Broomhall Brothers receives many questions from our customers. Select a topic below to scroll to your area of interest.
What size equipment do I need?
Broomhall Brothers will measure your home and ask questions about your family’s comfort needs. Do you have a ranch-style home or a compact two-story? Are there cathedral ceilings, an indoor spa or an exercise room? How well insulated and weather-proofed is your home? What kind of windows do you have? Answers to these and other questions will help us design a system that is right for you.
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Should I cover my outdoor unit in the winter?
Covering the unit is not necessary. Air conditioners are manufactured to withstand all possible climate changes.
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What do all those rating numbers mean to me?
The federal government requires all air conditioning and heating equipment to be rated as to efficiency. The higher the rating the more efficient the equipment. For cooling the rating is SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating); heat pump heating is HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) and gas furnaces are rated with AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency). See Glossary for more information or contact Broomhall Brothers.
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What temperature should I set my thermostat at when I am not at home in the summer-winter?
It is recommended that you set your thermostat no higher than 80º during unoccupied periods. When returning home the system will then be able to respond to a your desired comfort requirements. Asking your equipment to bring your home from 95º to 72º can cause problems and require some servicing. In winter set your thermostat no lower than 62º. Maintaining a reasonable temperature conserves energy. See Indoor Air Quality for electronic set back thermostat.
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How close to the outdoor unit should I plant flowers or shrubs?
Manufacturers agree that plants should not be closer than 18 inches. Air conditioners need to take in and exhaust air to operate efficiently. Lack of circulation can cause excessive temperatures and require service.
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What about the refrigerant used in air conditioners today? Can I still buy it if I need it?
Refrigerant 22 used in most air conditioners today will be manufactured in the United States until 2010. Replacement refrigerants are now entering the market; there is no need to be concerned about the price or availability of R-22 at this time. Contact Broomhall Brothers for more information.
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How often should I change my air filters?
The more the equipment runs the more often a filter needs changed. The recommended frequency is once a month. We suggest no less than every three months. Replace filters with the same size and type as the original filter. If your filter is not the disposable type, follow manufacturer instructions for cleaning.
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Should I drain my hot water boiler at least once a year?
No, hot water boilers should not be drained, because when they are re-filled the dissolved oxygen in the water will cause oxidation and scale build-up on the hot surfaces of the boiler, in turn causing damage and inefficiencies. The air must be removed or it will stop the pumps from circulating water.
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What kind of oil should I use in my boiler circulation pumps? How often?
Use only 20 weight non-detergent oil. DO NOT USE MOTOR OIL. Lubricate the motor bearings and bearing assemblies every 90 days. Do not over lubricate as this will damage motor mounts and cause excessive wear on couplings. Consult the pump manufacturer's instructions for best results.
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How often do I need service on my expansion tank?
A standard closed loop expansion tank requires draining at the beginning of each heating season. A diaphragm expansion tank requires no maintenance. Follow manufacturer's instructions.
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How often should I inspect my safety relief valve?
At least once a year, at the start-up of the heating season. Lift the relief valve test handle and allow water to escape for 5 seconds.
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What maintenance does my water heater need?
Water heaters require little maintenance but there are a few things you can do to increase it's life span. Annually test the safety valve and drain 5 gallons of water from the bottom drain valve. This will ensure that the safeties are operating properly and help to reduce the amount of scale buildup on the bottom of the tank.
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Where should I mount a carbon monoxide detector?
For forced air systems mount the detector as close to the return air grills as possible. For hot water or steam boilers install in or close to the boiler room. Protect your family today. Contact Broomhall Brothers for reliable CO detectors.
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What happens if I put my filter in backwards?
There is an arrow indicated air flow direction on the side if the filer. If the filter has a backing (made of thin metal) that goes to the furnace side of the air flow, the n if in backwards the filter will parachute and not collect all the dirt. If you use the grocery store special, then it does not matter as it will plug up in no time any way is is not really functional for more that 30 days.
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Whats the difference between a boiler and a furnace?
Boilers heat water to heat your home, Furnaces heat air to heat your home.
The boiler will heat the water and send it through to a radiator which will evenly heat the space in you home. The furnace heats air that is blown into the home through registers and vents. Both furnaces and boilers work well at heating your home or building; it's mostly a matter of preference.
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What is the right temperature to keep my tank at?
120 degrees work, unfortunately tank type water heaters have to run all the time to keep 40 50 even 75 gallons of water hot, 24 hours a day. In commercial buildings it can be 100 of gallons of water and a lot of natural gas or electricity. The are better systems, boilers with tanks, tankless on demand water heaters with or without storage tanks.
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What is good to do to the water heater at vacation time or extended absences.
