help! My old steam boiler has died+I need a new one

GW

Yes, if they didn't measure tell them to walk. Actually, if I'm in a nasty hurry and I'm not being a good salesman, I'll guess at the boiler size and measure AFTER I get a yes for the job and before I buy the boiler. That's not normal though, it doesn't take long to measure the radiators.

The first guy sounds nuts; is this a mansion or something? I guess it's not because you said 6 radiators...Of course a pre-assembled boiler would work. Either of those burners are just fine, we've installed all 3 with great success.

Did any of them mention how they would be piping it? Some jokers use copper. It's crazy to go into all the in and out here. How about new main vent(s)?

You may want to spend a few minutes and read up on steam. Try not to blame the guy you hire if he does a lame job; all the info you need is available. You must pick the smartest guy, not the cheapest ( I guess they're all the same price anyways, but I bet one will out shine the other two.)

Gary

mpc

help !Old steam boiler died, need new one

My old 80-90yrs steam boiler+burner have bit the dust. Boiler was orig a coal furnace converted to oil-fired steam boiler. I live on 2nd floor of approx 100yr old 2-family house in NE which has 6 steam old time radiators. Since it died, Ihave had the asbestos removed and have gotten 3 estimates from local oil co contractors. One says that I should have the new boiler assembled in the basement so it can be customized to the old pipes. He was going to use a V8
series Burnham boiler and Riello burner. He said that a
package boiler would not be efficient because the new connection pipes would be at the wrong angles to the old pipes. Two other contractors say that this is not a problem
and that a package boiler would be fine. They each want to put in a Weil-Mcclain package boiler, one with a Beckett
burner and the other with a Carlin burner. There is not a big difference in the prices.Basically I want an efficient
system that is not going to have problems in the setting of an old house. Also it's getting colder everyday + there's no heat. I would appreciate some help so I can make a good decision- which contractor is correct? If you have any opinions on the boilers or burners, please include them.
Thanks ,mpc

oil-2-4-6-gas

> My old 80-90yrs steam boiler+burner have bit the

> dust. Boiler was orig a coal furnace converted to

> oil-fired steam boiler. I live on 2nd floor of

> approx 100yr old 2-family house in NE which has 6

> steam old time radiators. Since it died, Ihave

> had the asbestos removed and have gotten 3

> estimates from local oil co contractors. One says

> that I should have the new boiler assembled in

> the basement so it can be customized to the old

> pipes. He was going to use a V8 series Burnham

> boiler and Riello burner. He said that a

> package boiler would not be efficient because the

> new connection pipes would be at the wrong angles

> to the old pipes. Two other contractors say that

> this is not a problem and that a package boiler

> would be fine. They each want to put in a

> Weil-Mcclain package boiler, one with a Beckett

> burner and the other with a Carlin burner. There

> is not a big difference in the prices.Basically I

> want an efficient system that is not going to

> have problems in the setting of an old house.

> Also it's getting colder everyday + there's no

> heat. I would appreciate some help so I can make

> a good decision- which contractor is correct? If

> you have any opinions on the boilers or burners,

> please include them. Thanks ,mpc



did any of these contractors do an EDR -----------measure the radiators?? if they didn't measure the actual load of the system they don't know what they are doing --

oil-2-4-6-gas

did any of these contractors do an EDR -----------measure the radiators?? if they didn't measure the actual load of the system they don't know what they are doing --

Henry Patterson Karis HVAC

Get the Package

Get the package that matches the EDR the closest. Square feet of radiation needs to match the output of the boiler. YOU CAN"T CHEAT STEAM! You have to keep the radiators full of steam to keep them hot. Once you have the amount of radiation needed figured out THEN you can decide which manufactuer meets your needs the best.

mpc

the 1st guy looked at the radiators in the house and counted the # of pipes or coils (Idon't know the correct term) each one had- so the liv rm has the largest radiator
(13), four of the other rooms each had 7, and the small-sized bathroom has a sm unit in wall. The other 2 just asked how many radiators I had and didn't look or measure.
The 1st contractor is the one who said I shouldn't us a package boiler,etc.

Al Gregory

Unless u have something out of the ordinary a Weil Mclain with a Carlin will work fine. I put in about twenty of them so far this season. Mention to the contractor you would like to have a Hartford loop and ask him if his price includes coming back a cpl times to skim the boiler if needed and to clean the glass tube. Also ask him to check the radiators for leaky connections and bad air vents when he is finnished. Also a new oil line is the most important part of the installation.

Not every job requires measuring the radiators. After you replace the same boiler in the same house a thousand times you can pretty much tell what size it needs. Are they a reputable company? Anyone else you know used them?

mpc

thanks for your comments- actually the house is just one floor- it's the 2nd floor apt of a 2-fam house, there are separate systems for each apt. There are 5 average-size rms and a small bathroom- it's far from a mansion! I can try to read up on steam,but I live in Mass. and I don't know how long I can take to educate myself before it gets too cold.
mpc

mpc

thanks- all of the contractors are going to put in a new oil line-the current one is under the cement floor. Two of the guys are going to chop up the floor (the lines are not that deep I'm told). One guy says that he can cap off the old line and run the new one along the ceiling and that
should be ok for current pumps. mpc

John_102

From one HO to another

Listen to these guys on the Wall - they are pros who know their stuff & give their time freely to help. Buy & read "We Got Steam Heat!", at least (I'd say the "Lost Art of Steam Heating" is really a requisite). Both books are enjoyable, educational reading. Become at least a semi-literate consumer.

In my (limited) experience, conjuring the names Dan Holohan or HeatingHelp.com has spooked at least a couple of fly-by-nighters. Enjoy the new boiler with the knowledge that it was done right by a real pro. (You might punch in your zip at the "Find A Professional" over on the upper left.)

Peace.

Unknown

Replacement boiler

There is no difference between a knocked-down and packaged steam boiler with the exception that the jacket, burner, wiring and controls are not mounted when you get a knocked-down version. This is merely for convenience in getting the boiler through the house and down the stairs in tighter situations. The pipes still connect in the same places at the same angles. The Burnham V8 is available in both configurations as are other brands. Hope this helps.

Glenn Stanton

Manager of Training

Burnham Hydronics

U.S. Boiler Co., Inc.

ed wallace

steam boiler

anyone who tells you a package boiler wil not work due to pipe tappings is a fool anyone who guesses on edr on a steam job is a fool the old boiler is way oversized compared to a modern steam boiler

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

Rodney Summers

boiler sections

Can you help me with this one? Planning an installation for a 1 pipe gravity feed system with 650 sq ft of steam by oil requirement for two floor house. If in a few years I want to install an individual hot water system for the 2nd floor, what do I do with the extra steam capacity. Do I remove a section of the boiler or use a different oil burner nozzle. Or am I stuck with an inefficent oversized steam system?
Can a section of the boiler be removed?
JK

mpc_2

thanks for the advice from all of the pros and from
fellow homeowners. mpc

Bildo

EDR

In an apt. like that I don't think it's neccasary to measure the radiators just to give a price. I usually give a price and then if I get the job I measure before I buy the boiler.