Take a look at Figures 1, 2a and 2b. What do they have in common? Can you think of some better ways to accommodate the flexible tubing?

Can you spot at least six design or installation details that are going to create problems?

Are you an ace troubleshooter? We pose a question to you, our readers, to review a system’s schematic layout and discover its faults, flaws and defects.

A recent inquiry involved a heating system for a school in which two electric boilers were being added to supplement the output of a gas-fired cast-iron boiler, and take advantage of low “off-peak” electrical rates.

Given the current prices for fuel oil and propane, and current state and federal incentive programs, many homeowners are asking heating contractors to replace their aging boilers with a geothermal heat pump system.

Can you spot at least 5 causes for concern among these three photos? If so, what would you do to correct them?

An installer is asked to provide a 4-ton-rated (48,000 Btu/h) geothermal heat pump system that can provide space heating and domestic hot water.

Because the price of fuel oil has increased dramatically over the last several months, an installer with lots of experience in installing conventional oil-fired boilers is asked to install a pellet-fired boiler.

Imagine that you, an independent heating pro, have been asked to inspect this system because the owner is claiming it doesn’t deliver sufficient heat on cold days.

A technician installs a system to provide domestic hot water to a high end house with several bathrooms. Can you spot at least five details that are incorrect, and recommend how to fix this situation?