It is best to shut the water valves leading to the tank. If you have a valve going out if the tank, shut it off too. Then set your gas valve to pilot. When you return simply open the valve or valves and tun to gas valve back on. We have dealt with floods many times cause by a tank rupturing and the drain not keeping up with the water flow, with no one home, well, you can imagine.
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What are the signs that it's time to replace my hot water heater?
There is no tried and true way to know precisely when a whiter heater will need to be replaced. Obviously a leak in the body of the heater requires a immediate replacement. If there is a major malfunction, such as a complete loss of hot water, leaking form the tank, or appearance of corrosion, and the unit is over 8 yrs old replacement may be preferred over repair if the repair is possible. All of the active parts and most of the plumbing parts are designed to be replaced. The main obstacle is corrosion. A water heater corrodes more quickly than other plumbing fixtures due to the higher temperatures.
So, like a conscientious Boy Scout, be prepared for th possibility of replacement even when the repair seams simple and straightforward, thats the rule of plumbing.
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What if my water heater is leaking from the pipes on the top of the heater?
If the water supply lines are leaking right after installation, this may be a easily fixable problem. However, if the leaks occurs after years of service then they are most likely caused bu chemical corrosion that has dissolved the threaded fittings. This corrosion is is softer that the original metal allowing for water to seep around the threads. Eventually the water will begin to squirt out of the corroded pipe causing a mess, and only getting worse. Meaning, if you are not in emergency mode yet to get this problem taken care of, you must get on it ASAP.
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I own a condo with the water heater on the second floor, should I be concerned about leaking?
The average life expectancy of a water heater is 8 to 12 years, though some may last significantly longer. I would stress the importance of a drainage pan top for any hot water heater on a finished floor. The drainage pan is installed under the hot water heater and will catch any leaks that should happen. This inexpensive pan can save you money and the hassle of cleaning up a watery mess.
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Is it OK if water is dripping out of the relief valve?
Consider this dripping a polite warning from you water heater that some repairs are needed. You may want to call a professional to look at your water heater because this little leak may be sign that bigger problems are going on.
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How often do I change my filter?
Everything depends on run time, the minimal change should be every 90 days, if the environment changes because of remodeling or other unusual circumstances than changing it more often may be beneficial.
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Is sound a concern when buying a new A/C or Furnace?
The louder the better doesn't necessarily hold true for heating and cooling equipment. Heating and cooling equipment should offer maximum comfort with minimum noise. Fortunately, today's technology has enabled manufactures to produce air conditioners and heaters that are not only high efficient, but exceptionally quiet.
Although no financial savings are tied to lower sound levels, the sound rating of a cooling system can have a considerable effect on comfort. the sound level of an air conditioner or heater depends on a variety of factors. The age of the unit and whether the compressor is insulated or not can contribute to the amount of noise it makes.
Although most heating sand cooling systems today are manufactured to be quieter the ever before, it s a good idea to compare sound rating when shopping around for your new system. Great differenced in should levels are product on the market today can make all the difference in just how comfortable you can be at home.
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How do I know when I need a new Heating and Cooling (HVAC) System?
If your HVAC system is more that 10 years old or not keeping your house comfortable, you should have it looked at by a professional HVAC contractor. If it is not performing efficiently or needs upgrading, consider replacing it with a unit that has earned the Energy Star. Installed correctly these high efficiency heating and cooling units cans ave up to 20 percent on you heating and cooling cost. Before you invest in a new HVAC system, make sure that you have addressed the big air leaks in your house and duct system. Sometimes, these are the real culprits rather than your HVAC system.
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Can I figure out the right size of HVAC equipment needed for my home myself, or do I really need a contractor?
The short answer is that you really should get a contractor th determine the proper size of the HVAC equipment needed.
The long answer is to calculate the proper size of heating and cooling equipment for you home requires use of an engineering procedure such as ACCA/ANSI Manual J. Using short cuts or "Rules of Thumb" typically results in equipment that is incorrectly sized for your home. Your contractor should determine the right size for your home, taking into account specific information about your home to ensure proper sizing.
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Beyond efficiency ratings, what other factors should I consider?
Maintenance: You can ensure your system operates at peak performance by scheduling annual maintenance checks. Zoning: A zoning system can drastically lower your heating and cooling cost. With Zoning, you no longer have to pay to heat or cool areas of you home that are rarely used. Programmable Thermostats: According to the Department of Energy, a programmable thermostat can reduce your heating cost by up to 35% and your cooling cost by up to 25%. Please do your self a favor and do not purchase the Lux or Hunter thermostats from that famous box store they are JUNK we have replaced dozens of them. They do not sell contractor grade equipment !!
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When should I get plumbing lines inspected?
The first answer is obvious, when you have repeated back ups and slow draining waste lines. DO NOT purchase a home or commercial property without sending a camera down the sewer line, for a few hundred dollars you potentially can save thousands. Save the VHS tape and it can save you.
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What is the deal with all the chemicals you can put in a slow draining line?
