Broomell System Changeover

DanCanDo

Good Day All, Poor customer called me into their old 6000 Sq Ft Big Stone Home they purchased July 2010.  After $7000 later in Oil Bills, they realized why the house was sold.

Have a 5 Year Old Weil-McLain 4 Section Oil Fired Boiler (with PressureTrols) that replaced an Old Broomell Vapor System.  The Condensing Rad was removed, as was the old regulator.

All VECO Traps are in place still, as are the 4-position Rad Valves.

He wants to install a Nat Gas Power Burner, but I know other things need to be addressed or he won't see any substanial savings.

Looking for some view points from my fellow professionals

I do have Pics is needed.

Steamhead

Which W-M is it

the 4-80?



You must replace the the Pressuretrol with a Vaporstat. This system runs on no more than 8 ounces or so.



Vent the dry return well, with at least one Gorton #2 vent. If you can hear the air escaping while the system heats up, add a second #2. You may also need to add vents to the steam mains.



If any rads don't heat with ounce pressures, clean out the vent holes in the return ells.



You are right in thinking that the system has to be straightened out before considering switching to gas. Right now it doesn't look like the fuel is the problem.



And post your pics! We love Broomells and VECOs!

DanCanDo

Good Start

Steamhead...thanks much, this is the kind of things I need.  Follow-up, what about a Condensate Return Tank, seems as though the condensate is slow to return.  Or maybe this could be a side effect of "Pound Pressure" vs. the optimal "Vapor Pressure".

Hers's some pics...

DanCanDo

in addition

Insulation compliments of the homeowner, he gets an "A" for Effort!

Steamhead

Well, for starters

the barometric is installed wrong- it never goes in the run of a tee on an oil or power gas installation.



The positioning of the pressuretrol/gauge manifold isn't great, since it's low enough that gunk can get in it. Here's a shot of one of our 4-80 installs- see the difference?



The venting is pathetic. Those look like Hoffman #76 vents, which just don't have enough capacity. If they are the #76, they can hold vacuum, which can cause the water to return slowly.



In the last pic, it looks like there's a concentric reduction where a horizontal steel pipe changes to copper. This makes a water pocket which can cause banging.



You should not need a condensate return tank on a job like this.



You definitely have your work cut out for you. But once de-knuckleheaded, this system will work great.