CMX 2004 - Plumbing & HVAC

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Drain Tech Smooth jetting Water jet drain machines for difficult jobs By Warren Law Manual or power driven cable drain cleaners are used to unblock the greatest majority of problem drains. However, they are not the most efficient in certain situations. High water pressure drain machines are designed for specific applications. Jetting machines are the most efficient when used for blockages of grease, soap, slime, sand and ice. Yes, ice. Typical applications include restaurants, fast-food outlets, and food processing plants. Restaurants are particularly good prospects because downtime is lost revenue. Grease buildup is also a health hazard and could result in a mandated closing by health inspectors. Other common applications include service garages, underground parking garages and removing sand from excavations or drains in beach areas. A drain cable will pierce through the grease blockage but will only do a partial job. The cable is not able to efficiently clean the entire inside of the drain due to the nature of the snake. When the cable is withdrawn the hole will eventually close up again, repeating the blockage. While this ensures that the plumber will be called back sooner rather than later, it is not serving the customer. A jetter uses a different principal to clear drains. A cable machine rotates the cable while advancing it. The attached cutting head works away at the blockage. A jetter hose does not rotate. Water pressure is variable to allow for refined control of the hose. Typically, the action of the nozzle occurs at the rear of the nozzle, except for one specifically designed nozzle. The nozzles have a series of holes of differing angles that push the blocking material towards the rear, instead of pushing it forward. The one exception is the nozzle with a forward hole. This is designed to pierce a hole in the blockage to let excess water pass through. It is also extremely practical for cutting into frozen drains. While a cable machine cleans when the cable advances, a jetter does exactly the opposite. The hose is pushed down the drain as far as possible then pulled back a few feet at a time. During this pull-back the rear-jet nozzles clean the drain, then it is advanced again and pulled back again. Randy Woodruff, left, and Troy Biard of Braywood Mechanical Services, Newmarket, Ont., bleed air from the water jet hose prior to beginning work. The gas powered machine will remain outdoors. Excess water An inherent problem with jetters is the excess water being introduced into the drain during the unblocking process. All manufacturers’ machines on the market, except one, are similar. The one exception has a pump mounted on the unit. However, the problem is really not as serious as it sounds. In some cases the surroundings are already flooded due to the blocked drain. A little more water is not a big problem. A shop vacuum or other sort of pump can be used to collect the excess water being pushed back towards the drain entry until the drain is beginning to be unblocked, letting the water flow forward. In any case, the most common electric powered jetters use 1.7 gallons per minute of flow. A good length of drain can be unblocked in a short time. Heated water Most jetters are designed to use water heated to 140°F or, in other words, the normally heated water temperature of a household. Hotter water may damage the pump cylinders and rings. However, most jetters have an integrated thermal relief valve for protection. If hot water is used, or if the motor is left running but the water is not circulating, it will release water from the pump. This action allows cold water to enter the pump, therefore preventing any possible damage. This is a good thing, but requires attention on the job because it releases onto the floor if you do not put a bucket under it. Jetters also have a vibration action built-in. Jet hoses will advance slowly by themselves with the pushing action of the rear-jetted water. But they do not advance automatically. Because of this and the weight of the hose and water inside, plus the friction of the hose material, a lot of resistance occurs inside the drain. A rough material drain, such as cast iron, can be especially resistant. The vibration action takes the weight of the hose off the bottom surface of the drain because it is vibrating in the air half the time. Try advancing or retrieving a hose with the vibration activated. Then try it with the vibration off just to see the difference. So far we have spoken mainly about electric jetters. Almost all electric jetters from any one manufacturer are identical in that they produce about 1,500 psi, 1.7 gpm and use 1 1/2 hp motors. Some use triplex pumps. Cleaning the jet nozzle is another critical first step. Latex gloves are durable and disposable. The differences in these machines are simply in the way they are put together. You can purchase models without accessory holders, with or without wheels or models where the hose reel is above the motor/pump or below it. Price differences are accounted for by the length, diameter of hoses and selection