Need Help Identifying Oil Fired Boiler

Johnny_Debt

Hello everyone, I've recently just got a new place and it has an old oil fired boiler which makes steam to heat the home. I've been searching through this site to gain a better understanding of steam heat.



I've also been trying to identify the current boiler I have.  It appears to have a emblem with the name Peerless on the boiler.  It also appears to have a boiler number of JOT-4-W.  I've searched google with the boiler number to yield no results.



The boiler has a net Sq Ft Steam rating of 520, 125,300 btu/hr steam and 145200 btu/water.  The boiler only provides heat and a separate water heater provides hot water.

It has a beckett burner mounted on the boiler. I believe this creates the flame which heats the water.



The reason for searching for the manual is because I do not know how much water to fill this boiler.  I've seen mention of a pink line on the water tube to indicate the water level, but this boiler does not have such markings.



The boiler runs off 2 inch main pipes that stretch in 2 directions, east and west of the house before running up to the radiators. The main pipes run 20 ft in both directions. There are no main vents attached to the main pipes, and I am wondering if I need main vents for such a small heating system.



If anyone can help with identifying the boiler and the manual associated with it, also if anyone can let me know if this system requires main vents, it would be much appreciated.



Thank you for any help.

Steamhead

You nailed it

it's a Peerless JOT-4W. Having the proper burner is critical on this unit, since some burners can't move enough air thru that boiler's tight flueways, and they clog with soot as a result. At minimum that Beckett should be a model AFG and preferably a model NX, not the original AF model.



When the boiler is cold, the water level should stand at roughly halfway up the glass. Too high and the water will be carried out with the steam. Too low and the low-water cutoff will stop the burner- or if the cutoff doesn't stop the burner, the boiler could crack. If the cutoff is a float-type, you need to blow it down (flush out the dirt) once a week, as enough dirt can keep it from stopping the burner.



Every system needs properly-sized main vents. If yours doesn't, have them added.



Since you're new to this, it would be best to have a Steam Pro come and go over the system with you. Where are you located? Have you tried the Find a Contractor page of this site?

Johnny_Debt

thank you

Thank you for the prompt response. The water level does sit at half level on the water glass. I did not know that I had to flush out the system every week. I will be doing this on a weekly basis from now on.



It is definitly a Beckett burner, but I am not sure on how to identify the model.



I will be contacting a pro to have the system checked out. However I would like to gain a better understanding of steam heat as well.



This is a 1 pipe system, the pipe that carries the steam also returns the condensate. The system has no vents on the main pipe, only on the radiator. I managed to find a manual on the peerless jot boilers. The manual states that there should be a 3/4 inch air eliminator at the top of the top of the boiler, I guess to eliminate the air in the water chamber. However my boiler does not have this either.



I understand that we need to remove the air in the main pipe for the steam to replace it. What i am not quite grasping is why do we aim for a low pressure steam heat system? I know that higher pressures lead to higher boiling temperatures, but when that water eventually boils, wouldn't this superheated steam carry with it more latent heat energy to disperse in the house?

walnuts

pressure

vents on radiators and returns will close when under "high" pressure.  high pressure causes moisture to be carried with the steam.  low pressure is your friend!!!!   average residential pressure should be 1 lb. or less (typical 1 pipe system.)

Paul Pollets

Get the Book!

You'd really like Dan's treatis on Steam Heating in the Shop, called the "Lost Art of Steam Heating". If you read it, you'll feel more comfortable with your system and probably know more than most contractors who have minimal experience with steam heat.



The one-pipe system is the least complex of steam heating applications. It has very few moving parts. Burner setup in any boiler is critical. So is a working low water cutoff and pressuretrol that is set correctly. And then there are the vents....

JK_3

low pressure good

High pressure bad. Walnuts is correct  that the high pressure will carry moisture but it will also make the system very noisy, destroy vents and lower efficiency.