Maintenance

61

We currently have a 1940 American Radiator oil burner heating a 10 unit hotel. There are approx. 25 steam radiators that it heats on three stories. The burner was replaced years ago and whomever did it took the B.T.U. tag off. Can you tell me the approx. amount of B.T.U.s this boiler puts out? We are going to convert to gas(for the obvious reason). Your help in this matter is greatly appreciated. Thank-you!

Paul Fredricks_3

proper

The proper way to size the boiler is too the radiators. You have to determine the square feet of radiation. Probably a good idea to get a pro in to make sure it's all done correctly. Oversizing will waste energy, and undersizing will, obviously, not give you enough heat.

Jamie Hall

If you are not going to replace the boiler...

which, at some 70 years old doesn't owe you a thing and is probably not all that efficient (so replacement should be a consideraton here), what is more important is not so much the burner itself as the boiler.  If you can get the model number, someone on the Wall will probably be able to come up with the acceptable firing range for it.



Whether you can find a gas burner to fit a boiler that age is another question.



If you were to replace the boiler, take note of Paul's comment: steam boilers are sized on the basis of the connected EDR, not the heat loss of the structure.  Which in an existing system really makes life pretty simple -- find out how big your radiators are, add them up, and there you are!

BobC

pictures?

If the boiler rating plate is missing post some pictures of the boiler from several angles so we can see what the ting looks like. Also are there any marking on the boiler that say who made it and perhaps even a model #? Any information you can get off the oil burner label will help.



Bob