of nozzles. But the basic machine is interchangeable. Gas powered jetters Larger jetters are powered by gasoline engines. Here there is more variety because models can vary in pressure, engine power, gpm, etc. The efficiency of a unit is the result of the combination of all three. A 16 hp, 3,000 psi/5.5 gpm machine is much more efficient that an 11 hp, 2,000 psi/three gpm unit. Current regulations do not allow the use of a gas engine inside a building, so gas powered jetters are mostly restricted to outside use. Some models can be operated inside with the use of a hose chariot incorporating controls on the handle. The gas unit is outside but the operation is inside. These units absolutely require two men to operate for obvious safety reasons. Small trailer-mounted units come with a 200-gallon water-holding tank. An example is one that uses a 24 hp engine with electric start. This powers a 2,500 psi, 12 gpm pump through a twoto-one V-belt reducer. Use the right nozzle The nozzle is a key element in determining how well a jetter works. Among some drain technicians, the impression is that a nozzle is a nozzle. But they do differ. Each machine comes with an assortment of nozzles. Each nozzle is designed for a particular machine. And within that one machine, each nozzle is designed for each size of hose being used and for the type of blockage as well as the diameter of the blocked drain. 16 Plumbing & HVAC Product News – March/April 2004 www.plumbingandhvac.ca
Drain Tech There are specialty nozzles that rotate. These are usually used after the blockage is cleared because they are passed through to assure that the entire inside of the drain is cleaned. Nozzles do wear out. The harder the nozzle material the more resistant it is to wearing. Soft brass nozzles will wear out quicker. Harder alloys will last longer. They can be replaced as a kit or individually. The holes in the nozzle are very important to the efficiency of the unit. For each 100’ of hose length there is a loss of 100 lbs. pressure. Pressure loss can occur if at least one of the holes is blocked. Most units come with nozzle cleaning tools. Pressure can decrease if the nozzle hole has widened through usage. It does not take much, but when it happens it is time to replace it. Clean the nozzles regularly, maybe even during the cleaning operation, because even a grain of dirt can block these tiny holes. Nozzles have holes with different angles. This is simply to allow for use in Water jet hose is protected by sleeves where it goes around corners, through doors, etc. smaller or larger diameter drains. A 15-degree angle is for 1 1/4" to 2" drains, a 30-degree is for 3" to 4" and a 40-degree for 4" to 10". Jetter hoses also In the service corridor of a busy shopping mall, Woodruff feeds the jetter hose into the drain while in continuous contact with Biard who is feeding hose from above while keeping an eye on the machine. come in different sizes, most sized by I.D. A 1/8" hose is for 1 1/4" to 2" drains, a 1/4" for 3" to 4" and a 3/8" is for 4" to 10" or even 12" drains. But remember to get the right nozzle for the machine and hose. A nozzle designed for an electric jetter 3/8" I.D. hose will not work on a gas powered 3/8" I.D. hose, or vice versa. Hose sizes range from 1/8" I.D. to 3/8" I.D. in lengths from 30’ to 300’. Most units also come with a 10’ or 20’ hose attached to a spray wand. This wand may have one or two fixed nozzles. The spray wand can be used for cleaning pretty well anything: cars, gutters, sidewalks, driveways, pool aprons, garden furniture, aluminum siding and so on. Of course, safety is always a priority. Some safety rules are: On the job It’s early February and journeyman plumber Randy Woodruff and apprentice Troy Liard are busy cleaning drains at one of Southern Ontario’s largest shopping malls. Their employer, Braywood Mechanical Services Inc. of Newmarket, Ont. is a full-service plumbing and drain service company that offers high pressure drain cleaning in lines to 48" diameter, closed circuit digital television drain inspection, pipe and septic tank locating, etc. primarily to commercial and industrial customers. Needless to say, company employees have developed some tricks and techniques. Here are just a few: ■ Disposable latex gloves work well and can be thrown away at the end of the day. Liard notes that it is almost impossible to get the smell out of conventional rubber or work gloves after a few uses. ■ Different colors of tape are applied to the water jet hose at certain intervals so that employees know how far the hose has penetrated the drain system. ■ Woodruff doesn’t turn on the vibration until the hose meets a blockage, or an elbow that it has difficulty getting through. ■ The crew feeds the line a few feet, pulls back, and then feeds a few more feet for a thorough cleaning. “The quality of the cleaning occurs in direct relationship to the speed at which you do it,” notes Woodruff. In this job, the customer doesn’t require a video record. However, once the cleaning – done every six months on a service contract – is completed, the Braywood Mechanical crew runs a camera through the drains to ensure that