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Re: Leaking Steam Boiler In Vermont - Am I Screwed?
This is a real dilemma. I have no idea how capable you are but this might be something you tackle your self with the aid of some friends. The diagrams are relatively easy to understand and the parts are likely relatively easy to get. The real issue might just be that everything is really heavy. The first thing you'll want or need regardless of who does the work is a heat load. insist on it. You'll need to know how many sqft of steam your system wants not much more not much less. There are plenty of sights for this information and how to acquire it. Oil or gas? that's your call. Hire some one to set that end up and hire an electrician to wire it. You'll find remote help here.
Grallert
Re: Leaking Steam Boiler In Vermont - Am I Screwed?
Contact again I will be in ascutney Vermont next week perhaps I can swing over in the evening.
Re: Leaking Steam Boiler In Vermont - Am I Screwed?
@LegendsCreek Bummer that the boiler is kaput. To buy some time and continue to heat your home, I recommend using a "boiler seal" chemical, or an equivalent to get you through the heating season. See below.
I have used this for both commercial and residential steam boilers through the years with great success. Do this first and breathe a little easier.
From the sound of things. You are having issues getting folks to work on your boiler as needed. Try and find a company to add this to your boiler. It works most of the time and is made for what you are currently going through.
I recently added some to my sister's home to get her through the winter and allow her to get her finances in order for the replacement. It worked wonderfully. Check it out.
Intplm.
Re: Leaking Steam Boiler In Vermont - Am I Screwed?
Would never recommend using any sort of boiler sealant. The boiler sealant can seal pipes the same way it can seal a hole in the boiler. If that happens, you are really in trouble.
Re: Leaking Steam Boiler In Vermont - Am I Screwed?
It is sad that in some areas that the younger generation will not/cannot do a steam boiler replacement. I used to do some work in VT but am retired now.
@Charlie from wmass is likely your best bet but it looks like a 2 hour drive
If you strike out or Charlie can't do it you might try calling FW WEbb they are a supply house with branches in VT and ask for the branch manager they may know some contractors that do steam. (I wouldn't get my hope up with them.)
The other one you might call is Blodgett Supply they used to have branches in Rutland and a couple other locations.
Adding a tax to oil and propane? Seems like a bad deal. I suppose MA will try that next. Wouldn't Suprise me.
Re: Ibc boiler
You can use the extra controller. You will just need to do a bit more wiring. not a big deal. The 2 zone set up would look at bit cleaner.
kcopp
Re: Tricks of the trade?
This is the one I've been using:
I have to confess I haven't used them on a soil stack.
Re: Boiler Pump Size
Your boiler output is 63,000 so 6.3 gallon/min is what you need. (10,000 btu/gpm circulated) this should give you about a 20 degree td between supply and return. Taco 007 should be fine
But I agree you need some type of automatic 3 way valve to manage the bypass. There are different types and different controls. With a condensing boiler I would keep the boiler return about 90 deg a standard boiler should be 130 minimum. But you heat emitters have a say in the water temperature design as well.
Re: Boiler Pump Size
The bypass valve will not cause pump cavitation.
The current pump is more than adequate.
LRCCBJ
Re: Tricks of the trade?
U can replace the rollers in the pipe cutter (at least a Rigid cutter) with two extra cutters to make a 3 wheel pipe cutter as @mattmia2 suggested. They can be difficult to get started for a straight cut.
Other than that if you have a Porta Band saw they work well and there is always sawzalls or the smaller hackzalls that work well.
I would suggest marking a line around the pipe with a piece of shirt cardboard or a welders wrap around or other flexible straight edge to make a straight line around the pipe to follow.
Porta Band work so well I never had a pipe cutter in my truck just xtra band saw blades. A Porta band will cut up to 4" and with practice you can cut perfectly straight.
The other advantage with a porta band is there is no burr to remove as with a pipe cutter.