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Author:
jelm (VA)
Hello experts - 3 years ago we had a new heating system/boiler installed for our hot water radiator heating system. Apparently the copper pipe attached to the evaporation tank was held up to the ceiling beam with plastic strapping. I woke up last week to the sound of rushing water in the basement. The plastic had broken and the tank was on the floor and water was gushing from two pipes. When a technician came out from the installation company, he said that the strapping should have been metal and showed me metal strapping used in other places. He did not repair it because the system now needs to be flushed and it will take several hours. Now the company won't call me back. Should metal strapping have been used or is plastic an industry standard for holding up copper piping that supports an evaporation tank? Thanks for you insights!
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Author:
bernabeu (SC)
good practice =
'strapping' or hangers should support the weight of the piping / equipment + 250 lbs
AND
be constructed from whatever material will NOT corrode / decompose under the installation conditions
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"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638
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Author:
hj (AZ)
The piping does NOT "support the tank". The piping is supported by its hangers, mmetal or plastic, and the tank should have its OWN metal strapping
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Author:
packy (MA)
the industry standard is that the piping must be secured in such a way that what happened should not have happened. used correctly a plastic hanger could be adequate. there is no way to tell from here what was done or if it was done correctly.
if you can post a picture or 2 for us to see we would be better able to pass judgement on the work.
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Author:
m & m (MD)
It is probably an expansion tank that failed. If so, it most likely waterlogged and the weight overcame the plastic strap that secured it. In the end, plastic was adequate on a properly functioning tank, but inadequate for the inevitable failure of the tank.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
quote; plastic was adequate on a properly functioning tank, but inadequate for the inevitable failure of the tank.
Since failure was "inevitable" the plastic was NEVER "adequate".
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Author:
m & m (MD)
From the installers viewpoint, it was adequate for today.
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Author:
Paul48 (CT)
IMHO......As a homeowner/DIYer. Plastic pipe hangers and or strapping are not tools of a professional. A professional should know that expansion tanks are extremely heavy. When installing my boiler, I used anvil hangers with threaded rod to support the piping to the expansion tank. It may be over-kill, but, then again, I didn't want any floods.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
Or at least until he got out of the driveway and cashed the check.
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