1950's American standard oil furnace

HomeSweetStuy

I write to heatinghelp because I do not know what to do. We have a 1950"s oil furnance by American -standard (its about the size of a small car) to heat a 4 family brownstone and we don't know how to handle it. The limited hot water we had for the first month or so-mysteriously disappeared about a week ago. Our Plumber tells us we should get new water heaters and a new boiler and convert to gas heat but I am suspicious of his motives. The furnance, although undoubtedly inefficient, was built to last--unlike so many of modern appliances which are built to last until the day the warranty runs out. So I have a couple of questions:
1. Is there a way to make this furnance more efficient?
2. where can I find information on how to maintain it? (at the moment we do not have the financial resources to replace it even if the heating help community said to do so immediately)
3. If I were to replace it-should i convert to gas or just a more efficient oil system
4. if i chose a stopgap measure of installing a couple of hot water heaters to deal with the immediate problems--is there any down side I should be aware of?

any and all advice is appreciated as I realize I may nopt even know enough to ask the right questions.

Thanks!!!

Perry_3

Lets start with the basics...

Q 1) Make it more efficient? Probably not.

Q 2) How to maintain it (if it can fixed)? You need a real heating pro. Someone who really knows what they are doing, not just someone who claims they are a pro (and there is a big difference).

Please post what city you are in and others on this site can likely recommend someone who knows what they are doing. That is not always true - but is true for many parts of the country.

Q 3) New oil or gas. Depending on what you need and your local fuel supply will determine the answer. Conventional boilers can be gotten that can be converted to run on either oil or gas. On the other hand, the most efficient boilers typically run on gas (modulating & condensing boilers: called mod/con's).

Q 4) Stopgap measures - while seemingly initially cheap have a way of turning out to be more than just a waste of money. Usually, the cheapest and best long term solution is to do the job right up front. You say you can't afford it... This site fills up with stories of the people who in the end couldn't afford not to (or would have been many many thousands of dollars ahead if they had done it right up front).

End of your questions.

Here is my general advice:

Get someone in there who really knows what they are doing. Perhaps your boiler can be repaire fairly easily or with a new burner. Post where you are so we can help you there.

On the other hand; it may be time for a new one - and if it is you really have no choice on that. People have literally died (and killed other family members) by improper maintenance or trying to use things beyond their safe point (carbon monoxide poisening).

If you need a new boiler it is likely to be a fraction of the current sized boiler. Many 1950 era boilers were well oversized (2 to 3 times to big); and modern boilers are more compact anyway.

You need to have an assessment done on your heating system and how each appartment is heated and controlled.

You need a proper modern heat loss on the building to properly size a replacement boiler.

Any new boiler needs to be properely interfaced with your existing system. In some cases that may mean an additional component between your new boiler and your system (a Low Loss Header - a type of heat exchanger; and something I had to do in my house).

Perry (homeowner - who's been through something similar..)

Leo

A few things

If your area is like around here plumbers automatically have a gas license but not oil, so they try to steer people to use what they know. You should have an oil guy look at your system for dependability. But at it's age it's days of efficiency are long gone. How do I know, I am an oil guy and my boiler in my house is from 1950 and it is an American Standard. It has an upgraded burner but it still is anoil pig.

Leo

mtfallsmikey

Time to go

I've worked on, and installed (when I was MUCH younger) a lot of these, and it has served well, time for the retirement party. So many options are open for replacement, wait and see the rest of the responses you will get. Good Luck!..mfm (former HVAC cont'r)

HomeSweetStuy

Re: 1950s American Standard Boiler

Thanks for the replies to our query about how to deal with our ancient car-sized boiler. As we mentioned in our earlier query, our boiler currently works and has a new burner, but we suddenly have no hot water throughout the house. I'm just about to bring a plumber in to install a couple hot water heaters to deal with that and am hoping to rely on the boiler for at least another year for heat. We are in Brooklyn, NY, and would appreciate any recommendations for contractors or oil companies to call to schedule servicing.

Steamhead (in transit)

Is this

a steam or hot-water system?

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Ed N.Y.C.

AM-STD

What oil co. do you have. I work for a FULL SERVICE oil co. in BROOKLYN. E mail me. Put Brooklyn in header so I know where it came from. Just got over virus and won't open mail I don't know. ED N.Y.C.

Tom Hopkins

I

would guess it's steam.If so the Megasteam oil boiler is hands down the best steam boiler available.In reality you're paying for a new unit in fuel costs anyway, why not actually receive the benefits?Even if you have to finance the cost of installation,your savings will make the payments.

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Dave_4

How old is my oil boiler?

I am currently removing my American Standard oil boiler for a new natural gas one. Just curious to know how old this one is. It is model # AP130, series 1B J1. Any clue?
Thanks, Daryl