Trane Vapor Heating System Help

KurtB

Hello,

I am looking for a little help, i have a 1932 Trane Vapor Heating system that is more or less untouched with the exception that the origional coal/wood boiler has an oil burner in it now.  I would like to add a new higher effiecient gas boiler and keep the origional coal wood boiler as backup.  I am missing the origional presuretrol that controled the dampers(not sure where i can find one of those). What i have found on the internet is that i would need to add a boiler feed tank to return the condensate water to the boilers evenly with a motorized valve for each.  I found this link on how to do it(<a href="http://completewatersystems.com/2011/04/multiple-issues-with-multiple-steam-boilers/">http://completewatersystems.com/2011/04/multiple-issues-with-multiple-steam-boilers/</a>)  I assume i will have to compleatly redo the near boiler piping on the coal boiler and remove the trane direct return trap?

Any Thoughts?

Dave in QCA

More Information Please

Would you be keeping the old boiler to use with oil or with wood and coal?  If wood/coal, do you still have the grates?



If it were my system, I would be thinking about replacement and removal of the old boiler, it can't have a lot of life left, and is probably not too efficient.  But, I would do everything that I could to keep the Trane system intact, including the return trap.  



Can you take some pictures and post please?

KurtB

Trane System

I will have to recreate the grates, i have a gentlmen who has restored antique wood stoves for 40 years(bucks wood stove palace) who said no problem to build a set of grates for me.  He is also going to cast a new door for me that was removed when the oil burner was installed, it is the same size as the one above it which he can use for the casting mold.  I really want to have a way to heat my house with wood from time to time but i definatly do not want to install several wood stoves, this seems like the best option to heat the entire house with wood when i want?

I do not want to get rid of the boiler it still looks fairly new, i will take some pictures of the system tonight and post tomorrow.

SWEI

backup boiler

Will be much simpler than twinning the two.  No need for the return tank and feeder pump if properly piped -- manual valves for changeover.

Joe V_2

I have a '30 vintage trane system

I took out the coal, to oil, to gas boiler and replaced with a Burnham IN-5.  Don't require a feed water tank or anything else.  Really not worth the extra expense/maintnace.  SWEI is right.

New boiler is highly reliable.