Gravity Hot Water!!!!

Rick K

Forgot to mention this boiler was installed around 1914!

Rick K

Gravity Hot Water

Hey guys , im a young guy out here on Long Island and i just came across my first gravity hot water system! Just wanted to share it with you guys. This one is located in Kings Park. This customer averages about 500 gallons of fuel a year and the unit is running great. Heres some pictures for your enjoyment. And for the record im not the one who installed the #15 extrol....not sure if this is correct or not but i couldnt find a good reason for it being there. If anyone could tell me this i would appreciate it.

Eric Johnson

I had one like that

I used to have a boiler very similar to that. Different brand, but same shape and same amount of aesbestos. No duct tape, though.

Mine was an old coal conversion. The original installtion was 1910. I put a wood-fired boiler with an oil backup in to replace it, but I stuck with the gravity feed 'cause it worked great and the house was up in the Adirondacks where it gets really cold and the power tends to go out. So, we always stayed warm as long as we had dry wood.

Rick K

yes this was a old coal conversion also , its great to see this stuff still working

Steamhead (in transit)

One of my Dead Men's Books

says this type of boiler often is no more than 40% efficient on oil. With today's flame-retention burners you might get 45%.

How big is this system that only uses 500 gallons of oil per year?

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Rick K

The house itself is approx. 2000 sq. feet , two story. This was my first time at this house and my customer was saying how she burns very little oil! I honestly couldnt believe it. I asked my office later that day about her usage and they said for the two years weve had here both years were around 500 gallons. House must very well insulated or something. This beckett is running at 1.00 gph. The usage of oil wasnt what amazed me, the fact that this boiler was installed 66 years before i was born and is still running well to this day is what amazed me.

McKern

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Joe_75

You guys on the east coast have all the fun. I would love to see an old system like this here in Montana. I worked on one system that was installed in the 50's but that is really rare.

Rich Kontny_3

Nice Old Boiler

Beautiful old boiler and yes it is neat to see these old beauties still running. It is indeed and old coal fired boiler converted to oil fire. The suggestion to change the burner only gains you about 5% more AFUE.

Time to suggest a new system with let's say a competitive Burnham V82 oil fired hydronic boiler with pumped circulation. The V82 would probaly save about 25-30% on fuel oil consumption.

This old baby has done it's time and it would be best to be proactive here before this boiler dies in midwinter or on a holiday!

Rich K.

Rick K

Just wondering since you mentioned replacing the boiler with a burnham boiler, I would like to see some opinions on replacing this boiler with a biasi or a viessmann? How would a triple pass boiler perform compared to a burnham or a peerless and so on?

EBEBRATT-Ed

With the Extrol expansion tank and the B&G PRV on the water feed are you SURE there isn't a circulator hiding somewhere?? I suppose it was an open system gravity syatem convereted to a closed loop.


ED

Steamhead (in transit)

It was probably an old D&T or Thrush

or other system with the original tank in the basement. I think I can see the old tank still in the basement ceiling.

I'd definitely go with a 3-pass boiler. We like the Solaia which is based on the Biasi. Here's a shot of one installed on an old gravity system which also drives an indirect.

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Alan_11

almost 40 psi

Time to replace either relief valve or pressure gauge.

dann crist_2

gravity

I work on an old gravity system---actually I work on it very little, no moving parts-- sweet system, works great, wish I had photos for you, someone painted it up real classy w/ black and gold etc. not only is it a gravity system but the exp. tank is on the third floor, with a sight glass and overflow pipe to out through the roof, head pressure only. If you overfill while in the basement,
it spills out onto the ground. It is an old, well kept home near The University of Montana--Go Grizzleys

Adam_13

damper

Is that the remains of some type of damper regulator on the top rear of the boiler?

Rich Kontny_3

Just an Example

Sorry for the delay we have been putting in 12-13 hour days due to the 15-29 below weather.

The oil experts are from out east 90% of our heat sources are gas. I just looked up Burnham to give you an example.

With a son who is in the military and with all our brave men and women carrying the load for our freedoms etc, I am passionate about fuel efficiences.

We need to adapt firm and enforceable conservation measures ASAP!

Rich K.

Make Peace Your Passion!

Rich Kontny_3

Just an Example

Sorry for the delay we have been putting in 12-13 hour days due to the 15-29 below weather.

The oil experts are from out east 90% of our heat sources are gas. I just looked up Burnham to give you an example.

With a son who is in the military and with all our brave men and women carrying the load for our freedoms etc, I am passionate about fuel efficiences.

We need to adapt firm and enforceable conservation measures ASAP!

Rich K.

Make Peace Your Passion!

oa

heating system problem

im searching for some answers to my heating problems and came across your blurbs on this old furnace. we have a new furnace Burnham i think. we have copper pipes feeding off burner to circulate through a main floor extension. cant seem to keep water in those pipes, any thoughts. we have forced water up via the hot water tank and purge system several times but when we open valves to feed through boiler the water seems to drain out.