Redo steam

Wonky

I have an 80-year-old 5000 square foot colonial that has the original

coal boiler.  It was converted to oil a long time ago, but I use the

gas-powered hot air that was recently installed because I can tear

through oil using that ancient burner faster than they can deliver it

(based on just feeling the pipes and chimney, I would not be surprised

if its actually efficiency is below 10%).







Anyway, I've been looking at different boilers to replace it, but I

have one question:  can any gas- or oil-fired burner be used for steam

or hot water radiators?  I have steam, and I don't think I'm interested

in converting to hot water. 

Jamie Hall

Please

see Clammy's and my remarks on this thread on the Main Wall

Unknown

Updating Steam System

What I would suggest is that you get a couple of books that are available on this site .The first one is  "We Got Steam Heat" http://www.heatinghelp.com/products/Books/5/61/We-Got-Steam-Heat-A-Homeowners-Guide-to-Peaceful-Coexistence

and the second one is "The Lost Art of Steam Heating"  http://www.heatinghelp.com/products/Books/5/68/Lost-Art-Of-Steam-Heating

These books are written so the homeowner can understand them. They are easy humorous reading, packed full of facts, pictures and diagrams and in a few evenings you'll know a lot more about steam heating.



One of the big advantages to the books is that they give you the knowledge to be able to qualify whether the heating man you are talking to really understands steam heating.  Unfortunately there are a lot of people in the heating business who don't really understand steam.  I'm a home owner and was in a similar situation with an old coal fired boiler converted to oil.  The "heating pros" that converted my system could never get it to work properly and after years of service bills I finally decided I needed to learn about steam and found this sight.With the help of the steam pros and homeowners on here I was able to get my system straightened out. I just wish I'd discovered this site (and books) before I switched over.

I'd get the books and take a look in the "Find a Professional" section at the top of this page and see if a steam pro is located  close to you.  Scroll down the page and look for a pro under your State listing. The zip code function software has been updated recently and has some "bugs".  You also might want to take a look in the "Resources" section at the top of this page, look in the "Homeowners" section as it has an article on having your boiler replaced.  There are also a lot of other good steam articles in Resources that might  be of help to you.

 - Rod