Massachusetts gas steam boiler replacement

Aus

The local gas utility is offering rebate incentives for replacing boilers older than thirty years. The gas-fired H.B. Smith G210-S-4 boiler heating the apartment #1, in our 1870s Victorian duplex, that was installed in September 1982 qualifies for a rebate.

Currently, the Smith steam boiler shares a tile-lined exterior chimney with an oil-fired Weil-McLain P-268-W (circa 1988) that heats apartment #2 via copper finned-tube baseboard. Massachusetts' code no longer allows for venting both a fuel oil appliance and natural gas appliance into a common flue. Therefore, in order to continue to heat apartment #1 with steam, a new steam boiler will require venting into the existing chimney. Since the oil-fired Weil-McLain, for apartment #2, cannot continue to share that common flue, I am forced to replace it with a direct-vented boiler that will be gas-fired. (NOTE: I had wanted to vent the new gas-fired hydronic boiler for apartment #2 into the existing chimney BUT the chimney will require a new stainless steel liner the venting capacity of which can only service the steam boiler.)



I've gotten two proposals, so far (from the same contractor), for replacing the steam boiler with a Burnham Independence PIN4SNI-ME2 and (the 2nd proposal) replacing the hydronic boiler with a Burnham ES23BNI-T boiler. (That contractor is unaware that both boilers cannot be vented into the existing chimney. It dawned on me after he gave me his proposals and before I had a chimney contractor take a look.)



Additional conditions include:

Apartment #1 domestic hot water provided by 40-gallon electric water heater; Apartment #1 existing standing steam radiation = 235SF

Apartment #2 domestic hot water provided by 20-gallon Megastor indirect water heater that I hope can be reinstalled with the new boiler; Apartment #2 heat loss = 55,000BtuH+/-



Finally, I don't particularly care for the 'look' of PVC intake/exhaust vent piping protruding from the side of a dwelling and shudder at the thought of it sticking out of my own house.  I was hoping that both new boilers could be vented into the common masonry chimney for that very reason. But that doesn't look like it is going to be possible so I'm open to venting apartment #2's boiler out the side of the house.



I had considered converting apartment #1 from steam to forced hydronic but I think it would be very costly (e.g. I'd want enameled steel radiators instead of finned-tube) and I don't want to spend that kind of money.



So, given all of this information (and I'm sorry it's so lengthy) can anyone point me towards a wet-base steam boiler with a gas power burner that is popular in my neck of the woods? I'm concerned that the one contractor who I've dealt with so far is proposing a Burnham steam boiler with an atmospheric burner! Is there any real savings to be expected with replacing the existing Smith (atmospheric burner) boiler with a new atmospheric-burner boiler?



Thanks for your patience in reading this all the way through.

Aus

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I've learned that a new steam boiler with a gas power burner probably won't save me a whole lot of $$ and will take years to realize a return in my investment. I'm going to keep the existing H.B. Smith steam boiler with atmospheric burner and just replace the oil-fired Weil-McLain with a higher efficiency direct-vented hydronic boiler and invest my energy-saving dollars in some better windows, weather stripping and insulation.

JStar

Steam

Let's let the numbers dot the talking...



An atmospheric boiler is LUCKY to see 82% efficiency. We usually test them to be around 80%, or lower. A wet-based power burner arrangement has tested as high as 89%, and never lower than 84%. Those numbers justify a wet-based boiler every time. Plus, it has the potential for future adjustment of the firing rate, and is a whole lot safer than an atmospheric boiler.

nicholas bonham-carter

Switch from oil to gas?

If your present steam boiler is over-sized (many are), then it could handle a hot-water loop, and all the hot water for both apartments. With a proper control system, the temperature settings could be under your control only.

Even better than a rebate would be making sure the steam system is properly maintained, with low pressure, and generous main venting, reducing the fuel cost. The utilities could be prorated between the apartments.--NBC

Aus

Changing my mind

Appreciate your input.

I get it that a "properly adjusted" power burner/wet base boiler will be more efficient than the thirty-year-old atmospheric boiler that I have now but the trick is finding a competent installer who will come back to service it when needed (read: in an emergency situation). The local heating contractors I've spoken to claim that power burners are cantankerous and difficult to adjust. An advantage of the current boiler is that it's a millivolt control setup so when the neighborhood has an electrical power failure, we still have central heat. Won't get that with a new power burner! Besides, we're planning to sell this property and move away within five years so I'm leaning towards leaving the existing system in-place and letting 'the next guy' (probably) convert to forced hot water.

Aus

Seperate systems

I considered adding a hot water leg to a new replacement boiler so that I could put heat into an unheated bedroom and bathroom but, again, finding a contractor to both do the work (properly) and be available to service it, if need be, at 2AM some snowy winter morning seems impossible. The existing boiler isn't oversized (surprise, surprise!). I want to keep both apartments on separate systems for various reasons. Who wants the hassle of 'setting the zone temperature' for someone else? I don't need that kind of tenant headache. But I do appreciate your suggestions.

H3809

Just did a steam conversion with hot water zones in MA

For whats its worth, I just had a natural gas conversion for a one pipe steam system and we added on 2 hot water zones. My contractor(Jared) was competent IMHO (passed all the questions I learned form here and Dan's books) and although I hope I never have to call, has 24/7 service. They were Titan plumbing and heating out of Tewksbury, you can find them on the "Find a Contractor" link (That's what I did). Good luck



-Dave