everything is in good order and for their own records, noted Woodruff. “We are responsible for it.” A thorough job done by employees who care is key in maintaining the contractor’s customer base. ■ Use caution when working with high pressure water jets. ■ Do not point water spray at anyone. ■ Do not put your hand in front of water spray. ■ Wear safety goggles and rubber gloves. ■ Be familiar with operating instructions. ■ Keep all pressure lines, hoses and fittings in good condition. ■ Tighten or repair immediately if leaks occur. Using a water jet machine is not difficult. But there are a few things to keep in mind: Choose the right machine for the job. Choose the right size hose for the majority of your work. Choose the right nozzle for the diameter of drain and the type of blockage. Keep the nozzles clean. And finally, THINK SAFETY, WORK SAFELY! Warren Law is a semi-retired manufacturer’s agent. He can be reached at law.w@sympatico.ca. DVM MULTI DUCTLESS AIR CONDITIONING What is DVM? The DVM (Digital Variable Multi) air conditioning system is operated by a variable-capacity compressor and is accommodated by multiple evaporators (indoor units).The DVM is the next-generation modular system in the world of high-efficiency air conditioning.The DVM has undoubtedly changed the options in cooling associated with high-rise buildings.The DVM provides a broad range of applications and settings for offices, hotels and schools. Providing an easy installation and simple controlling system, the DVM will more than meet the demands of the air conditioning market. Convenient Centralized Control Every indoor unit can have its own remote controller. In addition, up to 16 indoor units can be controlled with the centralized controller. Up to 256 units can be controlled by using the PC control and compatible with BMS. Customers can easily check the system operation status and control room temperature by themselves. SAMSUNG AIR CONDITIONERS AND QUIETSIDE WATER HEATERS OFFER LOW FIRST COST, LOW OPERATING COST, RELIABLE OPERATION AND EXTENSIVE WARRANTY! SPACE HEATING/DOMESTIC HOTWATER ALL-IN -ONE Whether building a dream home or simply replacing your old, worn-out boiler, gas furnace or water heater , a Quietside “ALL-IN-ONE” heating system is the perfect solution. - 90plus Efficiency - Built-in Expansion Tank - Built-in Circulating Pump IDEAL FOR RADIATOR, INFLOOR OR FAN COIL APPLICATIONS QVM9 VENTING AND COMBUSTION PROCESS SINGLE SPLIT TYPE AIR CONDITIONING Features include 5-way control (Standard/Nature/Power/PowerSaving/Silent mode) Dehumidification mode, Antibacterial components,Turbo function, Auto swing,24hr. On/Off timer, Sleep mode, Memory restart, Anti-rust coated heat exchanger & cabinet, 3 step air purifying filters and a washable front grille.Wall mounted ductless units are available in 6-sizes with 1-evaporator, 2-sizes dual and 1-size in triple evaporator. IMMEDIATE PRODUCT AVAILABLILITY www.enmarsytems.com Ontario & Ottawa Area Distributors CONDENSING GAS, WALL MOUNTED, MULTI-PURPOSE, HYDRONIC HEATING SYSTEM ALSO AVAILABLE IN OIL FIRED OR L.P. GAS MODELS DIGELAIR HVAC SUPPLY INC. BAY 2 – 17 GRENFELL CRESCENT NEPEAN (OTTAWA), ONTARIO K2G 0G3 www.digelair.com IMMEDIATE PRODUCT AVAILABLILITY Circle Number 116 for More Information www.plumbingandhvac.ca March/April 2004 – Plumbing & HVAC Product News 17
Page 1 and 2: Volume 14 Number 2 March/April 2004
Page 3 and 4: In This Issue Special Feature: The
Page 5 and 6: Hot Seat Know your customer Acommon
Page 7 and 8: Industry News Low flush revisited T
Page 9 and 10: Industry News In Brief (continued f
Page 11 and 12: Letters Hydronic heating efficienci
Page 13 and 14: You’ll Be Proud To Install One Of
Page 15: Cover Story The UOIT well field. Un
Page 19 and 20: Heating Mid-efficient furnace The P
Page 21 and 22: Instant hot water The Pronto RTG-42
Page 23 and 24: Ventilation Air conditioner The Sma
Page 25 and 26: Refrigeration Fast charging manifol
Page 27 and 28: Advertising Supplement
Page 29 and 30: A.M.T.S. Canada Limited Proven qual
Page 31 and 32: Copeland Canada Look for certificat
Page 33 and 34: Flexible Eutectic You have to love
Page 35 and 36: ISH NORTH AMERICA 2004 ISH NORTH AM
Page 37 and 38: KeepRite Refrigeration - The Right
Page 39 and 40: MITS MEANS THE BEST! Specializing i
Page 41 and 42: Moen Inc. High tech faucet has low
Page 43 and 44: NTI Inc. Trinity boiler is quietly
Page 45 and 46: Redmond/Williams Distributing Amana
Page 47 and 48: Looking for… ◗ New Plumbing or
Page 49 and 50: Viessmann Manufacturing Company Inc
Page 51 and 52: Weil-McLain Canada Win ultimate toy
Page 53 and 54: Building Wolseley from the branch u
Page 55 and 56: Trucks for the Trade Truck Graphics
Page 57 and 58: Circle Number 161 for More Informat
Page 59 and 60: Faucets & Fixtures Programmable fau
Page 61 and 62: Tools & Instruments Jobsite estimat
Page 63 and 64: Atofina Canada Inc. 1007/1009 Bacha
Page 65 and 66: Western Update In Brief Calgary to
Page 67 and 68:
Coming Events World Building Congre
Page 69 and 70:
Mechanical Marketplace The bulletin
Page 71 and 72:
Keep cool customers even cooler. Co
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