should I use copper pipe for water feeder?

DanT

I think the installer used black gas pipe.  Can I just sweat copper here?  You can see it on the top right of the photo.



Thanks!

Dan

Steamhead

Sure you can

but I'd also have a pro look at that boiler. The scorch marks above the burners tell me you may have a flame roll-out problem. 

Unknown

Oh man,,,,

That should be the least of your problems,,,,, where`s the rest of the piping????

DanT

flame

I had a pro (recommended by the board) come look at it.  It was flooded to at least the first floor.  There is a screw missing on the right side of that metal plate. He tested it for flammable gasses and didn't find any. There is no hartford loop.  It seems like the original coal boiler and piping was installed properly but the gas boiler (1976) and near boiler piping stinks.  I am hoping this will last two or three more winters. 



Is there any kind of specific nut and bolt I should use to attach that metal plate?  Should I sweat some new copper? 



Any other ideas?



He recommended draining the whole boiler.  Do you think I should or just leave well enough alone? 



There is no skimming valve so that has never been done



Thanks,

Dan

Jean-David Beyer

flooded to at least the first floor.

I am not a professional, but I was under the impression that if a boiler was flooded, that it had to be replaced, not repaired. I am assuming that by "flooded" you mean the boiler room, not just the inside the boiler itself.

DanT

flooded

I mean that the pipes that should have been holding steam were holding water.



Dan

Charlie from wmass

Yes you can change it to copper piping.

I think you have other issues that are more pressing. Which steam pro came out? perhaps they can comment to you about what they had suggested. What area are you located in?

DanT

what issues in particular?

Hans from Giroux came out.  He said that it probably isn't worth it to try to change the near boiler piping because it could damage the boiler and then I would have to replace it immediately. 



A couple guys have talked about pressing issues.  What are you guys recommending? 



Thanks a lot!



Dan

DanT

i'm from Detroit

sorry, forgot to include that.



Dan

Charlie from wmass

Best bang for your buck IMHO

Get a new boiler with proper piping. It will start saving you fuel the first day it is fired and it will make you more comfortable too boot. Those scorch marks have me thinking flame roll out and poor draft. This would be a CO issue not a flammable gas issue.

DanT

what if I won't have enough buck for 2 years?

I completely agree that replacing this boiler is the best move.  but I don't have the money right now but hope to do it in two years.  What do you recommend I do to make this work as well as possible until then? 



Thanks a lot for your advice.  I really appreciate it.



Dan

will smith_4

Best bet

Have someone come out to do a full burner service-pull the burners and clean them, open the jacket to make sure the flue passages are not blocked, open the flue itself/check the chimney for blockages, clean the burner spuds, test fire it and check operating pressures. SOMETHING is causing that roll out-and you need to get it to stop. They should also pull and clean the low water cut-off, and clean the strainer on the feeder, as well as the pigtail on the p-trol. It definitely looks as though you have more problems regarding piping, which you can get resolved when you can afford to replace the boiler, but for sake of safety, get the burner squared away.