Do Gas boilers need tune ups?

Leo_16

Was that one of the "free" boilers if you switched from oil? Sometimes free isn't free. I see an oil tank in the background, I hope the fill has been capped or removed so it doesn't get filled by mistake. The tank should have been removed.

Leo

Steve_175

I asked a guy if he could tune up my 5 yr old gas boiler (Burnham one pipe steam) and he said there is really nothing to adjust or clean.
Yes No?

JohnNY

Is this a serious post?

Do gas boilers need maintenance?

Let's start here:

Burner tubes

In most gas boilers, fuel flows into tubes, mixes with air and is burned to heat the water contained in what is called the heat exchanger.

When dirt and dust build up on those burner tubes efficiency declines because complete combustion of the air/fuel mixture is hampered. As a result of rising levels of unburned fuel after the combustion process has taken place, carbon monoxide begins to rise proportionately.
The heat exchanger may also become coated with carbon brought on by the burning impurities creating far greater carbon monoxide risks.

Low water cut offs

There are two basic types of low water cut off devices: the float-type (most often used is the McDonnel-Miller model # 67) and probe-type (yours would probably be the PS-800 series also by McDonnel-Miller). The float type should be blown down (flushed) weekly. It is made to last for ten years. After that, get a new one. Bad things can happen when they fail.

The probe type should be disconnected from the boiler and cleaned and inspected annually. It is made to last fifteen years.




If you think you’ve been maintaining your boiler because every week or so you push down on that lever that lets out that dirty cruddy water, you’re wrong. You haven’t done much of anything for the boiler at all. That valve is there to maintain the low water cut off to which it is directly connected.

Fresh water corrodes a boiler. Every time you flush it out, you’re creating the need to add more fresh water. If that new water doesn’t boil right away, it does bad things to the cast iron and steel that contain it.


Flue and chimney

Flu piping and chimneys need to be looked at by someone who knows how a problem presents itself. Surface rust and discoloration are signs of something going wrong.

The causes are often one or a combination of the following: inadequate intake (or make-up) air for combustion, a collapsed or compromised chimney, or a serious issue inside the boiler.

The grey flue piping should connect to the boiler, its lowest point, and continue upward from there to the connection to the chimney. There it should be sealed to the bricks without gaps or holes in the penetration.


Skimming

Newer boilers need to be skimmed to get rid of the oil that lies on top of the water which prevents steam from rising and moving toward the pipes and radiators.

Every boiler contains an installation package naming a very specific connection factory-installed in the boiler called a skim port or surface blow-off location where the skimming procedure is best performed. It is the installer’s duty to screw a pipe and valve into that connection to allow for the safe and effective removal of oils from the boiler water.

If this is not done, efficiency, boiler longevity and system balance suffer.

In the boilers I see, about one in four has any provision for skimming installed.

Our installations include a new valve and follow-up skimming service after 2 weeks of use when the oils have collected and are easily removed.


Pressure

Steam heating systems operate on the principle that steam pressure created in the boiler moves the gas (the steam) to areas of low pressure throughout the building. Areas of low pressure are created by adding air vents in places like the ends of radiators and piping runs. It doesn’t take a lot of pressure to do this, little more than just enough to be different from one end to the other of the system. That being the case, having the boiler run long enough to make more pressure than is necessary is nothing but an expensive waste of fuel and money.

A trained boiler mechanic and technician knows how to set the pressure regulating device, found on every steam boiler, properly.

The device is mounted on a curled length of pipe called a pigtail which protects it from the hot steam in the boiler. The pigtail should be made of brass (yellow metal in color). If yours is made of steel (black in color) have it replaced or at least flushed clean. They inevitably clog and fail.


While I'm on a roll (rant?) here:


A word on Water Feeders

Increasing occurrences of having to add water to a steam boiler is NOT a reason to buy an automatic water feeder.
If your boiler is less than 400,000 BTUs (your boiler is probably less than 400,000 BTUs) and you’re adding water more than about every two weeks, you’ve got a problem that needs to be identified and repaired. Adding a water feeder to deal with it would be like putting a band aid on a gunshot wound.

Water feeders have their place and their people.

I happen to be a fan of the Hydrolevel VXT model.

There are countless benefits to their digital display (in number of gallons fed) and their flexibility made possible by their settable flow rate options (how much water per feed cycle) and its lockout feature which effectively prevents things like flooding a house while the family’s away.


