high efficiency Steam boiler replacement

Unknown

has an AFUE rating in excess of 86% and as far as I am aware, they are the highest efficiency steam boilers on the market. Hope this helps.

Glenn Stanton

Manager of Training

Burnham Hydronics

U.S. Boiler Co., Inc.

Steve Harp

high efficiency Steam boiler replacement

Eaarlier in the week I had a posted regarding water consumption in my one pipe steam system. Following the advice of the posters I had the heating guys in yesterday. Their inspection revealed rust inside the furnace cabinet, numerous orange streaks and spots on the cast iron of the boiler and rust inside the flue. All of these symptons explain where the water is going, up my chimney via my boiler.

I talked with the heating guys about rebuilding the boiler and they were not big on the idea so I think I am looking at a replacement. Does anyone know if there is such a thing as a HE steam boiler? The heating guys work with Burnham boiler and that is what they are recomending. Anyone want to put in their two cents.

I think I am in the sticker shock phase after their estimate, 6600, but know I need to make amove with winter approaching and also know that dumping water into my chimney is not helping.

Steve

Bob W._3

Good question. There was a company in Canada that was making a high efficiency steam boiler using some sort of coiled heat exchanger, but I lost track of them. I am only aware of the typical cast iron boilers, such as those made by Burnham, which claim efficiencies in the 80% range. Maybe some of the guys here know of different technologies that increase efficiency.

Steamhead (in transit)

If they recommend Burnham

go with it. Currently we don't have condensing steam boilers, but gravity-return systems don't need pumps so you save some electricity there.

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Al Letellier_9

high efficiency

Check Weil McLain....the best in my book. I think Smith also has a new design for higher efficiency.

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Rodney Summers

Hope this is not too ignorant a question, but can I install a 4 section Peerless Steam boiler and later upgrade it to a 5 section boiler if the need requires? What about going in the other direction e.g. reducing the sections after it is installed?
Joe K

Al Corelli

The Burnham is a very good boiler. We install them for a very large oil company. They are very well built.

Dave_12

Not aware of any high efficiency steam boilers for residential applications. Most max out at about 80-82%. Mainly a matter of the heat transfer rates between the temperature of the flame and the water.

We sell Smith and would recommend their boilers. However Burnham, Weil and Peerless all seem to make good units. The most important thing is a competent installer who knows steam systems, will put it in right and boil out the unit.

Jamie_6

Steam Boilers


Steve,

If that price gave you sticker shock you should have seen the one we bid yesterday! But, to but a steam boiler in correctly it takes a considerable amount of time and money. Not to mention you are making a 30 year investment or more. Just be concerned if it is going in correctly.

* Was an EDR (Equivalent Direct Radiation) done on your home?

* Are they installing the proper BLACK PIPE header?

* Will the system have a Hartford loop?

* Are they installing the proper skim tapings and ball valves for future cleaning?

* Are they adding or replacing main steam vents?

* Are they installing a secondary Low Water Cut-off?

* Is the system being controlled with a Vapor stat?

Just do your research. I have seen boilers on this site where guys have actually had to disassemble NEW steam boilers and install them correctly for almost what you are paying for that new install.

Good luck, Jamie



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Dale

Welcome to steam

Not a popular suggestion with the steam people here but you may want to find out what a condensing hot water system install will cost; Especially if you plan to stay in your house for more than 5 years. I personally would rather come up with a few thousand more and get a modern 94% effecient condensing hot water system. And, you also get the domestic hot water as effeciently made. Steam can be made to work by a true expert if you spend enough money but it cannot be as effecient as hot water, if it was the europeans would install it and so would we here. Ask yourself if panel rads can be something you could get used to looking at. If you do stay with steam besides the edr sizing make sure the bid includes cleaning and skimming of at least 4 hours labor which you will stay home and watch and that the manufacturers near boiler piping including skim fittings be followed to the letter. I have seen a dozen replacement steam boilers in the last few years and not ONE of them was installed correctly and not ONE of them was cleaned and skimmed at ALL.

Steve Harp

HE steam system/ Relpace with Condensing H20

Dale brings up a good question

orum: The Wall (For Heating Questions)
Thread: high efficiency Steam boiler replacement
Author: Dale
Subject: Welcome to steam

URL: http://forums.invision.net/Index.cfm?CFApp=2&Message_ID=205691


Not a popular suggestion with the steam people here but you may want to find out what a condensing hot water system install will cost; Especially if you plan to stay in your house for more than 5 years. I personally would rather come up with a few thousand more and get a modern 94% effecient condensing hot water system.

I do plan to be in the hous for > 5 years. My prospective Heaing guy looked at my exostong radiators and said if they had a plug in them I could entertain the idea of going to hot water. I understand there would be an increase in the cost to add in the return lines but did not do the payoff. I am also guessing that some radiator work well with steam, may work with water but perhaps not as good?

Thoughts, comment

Steve

Bob W._3

Are your rads all dual manifold, connected at top and bottom? Single manifold rads won't work with steam. If I was changing over to HWH I would get all new panel rads or baseboard, rather than subject a modern HE boiler to all the crap that will be in those old rads. Spendy proposition, I'd bet.
Also, those old rads will have to take a lot higher pressure with water.