Our experience has shown that that results are only temporary, a good drain cleaning machine does the trick. We have found that people put acids in the drain, it does not work and the plumber responding to the call can get a chemical burn and if its get in your eyes it hurts. Often the customer is shocked that that "stuff" got in their drain some how. WHO KNEW !!
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Should I change my old appliance water hoses?
If you have old black flex hoses for your hot and cold for the washing machine, change the to stainless steel braided hoses ASAP. When you go on vacation or an extended absence shut both the valves off at your washing machine. Sleep well.
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Why do pipes rattle?
If you turn your water on, the water comes rushing down the pipe to where it was called for, when you turn it off there is an abrupt stop to the water flow. This is when most pipes start to shake and rattle. It can be easily fixed but only if you water lines are accessible. It usually happens when your water lines hit against your wooden floor joist. One fix for this can be done by installing a plastic pipe hanger that will go between your water lines and your joist. Another fix can be securely clamping your pipes to the wooded floor joist.
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Why does my shower head still drip when the water if turned off?
The first few minutes that the water to your shower head is turned off, you will have some normal dripping. The shower head has a large cavity inside that fills up when the water is on. When you turn the water off, the water has to go somewhere so it will drip out. If after a couple minutes the shower head is still dripping, you may need to have the valves looked at to make sure they don't need to be replaced.
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Why is my water brown?
Sometimes chemicals cause rust to get into the water lines and a change in the water pressure can cause this rust to come loose. Once the rust is loose it can come out any of your faucets, or appliances. Another cause could be a break in your pipe. If there is a crack in the pipe what you may be seeing is dirt. What happens is that when the water is flowing and you turn it off it create a low pressure in the line. This low pressure will pull in dirt and push it along in your pipes causing the water to be brown.
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Why does my kitchen sink drain slow?
Conventional drains use a system called a "trap." This will usually be a piece of pipework that comes apart just below the drain point in you sink. The trap is a low point in the drain so that heavier items can collect here and stop them from blocking the main system. Heavy items that you wash down the drain will collect here, sometimes making a plug. If you think that this is the problem that you can unscrew the bottom part of this trap and clear it out. Be aware that it will smell pretty bad and the sediment in the trap will be nasty so you may want to wear gloves if you do this yourself.
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Questions that we are asked about renewable and sustainable energy.
What is solar energy?
Solar energy is any direct radiant energy from the sun. It also includes indirect form of energy such as wind, falling for flowing water (hydropower), thermal gradients, and biomass, which are produced when direct solar energy interacts with the earth.
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What type of solar energy system can I choose from?
If you want to heat water for use in your home or business, you'll need a solar hot water (SHW) system. Systems vary in size and cost depending upon how much hot water you need and how you plan to use it. If you want to produce electricity, you'll need a solar electric system (PV system). Systems vary in size and cost depending upon how much electricity you want to produce and whether or not your system will be connected to the utility grid or stand alone with a battery storage system.
Both systems use solar energy collector panels to catch the energy of the sun and put it to work for you.
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I have a hot water boiler heating my home. Can a solar system help lower my utility bill? Can I use my existing boiler?
Yes and Yes A solar hot water system can be designed to heat your domestic hot water - laundry, bathing, etc - AND provide heat for your home heating system. A system designed to do both is bigger - more solar collectors and more storage tank volume - and more expensive with an increase in efficiency and lowering your cost and carbon foot print.
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How much does a solar system cost?
The cost of your system depends on several factors including what type of system you choose, how big the system is in terms of producing heat or electricity, where the solar collector panels are mounted, and who currently provides your utilities. A reasonable estimate of the installed cost for a solar electric system is $8.00 to $10.00 per watt for a grid-tied system (no battery storage system). A 2 kW (kilowatt) system would cost $16,000 to $20,000.
A reasonable estimate of the installed cost for a solar hot water system is $110.00 to $125.00 per square foot of collector panel. A family of four typically has 60 square feet of collector panel in their system and the installed cost is $6500.00 to $8,000.00.
Tax rebates and other financial incentives available from utility companies may cover 25% - 40% of the installed cost for a solar hot water system, and 30% - 50% of the installed cost for a solar electric system.
Keep this in mind - from the first day of operation a solar energy system is paying YOU with lower energy bills from your utility company.
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Can I use a solar system with my existing hot water system?
Normally, yes. Simple retrofit valves can often be used to allow solar to connect to your existing cold water inlet. If your tank cannot accept the solar input directly an additional storage tank can be installed to pre-heat the cold water prior to entering the existing tank.
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What size collector do I need to produce my domestic hot water?
Forty square feet of flat plate solar collector provides about 50% of the hot water needs for a typical Colorado residence. 2 panels of a standard 4X8 size will produce 70-75% of a typical Colorado residence hot water load.
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Will my solar hot water system freeze in the winter?
