When to Replace M&M 67 LWCO?

Heather_5

the LWCO should be cleaned out at the start and end of every heating season, like most components.

Alan Hendrickson

My steam boiler is seven years old, equipped with a McDonnell & Miller 67 LWCO. It gets blown down weekly during the heating season, and the makeup water is relatively soft. I took it apart last fall to clean it, and it basically looked like new inside.

What is the expected lifespan of one of these? Should it be replaced on a schedule, like every 5 years or something . . . or just opened, cleaned, and inspected every year or two?

(The reason I'm asking is that I picked up a brand new unit really cheap last summer from a liquidation sale, and I'm wondering whether I should install it next fall, hang onto it just in case, or to go ahead and sell it on eBay and reduce my clutter pile.)

Thanks in advance!

Heather_5

Based on our customers

in my experience people don't replace these things until you can no longer tell what it was to begin with. The warranty on the LWCO is only 1 year from the date of install or 18 months from manufacture, but the life span isn't set in stone. Most of the literature I've read over suggests consistent care (as you've discussed already) but don't generally provide a time line for replacement.

That particular LWCO is not particularly expensive, but I wouldn't necessarily install one that had been sitting in a box on a shelf for years, either. I'd say sell it now and purchase a new one when needed. Your present LWCO probably has a good chunk of life left in it.

Alan Hendrickson_2

eBay

Well, I listed it on eBay and sold it for $85 in one day, which was a good deal for the buyer and about twice what I paid for it last summer from the freight liquidator . . . and my shop is one box less cluttered.

. . . and I'm a few dollars closer to a new guitar.

Thanks again!

The Steam Whisperer (Formerly Boilerpro)

I believe McDonnell and Miller states

to replace the LWCO every 12 years in the installation manual. Check the manual to be sure.

Boilerpro

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

tim smith

Start of the season only is what I would recommend as long

as a good blow down schedule is maintained. The end of season does no good if you do at start of season also.