/rant


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Unknown

I love NYers...

they're always so straightforward.

Leo_16

The Scary thing

John,

The scary thing is this is such a common statement. I am an oil guy and I have heard it said so often go to gas it needs no cleaning. I am sure different areas are different but around here few plumbers seem to know how to service them. Their license allows them to install the equipment but they know little on service. As oil guys we know about service but our license doesn't allow us to install gas. I was at a trade show a couple years ago and a salesman promoting a mod con bragged it needed no cleaning. The guy with me who also did gas enlightened him.

Leo

Brad White_201

Cut and Paste This One!

John- Nice concise list! Should be framed behind glass in every boiler room, next to the valve charts and O&M Manuals.

Really good.

Brad

JohnNY

The original poster is smart to have asked.

Steve, were you thinking "Hmmmmm. A carbon monoxide-producing appliance made of mixed corrodable metals which uses electricity and sensitive safety controls to burn fuel to reliably and safely heat a home containing real live people needs no seasonal attention? Perhaps a second opinion is in order."


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Unknown

Thanks John for a very

comprehensive list of what should be done on an annual basis for any fossil fule burning appliance not just gas heat, but water heaters, space heaters, gas ranges hey the list goes on.

As one who has worked as a service technician for the gas industry for 10 years and 18 years as a trainer for a gas utility and now an additional 14 years as owner and operator of Gas Appliance Training and Consulting/Gas Training Institute EVEN BRAND NEW GAS EQUIPMENT NEEDS TUNED AND A COMBUSTION TEST CONDUCTED, THE EQUIPMENT IS NOT NOR HAS IT EVER BEEN FACTORY ADJUSTED!!! Sorry to shout but I need to get everyones attention.

Steamhead (in transit)

Shout all you want, Tim

so more knuckleheads can hear you. I'll join in:

IF YOU DON'T TEST COMBUSTION EQUIPMENT WITH A DIGITAL ANALYZER, YOU ARE NOT DOING YOUR JOB!!!!!

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Mitch_6

Ya what John said.



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Steve_175

Thanks all for your input. I suspected as much. So what should i expect a tune up to cost and which one of you wants to come over and do it. I am in Boston.
I have included some pics to show you what I have. And yes I know it was piped wrong. The 'plumber' could not even be bothered to read the install instructions from the manufacturer. And after a week of the boiler running out of water every day they came back and skimmed it which they never did originally and installed some new near boiler vents. They would not replumb the pipes though because they all ready got paid for that job.
This happened when I was renting this house, I now own it. I do not have the $ to have it fixed right now as I was told it would cost north of $800 to make it right.

Steve_175

Yes that is a 'free' gas conversion boiler from the gas co. Ironiclly the oil tank was filled the same day the old boiler died. Took a few years to find a guy who would buy the oil off me. Yes the filler tubes were removed.

Steamhead (in transit)

What a mess

that boiler needs to be completely repiped. No wonder you're having problems. You're right, that guy wasted no time reading the instructions. Find the money somehow, you won't regret it.

Here's a link to what is absolutely the best piping job I've ever seen on a Burnham Independence boiler. Matt "Mad Dog" Sweeney is the man in the photo- he did the job, it's in his own house where he also built a steam system from scratch.

http://www.heatinghelp.com/pdfs/227.pdf



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Brad White_201

Indeed a mess

Steve- that piping job would be comical if it belonged to someone an enemy country... The sad thing is, the intention is good, but for starters, that sad, lazy arm of piping draped over the boiler would just LOVE to be at least two feet higher....

I am in Boston, whereabouts are you? I am not an installer but I have at least one name to give for a good steam man.

Get it done right. As Steamhead said, you will not regret it.

Steve_175

Brad: I am in Somerville.

Unknown

Steve was this done

under the supervision of the local gas company on a rebate set up or did they provide the boiler and also the contractor. If so I would get them involved as they should make good on the install. If they will not then get in touch with the attorney general.

Steve_175

The gas company provided the boiler. The previous home owner hired his own plumber to install the boiler. When I found out the boiler was piped wrong I called the plumber about it. His response was the house got hot so nothing needed to be fixed. This was 6 yrs ago.
How much leverage do I really have after 6 yrs, even as the new home owner?