Not if the system is properly designed and installed. There are two system designs that best protect against freezing - drainback and glycol-mix. Both designs have advantages and disadvantages. Both will prevent system freezing. Not all collectors are suited for drain back, but with this system no glycol is used.
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Questions that we are asked about steam and hot water boilers.
What is a Flame Guard-Safeguard control system?
A Safeguard system used with a Flame Guard ignition control is a set of controls installed on a boiler to ensure safe operation. Primary functions include:
1) A safe way of shutting down the burner.
2) Protect the boiler from excessive temperature or pressure.
3) Operate the boiler in the proper sequence, for example prove pilot, (or light the pilot) verify that over pressure or temperature switches are closed, purge the combustion chamber of gas and finally open the main gas valves(s).
4) Regulate boiler firing rate producing the correct amount of hot water or steam, while monitoring the boiler's safety. Shut down the burner and wait for a signal (demand) for the burner to fire again.
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What is combustion analysis?
It is a process to analyze the products of combustion and determine efficiency. Stoichiometric Combustions is perfect combustion , theoretical only and impossible to obtain with burners found on boiler, furnaces or water heaters. It is a goal, a target. For example if we supply too little air then we burn "rich," meaning that all the fuel is not burned . This results in sooting the fire sides decreasing heat transfer and therefore efficiency. Introduce too much air and again all the fuel is not burned and we reduce efficiencies. The perfect balance is Stoichiometric Combustion.
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What do you test for in combustion analysis?
We teat for carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and oxygen. Other factors include type of fuel, boiler operating temperature, temperature of combustion air, type of burner and so on.
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How much air is enough for efficient combustion?
Well, theoretic air is the amount of air to completely burn the fuel, (Stoichiometric Combustion) the truth is that you need excess air as it is required to assure through mixing of air and fuel for complete combustion.
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What is boiler efficiency ?
Boiler efficiency is a generic term that can mean many different things, burner efficiency operational efficiency and so on. So what is need, what is important? The first is stack (flue) temperature: the lower the stack temperature the more energy (heat) we are transferring to the boiler producing steam or hot water. Simply put, the high carbon dioxide readings with little to no carbon monoxide and very small amount of excess oxygen through the entire firing range can indicate good burner control and efficiency. The ration of energy out and energy in is the real deal.
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What is turndown ratio?
Boiler turndown is a ratio of capacity at full fire to its lowest firing point before shut-down. Old boilers may have only two firing positions, low and high. Newer boilers fire over a wider range of capacities. Depending on the controls, there may be fixed setting points or fully variable settings. If a 1 million BTU boiler can fire as low as 100,000 BTUs, then it has a 10:1 turndown ratio.
Turndown ratios are important for boilers that must operate over a wide range of capacities/ demands. In general, from an efficiency standpoint it is best to have the boiler sized to match the load. Boilers that have a wider turn-down ratio are therefore typically more efficient at meeting variable loads. However, there are exceptions, such as when it's possible to shut the boiler off for long periods of time, rather than run or cycle the boiler at very low fire conditions.
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What is boiler horse power?
Electrical: 746 Watts
Heat 34,475 BTU's
Mechanical: 33,000 ft lb/min
Hydraulic: 550 ft lb/sec
The total heat of steam generated from 34.5 pounds of water from and at 212°F.
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How big of a feed water tank should I have for my steam boiler?
We should have at least 10 minutes of feed water available at all times. A suggested formula form the "Power Plant Operators Manual" Boiler horse power (BPH) X34.5/8.337/60X10= gallons of feed water required. For safety mustily the result times 1.5 so the tank does not flood. For example, a 1,650,000 BTU steam boiler is equal to 50 BHPX34.5/8.337/60X10= 34.5 gallons X1.5 safety factor = 51.75 or a 50 gallon tank. So the rule of thumb for 1 gallon of water for each boiler horse power WORKS!
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What is the boiler refractory? Is maintenance required?
For small residential boilers few problems occur. If the refractory gets wet and cracks repairs or replacement is required. However, older boilers, those 20 years or older, have asbestos mixed in with the brick and can be all asbestos. DO NOT tamper with this material use only certified abatement personnel. Castable ceramic cement must be used for proper repairs. This cement requires 24 hours of air curing then slowly bring the boiler up to temperature. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS.
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How should I maintain my boiler?
Step 1:
Use caution when approaching your hot water boiler. A hot water boiler can be very dangerous if something is wrong with it. Maintaining your hot water system can ensure the safety of your family.
Step 2:
Familiarize yourself with the components of a hot water boiler. This will help to properly maintain the boiler. Read books and articles on the basics knowledge of boilers.
Step 3:
Keep an eye on your gauges. This is the most important thing you can do to maintain your hot water boiler. The gauges are the voice of your boiler and they will tell you if something is a little off.
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