Boiler replacement recommendations

pegleg

I have to replace my boiler and was wondering about recommendations for the replacement unit. Each contractor has proposed a different manufacturer; Weil McLein, Burnham and Peerless.

The existing boiler is a gas fired 1976 Weil McLein Model EG-50, 175,000 BTU input, 140,000 BTU output. We live in a typical 4 story Brooklyn brownstone, with party walls on both sides. The WM has been reliable over the 20 years we've lived here, but I've heard the gasketing between sections has been a problem.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

BobC

All 3 are very good

You might ask if they can install a wet based boiler with a gas gun in it (Carlin EZ-Gas or similar). A setup like that should be more efficient and long lived.



Bob

Steamhead

Like one of these:

In order: Slant/Fin Intrepid, Smith G-8, Columbia CSFE, Weil-McLain Gold. All have Carlin gas burners. 

nicholas bonham-carter

Don't forget the important part

The radiators should all be measured for their EDR, heat capacity, before the boiler is chosen. Don't assume the previous boiler was properly sized.

How did the old one fail?--NBC

pegleg

Don't forget the important part

Both end sections are rusted and leaking.

STEAM DOCTOR

New boiler

There are a few things to consider when replacing boilers. Which brand boiler you get is not at all one of the important things to consider. The following are infinitely more important.



1.Boiler sizing: A boiler that is too small or too large will give you a houseful of problems. The only proper way to determine the proper size boiler is to determine the total BTU output(also expressed in square feet EDR) of all the radiators and piping in the building. If your installer did not walk around with a clipboard and tape measure and measure every radiator then you should not hire him.



2. Boiler piping. In order for the steam system to operate properly, the piping around the boiler must be piped, at a minimum, according to the manufacturer's recommendations. This includes proper pipe sizing, proper pipe orientation, and proper pipe slope. Put this into every contract you sign.



3. The boiler must be skimmed/cleaned properly. This will remove oils from the water that will greatly affect the efficiency of the boiler and cause other problems.



There are other issues that also need addressing. Proper "A" dimension, proper main and radiator vents,proper anticipator setting on thermostat etc.



Run these things by your installer. If you see him hemming and hawing then it might be time to consider someone else. Please remember that here is a big difference between someone with steam experience(lots of those around) and someone with steam expertise(not so many of those).