Benefits of gasket style boilers

Ban

What are the benefits of a gasket-style boiler, if any? I currently have a Weil-Mclane EG-55 steamer connected to a Dunham 2-pipe system. The near boiler piping is wrong. I am considering breaking it down after winter and doing a re-pipe, but I worry about torching the fittings near the boiler due to the neoprene gaskets? So again, what are the benefits? Also is there a conditioner that is used to keep the gaskets healthy?



Thanks,



Richard

nicholas bonham-carter

repiping the boiler

there are other ways of removing stuck nipples from the tappings in the boiler.

first the nipple is cut down within a quarter inch of the outside of the casting. next a series of radial cuts are made in the inside of the nipple, without going into the internal threads of the casting. then with a hammer and punch the radial-cut strip is hammered in, relieving the outward pressure of the nipple on the casting. many times, the nipple can be unscrewed by hand!

when you redo the piping, a drop header with 2 risers would give you more adjustment possibilities

as far as the gaskets are concerned, don't allow them to be exposed to any petrochemicals.--nbc

ChrisJ

petrochemicals

"as far as the gaskets are concerned, don't allow them to be exposed to any petrochemicals"



I had wondered this on my EG-45 in regards to all of the cutting oil from when the pipes were threaded for me.  I did what I could to wash the stuff off but I'm sure plenty ended up in the boiler water.  We also all know the blocks them selfs are soaked in oil internally from machining.



Arn't cutting oils petroleum based? 

Hap_Hazzard

Yessir

Unless you're cutting with olive oil.



Hmmm. I think I might give that a try. That dark oil smells nasty!



I bet olive oil would be just as bad for epdm gaskets. It tends to not like nonpolar organic chemicals, aka aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, but it's okay with hydraulic fluids and ketones.

Hap_Hazzard

Let me ask you this:

What are the benefits of torching the fittings near the boiler? If you're talking about nipples directly connected to the boiler, put down that torch and pick up a hammer. You need to break the fossilized joint compound. Heat doesn't even faze it. It's had more heat applied to it over the the years than you can deliver in a long time with that Bernz-O-Matic, and if anything it just makes it harder.



I don't think you could really damage the gaskets with the torch, but there's just nothing to be gained.



What boilers with sectional gaskets seem to suffer from is bad piping that puts a strain on the sections, like not having swing-arms. Push nipples seem to be a little more resistant to that kind of abuse. So I would worry about anything that might cause similar stresses, like heaving on a riser, especially if you grab the other riser to anchor yourself, or lifting the boiler off its slab.

Ban

Benefits of gasket style boilers

Thanks for all of the replies. I am still curious to know the pro's and con's of gasket style boilers. I have left a message with Weil-Mclain today. I have a few Utica boilers which do not have the neoprene gaskets and they seem to last not even 20 years under steam production. How do you feel about the Neoprene gaskets? The Weil-Mclain boilers seem to hold up better over the years. I will post the response from Weil-Mclain as soon as I receive it.

ChrisJ

rotting

I think you will find 99% of failures in steam boilers are the blocks rotting out and is completely unrelated to steel push nipples vs gaskets.

Ban

Great photos!

So what made you decide on the Weil-Mclain?

ChrisJ

WM

Thank you for the compliment!  I was a lot of work but I think it was worth it.



A few things made me choose the EG-45.   I was able to get the WM EG-45 locally and it was a perfect match for my load.  Another big factor was Weil-Mclain was the only one willing to talk to me, a homeowner.  Not only did they give me plenty of details before the sale they also helped me with minor troubleshooting early on after I did the installation.  The EG series has also been around for over 20 years.



Burnham didn't even want to give me the time of day. 

Ban

Rotting

Ban

Rotting

It does seem that most boilers fail due to rotting. Why aren't the blocks made out of better materials? Attached is a photo I took today of a 600,000 btu Utica boiler with at least 2 cracks (and counting). We noticed it was leaking yesterday and realized the damage today.

ChrisJ

rott

Not sure other than I don't see any incentives for the manufacturers to improve. This way they sell more boilers, no?





I can say since I started using Rectorseal Steamaster tablets in my boiler it appears to have either slowed or stop the rusting. I highly recommend them just as long as you take it easy on the quantity you use. Don't follow the instructions on the bottle, it tells you to use 3-4 times what you need.

crash2009

Chris,

 can we get your opinion on  http://www.heatinghelp.com/forum-thread/143485/Steam-moving-backward-from-the-dry-return-to-the-main