STEAM Head

Al Letellier_21

Downfire the one you have and be aware you will void the warranty on the boiler if you convert it to gas....this is straight from Burnham in a recent poll we conducted.

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Tom_112

Burnham v 905A

Frank and others I am feeling the heating crunch this year from high oil and an oversized boiler. I have taken 4 apartments off of my system and my new EDR is 1168.25 sq ft. I noticed on the Burnham site that this falls just over a V903 and inside a V904 EDR range for 1 pipe steam. I currently have a V905 A boiler that is functioning fine. It is however, oil fired and 852 sq ft over sized. I have a plumber that wants to take on the hook up. does anybody have any experiance with removing a section from a Burnham boiler? and is there a retro fit oil/ nat gas burner like they offer for the new ones. Is this a stupid idea for an 8 year old boiler? As always thanks for your help. Steamhead Do you work in PA yet?

Steamhead (in transit)

First thing I'd do

is down-fire that boiler from its rated 5.6 GPH to 4.5, which is a 20% reduction and just above the rated 4.2 GPH for the V-904, USING A DIGITAL ANALYZER to make sure combustion parameters such as stack temperature, CO formation etc. are acceptable. Then see how it does. You have quite a bit of piping there, which may mean you can't go as low as you'd like.

Removing a section from a boiler is always a bit problematic. At the very least you'd probably need new push nipples and fire-side section seals, and some or all of the piping may need to be modified. This is really not the time of year to disassemble a boiler if you can avoid it ;-)

I don't see a problem with retrofitting your boiler with a gas/oil burner. I'd go for the PowerFlame unit since I'm most familiar with these, but I'm sure the Gordon-Piatt and Webster burners that Burnham offers would be fine. If available, a burner with low-high-low firing is a proven fuel saver when set up properly. If you're set on doing this I'll check with the Burnham rep to get the company's take on it.

Not sure what the licensing reciprocity is between PA and MD- maybe Dave Yates would know ;-)

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Tom_113

boiler down size

Frank- good to hear from you and see that you guys are still steaming. I am worried that the v904a is on the large size of what I need. If memory serves it is rated about 1500sq ft and I need closer to 1200. My gut tells me to start over with a 904 and keep the speed down on it. With a weld-up drop header, a new boiler in stock what is a guess on install time? I need to do this and I have a local guy that can spin pipe if needed. I need design help with the header. We have a local steam pipe welder as well. In years past I have done all I can do with the boiler as it sits. I believe I am running a 4.0 nozzle now. We were short cycling after the pipes were insulated last year, even with the smaller nozzle and the 4) 1 bedroom apartments on line. My hope is to get all I can out of the steam system for the shop and the 2 large apartments that are right off the mains. I also want to be able to pick a fuel. Oil sucked in PA last year and we are due for power de-reg next year. Gas has stayed back for now. I would love to know what Burnham has to say about the project. Thanks T

Steamhead (in transit)

Check

your e-mail, Tom.

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Al Letellier_21

downfire

Downfire the one you have and be aware you will void the warranty on the boiler if you convert it to gas....this is straight from Burnham in a recent poll we conducted.

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Steamhead (in transit)

Al, the boiler in question

is available from the factory with oil or gas burners. As long as the factory-speced burner is used, there shouldn't be any warranty issues. But we'd always contact the rep to make sure.

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