Previous owner did it wrong: How do I do it right?

[powling]

I've been in my new to me home (first home purchase) for 2 years now, and I'm looking to fix the shoddy work of the previous owner who DIY'd the radiant heating install in the garage. A bit of a background below:

Previous owner had installed full radiant heating in the cement pad during reconstruction of the garage in 2013 which I was really excited about, since I could spend time in the garage during winter. Unfortunately, shortly after moving in I notice a fluid leak with the radiant heating system, so I called a local radiant heating installer to come out and have a look at it for me. After a quick inspection they determined that the heating control unit mounted on the wall was installed incorrectly, and in fact wasn't even a legal unit in Canada. Its one that is ordered from Mexico off eBay and installed by DIY'ers like the previous owner. So he was legally forced to cap my gas line into the garage and disconnect the heating unit.

I'm wondering what direction I should go to do this right snd have heat in the garage so I can work on my car in the winter. I will not be spending everyday in the garage, but when I do spend time in there I don't want to wait for a day for it to warm up.

Thoughts? Here is said unit, plus a pic showing the size of the garage.

 

[soob]

[The plumber told me] he was legally forced to cap my gas line into the garage and disconnect the heating unit.

Man, I'm sorry, but stories like these always crack me up. These people are basically extortionists. I'd be surprised if anything he told you was even true.

 

[powling]

Man, I'm sorry, but stories like these always crack me up. These people are basically extortionists. I'd be surprised if anything he told you was even true.

I agree, unfortunately being naive at the time and myself having no experience with natural gas, radiant heating or anything along those lines, I took his 'expert' word for it and let him cap the line.

 

[ADSR]

I've been in my new to me home (first home purchase) for 2 years now, and I'm looking to fix the shoddy work of the previous owner who DIY'd the radiant heating install in the garage. A bit of a background below:

Previous owner had installed full radiant heating in the cement pad during reconstruction of the garage in 2013 which I was really excited about, since I could spend time in the garage during winter. Unfortunately, shortly after moving in I notice a fluid leak with the radiant heating system, so I called a local radiant heating installer to come out and have a look at it for me. After a quick inspection they determined that the heating control unit mounted on the wall was installed incorrectly, and in fact wasn't even a legal unit in Canada. Its one that is ordered from Mexico off eBay and installed by DIY'ers like the previous owner. So he was legally forced to cap my gas line into the garage and disconnect the heating unit.

I'm wondering what direction I should go to do this right snd have heat in the garage so I can work on my car in the winter. I will not be spending everyday in the garage, but when I do spend time in there I don't want to wait for a day for it to warm up.

Thoughts? Here is said unit, plus a pic showing the size of the garage.

That's a line of none sense. He is not allowed to touch your property without your consent. A bylaw officer would ask you to fix it to be in compliance, before resorting to legal action.

 

[Sjfab]

Is that an atmospheric vent on the boiler? I'd agree with the "plumber" Go buy a direct vent unit that has sealed combustion and be done

Edit: looking closely I see they installed an on demand "ventless" water heater. A quick google search turns up their sales pitch. "No need for costly venting". The way they have your system installed is asking for carbon monoxide or worse

 

[ADSR]

I agree, unfortunately being naive at the time and myself having no experience with natural gas, radiant heating or anything along those lines, I took his 'expert' word for it and let him cap the line.

Order up a canadian on demand system and install.

 

[powling]

That's a line of none sense. He is not allowed to touch your property without your consent. A bylaw officer would ask you to fix it to be in compliance, before resorting to legal action.

I realize that now - unfortunately at the time I had no idea.

 

[Jackfre]

From your description the garage use will be infrequent and not scheduled. Your, waiting for it to warm up concern is valid. The radiant is most useful if you maintain temp. Is there slab edge insulation? For your space I’d look at a Rinnai EX-17T. I like your car!

 

[yeldogt]

Where was the leak?

If there is nothing wrong with the tubing and the insulation was correct -- you should be able to install a proper boiler -- or make yours legal.

In my neck of the woods in the USA if the gas supplier notices a dangerous condition -- cracked heat exchanger -- incorrect venting .. they will shut it down and cap the unit. This is true of a service company inspecting a gas or even oil furnace .. they can't leave a house with a dangerous condition .. they have to "red tag" the unit.

You gave them consent when you invited them to inspect.

 

[79firebird]

That's a line of none sense. He is not allowed to touch your property without your consent. A bylaw officer would ask you to fix it to be in compliance, before resorting to legal action.

That is incorrect if it's unsafe he can unhook and cap it off. The plumber that disconnected it as also recuired to report it to the gas athorty. How do I know this I just finished my gas course 6 months ago.

 

[powling]

From your description the garage use will be infrequent and not scheduled. Your, waiting for it to warm up concern is valid. The radiant is most useful if you maintain temp. Is there slab edge insulation? For your space I’d look at a Rinnai EX-17T. I like your car!

Correct, I want to keep the heat constant but on low while I'm not in there. I'd like to keep it warm to keep my project car warm, along with everything else I store in there from getting cold during the dead of winter. I am fine with being out there in a sweater to work on my car, I just dont want to have to wear full long johns just in order to do simple work on the car.

Where was the leak?

If there is nothing wrong with the tubing and the insulation was correct -- you should be able to install a proper boiler -- or make yours legal.

In my neck of the woods in the USA if the gas supplier notices a dangerous condition -- cracked heat exchanger -- incorrect venting .. they will shut it down and cap the unit. This is true of a service company inspecting a gas or even oil furnace .. they can't leave a house with a dangerous condition .. they have to "red tag" the unit.

You gave them consent when you invited them to inspect.

Likewise in my area, the guy who inspected it did red tag my gas line stating "Improper Venting - Not Approved in Canada". The TSSA (Technical Standards Safety Association) in Ontario are really strict from what I've experienced, through both personal and work.

Here is where the leak was coming from (fingers) along with a pic showing the full piping for the unit.

And a shot of the red tag the inspector left when he capped the gas line.

 

[ADSR]

That is incorrect if it's unsafe he can unhook and cap it off. The plumber that disconnected it as also recuired to report it to the gas athorty. How do I know this I just finished my gas course 6 months ago.

If it's leaking gas, sure. If it's leaking water, NO!

 

[Firebrick43]

If it's leaking gas, sure. If it's leaking water, NO!

The problem is the venting. That vent pipe and the connection is plain wrong.

He didn't cap it due to any leak.

To the OP

Does the tubing have water or antifreeze??

If water you need to do something quick before it freezes and bust.

 

[powling]

The problem is the venting. That vent pipe and the connection is plain wrong.

He didn't cap it due to any leak.

To the OP

Does the tubing have water or antifreeze??

If water you need to do something quick before it freezes and bust.

Correct - it was capped due to improper venting, not the leak. The leak is the reason I called the guy in to have a look at it.

Its definitely an antifreeze - has a pink hue to it.