STEAM

Jim_83

Can the Burnham MegaSteam be converted to fire natural gas just like the Weil McLain SGO? I do not want to void the Burnham warranty or run into trouble filing a claim with the Homeonwers insurance should anything go wrong.

bob young

STEAM

IS A WEIL-MCLAIN EGH a good choice for a steam boiler replacement ? 500,000 btu. existing same exact , thirty years old. pretty much rotted out.

Steamhead (in transit)

If it rotted out

there has to be a reason. A new boiler will suffer the same fate unless the problem is fixed. I'll bet the system is taking on lots of fresh water.

I'd suggest a wet-base boiler with a power gas burner instead of an atmospheric type like the EGH. The greater heat-transfer surface and better control over the combustion process are more efficient, and worth being able to hear it run.

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Al Letellier_9

EGH

I agree wholeheartedly with Steamhead. A Weil SGO with a Riello gas burner is a great choice and a lot more economical to run. And,if necessary, you have the option to switch to oil without changing the boiler.

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mike jones_2

burnum as a new steam gas boiler

would burnums steal nipple seals be a reason to choose burnum as a new steam gas boiler, or is there some other good reason to go with another company?

Steamhead (in transit)

In those sizes

you'd be looking at a Burnham V-903 or 904, W-M 4-80 or 5-80, or similar. These are available with either oil or gas power burners.

I prefer push nipples, but when you have to bring the sections in one at a time and assemble them, gasketed boilers are much easier to work with.

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Steamhead (in transit)

Not at the moment

but the Burnham people know we want that option.

If you're looking for a factory-certified convertible steamer, check out the Smith 8 series. We just finished installing one with the gas burner. Here's a link, the pipe-dope conversation is apocryphal to the installation.

http://forums.invision.net/Thread.cfm?CFApp=2&Thread_ID=51063&mc=37

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Boilerpro_5

At 30 years old.....

I think it earned it's retirement. As always, you want a very tight, leak free system. I think you did quite well, most EG/EGH boilers in my area last about 15 years, whether hot water or steam.

Boilerpro

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Jim_83

Steamhead

Very nice install. I didn't know there was that much controversy on pipe sealant.

I am requesting quotes for a new steam boiler and because the information I have learned from this site, I ask them to use Teflon tape instead of the usual pipe dope, they give me strange looks and tell me I don’t know what I am talking about. Is there a difference in steam boiler performance using the different pipe sealing materials?

Is it best to use Teflon tape with the red silicone? I'm gonna have a lot of trouble convincing the installers to use this method.

Steamhead (in transit)

If they know they can get good fittings

there shouldn't be a problem. But some of what we've seen lately was pretty bad, hence the heroics.

We'll be watching that job closely, it's the first 8-series we've done. Glad you liked it.

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