welding old boilers

Debbie Brown

I have a 20 year old boiler that seems to have bit the dust. Most of the parts, with the exception of the tank have been replaced over the last year. My oil company has suggested replacing it. We do not plan on living here too much longer and would be interested in how feasible it is to weld the parts that are leaking inside.

Also, is it possible to just replace the tank?

Rodney Summers

hi i am a tig and stick welder and i have to tell you cast iron you have to preheat the metal with sand or a heating torch and you have to make sure it dose not cool to fast.

if you have a welder you can try it. it wont cost you nothing you'll have to get cast iron rod. and trust me pack it with hot sand if it cools to quick it will crack like glass don't let cold air hit it or it's useless.

but let me tell you now no one can guarantee it if someone tells you it's guaranteed then there just taking your money

you could also try brazing it but if the oil burner heats the area to much it will leek again i'm not sure what the temperature would be inside a boiler

so id say just get a new boiler and be done with it

good luck

Kevin O. Pulver

buy the boiler Debbie

Rooster Boy is correct. Noone wants to buy your house with the old boiler that has been welded, and of course you are too ethical not to tell them. With the old boiler they will be offering you less money knowing it needs replaced.
This way you can enjoy the new boiler for a little while you are living there, which could end up being longer than you thought. In which case you will wish you had bought one sooner so you could have saved money on bills. Your house will be worth more when you sell it anyway with the new boiler installed, and then you can tell potential buyers how little fuel it uses. Here is a tip: Spend a little more money for a boiler that is "Fully Modulating and Condensing" It will be more efficient and more than pay for itself. Fully modulating means that instead of just running wide-open or stop, the burner will infinitely adjust according to load, just like you adjust your kitchen stove flame. Handy isn't it! Your boiler will be sized to keep the house warm on say a 10 below zero day. On a 40 degree day, that boiler is too big and will shortcycle, killing your "fuel milage". A modulating boiler just turns the flame down to pretend it's a smaller boiler. The condensing part oversimplified just means boiler is able to suck more heat out of the water and as a result will drip condensate while running just like your air conditioner does. That would kill a regular boiler, but these love it. If you don't have a floor drain for it to drip into, a cheap condensate pump can dispose of it easily. I don't know if you're burning fuel oil or gas, but around here I have used the Peerless Pinnacle/Munchkin (same thing) and the Knight by Lochinvar on natural gas or propane. These will also be "sealed combustion" they will power vent out the roof or sidewall through PVC pipe, and also bring in all the combustion air they need through PVC also. THis eliminates potential problems of not enough combustion air in the room, and dangers of CO poisoning from flue spillage/backdraft under certain conditions.
Let us know what you decide to do. If you type in your zipcode you can likely find a contractor from here on the wall who is in your area. Merry Christmas a day late. Kevin

Steamhead (in transit)

Is this

a hot-water or steam system? If the latter you can't use a condensing boiler, but there are many other fine choices.

I agree that a new boiler is a great selling point. Go for it.

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jim lockard

Debbie

This is crazy, hate to be the bearer of bad news but girl you need a boiler plain and simple. Buy a gooden. Best Wishes J.Lockard

Weezbo

That gas cylinder tied to the electrical conduit...

says alot also. he is a smartie for a welder. not too many welders also have Electrical certifications. some of them are difficult to aquire.

PG

Not to mention the "farmers tan" he's going to get.

Rodney Summers

weezbo argon gas is not flammable it's for my tig welding it's tide there for the 1 in a million chance that it falls over the cylinder wont take off like a rocket.

my bother has a e2 electrical licence and he installed that panel for me ;-)

but no danger for the argon tank at least it's tide

thanks

bob young

??

How does the juice go thru the rope ? must be advanced technology.

Rodney Summers

hee hee bob the hose attaches to my pedal and my tig torch.
the torch is water cooled ;-)

mark smith

here in New York ..

it is a Felony to weld a pressure vessel
without a certified welder, and a Re-Certification of the Boiler

Bill Jirik,

welding

If the boiler is cast iron welding is generally not an option, if it is steel they are welded on every day, however the real factor is what the codes applicable to your jurisdiction allow.

jim lockard

And your

Insurance provider as Mark stated welding on a pressure vessel is reserved for those with the skills and certifications to do it properly, along with oversight from local authorities. J.Lockard