Trying to resurrect my old steam system...

steamATL

I'm trying to resurrect my old steam system. The peerless boiler is pretty beat, but seems to be intact despite the outside corrosion, and most of the radiators in the house have layers of paint on them.  My thought was to tackle the boiler first and then work on the radiators if I can get the boiler going.



Over the summer I took a look at the boiler and did the following:

-cleaned up the burner pipes

-flushed the boiler and cleaned up the water viewing glass

-replaced the gas control box



I've just ordered the Lost Art of Steam Heating, which I'm sure will go a long way in helping me out. 



Right now I'm trying to determine if I need to buy a new gas control box.  I took a chance and replaced the old gas control box with an used one that I found locally.  Unfortunately, I think it too is busted since I'm not able to turn the knob from the ON position.  Is there something I'm missing?  Or is it just broken?  I opened the original one up to see how it works and it doesn't seem like there should be anything keeping the knob from turning.



Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.



Thanks,

Veeren

Rod

Get Professional Help!

Hi - You really need to get a professional to look at your boiler and burner. This is NOT something you  want to tackle yourself  unless you are a certified technician and have the instrumentation to check combustion gases. They can check for carbon monoxide leaks which are very dangerous. Just go over to the Carbon Monoxide Awareness section of this website and you will see how dangerous it is!  You'll also want them to check the Low Water Cutoff and other safety devices on your boiler.They can also give you an evaluation as to whether your boiler is really resurrectable. No sense of putting money and effort into something that may be a lost cause.

 With steam systems there are some things you can fix yourself and some things better left to professionals with the experience and the instrumentation.

- Rod

nicholas bonham-carter

judging a boiler by its cover?

there are still plenty of things you can do to improve the boiler, while a real pro works on whatever a "gas control box" is. while he is there he can make sure the burner is clean, and check the flue gases for excess CO, etc.

turn off the water feed into the auto-fill, and monitor the water level for leaks during a week of steaming. a clothes peg on the sight-glass guards can mark the beginning water level.

get a good low-pressure gauge [gaugestore.com 0-3psi], and see what your pressure really is. adjusting the pressuretrol down as low as it will go can save fuel.

look for your main vents [not radiator], and see if they are working. if the air can't get out easily, you will have to pay your fuel supplier lots of money to force it out!--nbc

steamATL

Safety first...

Thank you for the advice.  I am definitely going to be having a professional come and look at the boiler before I get the gas turned on.  Safety first.  Though I haven't been able to find anyone down here in Atlanta, GA that specializes in steam systems.  If anyone knows of a person in or around the Atlanta area, please let me know. 



For now I'm just trying to get the boiler cleaned up and all the parts moving so that it's easier, and less expensive, when a pro does come to asses the boiler's health.  Unfortunately, I just don't have the wherewithal at the moment to drop a significant amount of money on this. 



I understand that the Carbon Monoxide and gas leaks have to be checked after the boiler has the gas turned on, but can all the other stuff like the LWCO, safety devices, etc, be checked by a professional without the boiler actually running (no gas)?  The boiler is the only appliance in the house that uses gas so the gas hasn't even been turned on yet. 



Thanks,

Veeren

Rod

Old Steam System

Heating guys that do gas hot water boilers should be able to check it for you.  I'd just call and ask them. Any idea how old the boiler is?  I'd have some one that knows boilers look at it and see if it was worth fixing up. I would be worried about putting time and money into it and then finding out it was too far gone.

- Rod

Steamhead

Veeren, if you need someone

to come and consult with you and your contractor, let me know. I travel for steam.