Replace fire chamber?

Eileen Olive

Have an old (1957-ish) cast iron Weil Mclain hot water boiler, oil fired. It has worked well for most of its life. The fire chamber is crumbling and has a hole where the gun fires against the rear wall. The oil company owner says it will cost almost as much to replace the chamber walls as it will to replace the boiler. Is there a way to "fix" the chamber walls? Is it worth replacing the fire chamber, or would it be wiser to move on to a new boiler?

Bruce Stevens

I love nieteen fifty seven chevys

But I don't keep one in my driveway and expect it to run twenty four seven when I need it the most, for that I keep a newer car with better gas mileage.

coalcracker

Sometimes chambers are available, sometimes not. Chambers on a quailty boiler can be replaced as easily as removing a cover and inserting a new one, or more difficult as in raising the boiler off its base and inserting a new one. They can also be hand pieced together. Sid Harvey might have something for you too.

Retail on a chamber could be $100-200.

The biggest improvement you could do would be to install a modern burner. If the Beckett AFG will fit your boiler, you could see an increase in firing efficiency of 10% or more. Add on a Beckett Heat Manager and they gaurantee a savings of 10% in fuel usage.