replacing insulation boiler

hotwired

Hi

I just bought a 4 unit apartment building with an old steam boiler (one apartment has the thermostat) -- the insulation has been stripped from the boiler and steam pipes, so it's all bare metal.  Now we replaced the insulation on the PIPES with that decent fiberglass (white on the outside, yellow on the inside) insulation.  What might we do with the boiler itself? It is working nicely but I know it's using more oil than necessary being "naked" like it is. Ideas I've heard range from finding some insulation "paste" and applying it like plaster, buidling an insulated box around it, etc.  Any ideas would be MUCH appreciated! Thanks.

BobC

Boiler insulation possibilities

Your basement must be real cozy. The outside of the boiler won't get over 225 except at the exhaust flue (400+) so fiberglass could work for most of it, the problem is how to keep it on.



Is the boiler round, square or?



One commercial source of boiler insulation is  http://www.industrialinsulation.com/fiberglass_tiw_blanket.htm.  As with fiberglass batts/roll you need a way to hold it onto the boiler and you need to attach a jacket of some sort to keep any loose fibers contained. It might be possible to wrad the boiler with foil backed insulation (foil side out) and use 6" wide foil tape to band the insulation onto the boiler. If you were concerned with vapor inside the foil you could perforate it. Just be sure to leave space around the burner intake - especially with gas. be warned this isn't kosher but it would probably work. Because it is an apartment building there are probably specific codes you have to follow.



Have you had anybody quote on doing this for you?



When I had my Burnham boiler cover off this summer I augmented the meager 1" insulation on the panels with 2-3" more but the panels hold all that in place. I'm in a single family house so what they don't see won't hurt them.



Bob

haaljo

You know why the inslulation was removed and don't

be surprised if there is insluation under the jacket of that "old" boiler and not the type you want to hear.

If your burning oil, you may find the financial numbers attractive in replacing the old timer. Having one Tstat for all 4 apartments can work to the advantage of he who is paying the bill. If you have gas down the street, a new boiler makes even more $en$e.