firbox clarification

Steamhead (in transit)

a new oil-fired boiler is exactly what you need. If oil gets way more expensive than gas, you can have a conversion burner put in the oil boiler that will fire it with gas. If the equation tilts the other way you can have it changed back. So you'd be "future-proofed". But you can't do this with a boiler designed for gas.

One of my favorite Dead Men, Frank Graham, wrote in the 1940s that the usual 4-section round boilers generally would not run at more than 40% efficiency on oil, because there was very little heat-transfer surface. I spotted you another 5% for the flame-retention burner you have in yours. When we replace these oil-guzzlers our customers see the fuel savings almost immediately.

A new boiler will require a circulator, but only to move the water thru the boiler. If a circ too big is used, it will impede the heat transfer in the boiler and rads since the water will move too fast.

Again, try the Find a Professional page of this site to locate a contractor who can do the job right.

Jay_21

firebox clarification and thoughts--45% efficiency? sheesh

Wow!! Thanks for all the great info, maybe theres hope for the old girl yet...

Steamhead (Mr. Steamhead?): I know that a new boiler is the best option. I figured that with the flame retension burner the old one is probably 60% efficient...but Im wrong. 45%? wow, thats bad.

Still, I dont dare replace it with a new oil boiler because
Im certain oil is endangered in my area, and a new gas boiler (with chimney liner/make up air) is more than i can afford now, expecially considering probable gas prices and the need for new gas connection (presently none in the house).

I apparently didnt explain that it is a "soft" firebox. Very crumbly and reddish, probably just 2 feet in circumfrence and a foot high. Its an odd material...its not mag ( I know what that looks like) and yet its not a wooly asbestos material either. It is quite accessible...this old boiler has a huge door (it was coal).

So from what Ive described, it is asbestos?

I also should say its a closed gravity hotwater system.

Firedragon (mr. Firedragon?) said the current chamber (soft) *is* probably asbestos. Im sorry to hear that!
I suppose thats a diference between the old-time who said it was so easy, asbestos just didnt concern him, whereas the young guys get trained on its dangers. I appreciate the warning about the prevelance of asbestos even inside the boiler.

So--a new box sounds doable but Im back to abatement issues and the challenge of finding a tech whos willing to do the job.

I do appeciate that thanks to you guys at least now know what to ask for/suggest (like kaowool).


-jay

Firedragon_4

Not quite what I

said, but better to err on the side of caution.

lchmb

and by the sounds of it

At 45% efficient it won't take you long to start putting money back in your pocket!!