and drywall with latex paint, OSB, or spray foam (or combination thereof)...
  15. J

    What size boiler based on heat load

    A couple of notes based on your low heat load number: Given that this is a shop, is there an overhead door? The R-value ratings of overhead doors are often grossly overrated, as they are the value of the center of the panel itself, not counting the thermal bridging at the joints/edges, and more...
  16. J

    Electric Heat

    For the OP if electricity is truly free but you have to pay for the appliance and upkeep resistance is cheaper up front and cheaper to maintain than either heat pump. If being green matters and you want to reduce usage, it depends on the amount of usage. Geothermal tends to make more sense for...
  17. J

    Can i Wire and install EMT like this ?

    I would run one conduit just like you have shown. This must be allowed, I know I've never seen a switch with two conduits running to the ceiling. One to the ceiling, one up one down, but never two the same direction. If it were a double switch box you might need to derate for more than 3 current...
  18. J

    How much compressor do I need?

    It doesn't matter how much compressor you need if you are limited to 120v. If you NEED more you could learn how to wire a subpanel and put in a 220v circuit, but likely DIY you are over budget with subpanel/wiring/compressor. So just go get a 30 gallon, cast iron, oil compressor model, the one...
  19. J

    90a #2 aluminum

    90A is the rating of the cable normally. There is an exception for residential service (main only not sub) that allows 100A because it's close enough and residences rarely run at full load and even more rarely at any significant duty cycle. I don't have the reference, but you are searching for...
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