new burner for old boiler?

Richard_20

105 year old late Victorian house heated by one pipe steam system. Boiler may be original: Pierce Butler sectional boiler converted from coal to oil. Burner is about 30 years old. It has the name "Auto Heat" on it. The burner needs a 1.65 nozzle to generate sufficient steam pressure to fill all 14 radiators. Boiler: combustion chamber relined with fiber glass insert, otherwise in good condition. It needs very little water added each month and sight glass is perfectly clear. Would a new flame retention burner yield any significant improvement in efficiency? We use about 1300 gallons of oil per year.

northernboiler

Yes and no...

I can almost guarantee that is the original boiler.

That is definitely an oldy. Quality manufacturing, however not made during the time when fuel oil is between $3.50 to $4.00 per gallon.

The same for the Auto Heat burners- they are low speed type.



A new high speed flame-retention oil burner will be more efficient, provided it is installed and step up correctly (using proper equipment etc.)

However, with that boiler I am not sure how much oil you will save.

You stated a "significant" improvement in efficiency, I also assume you mean will

it use less fuel oil.

Significant can be a matter of opinion. What may be a good savings to one person , may not be to another.

A new boiler would definitely be more efficient.

Steamhead

Post some pics of the boiler and burner

some of those old coal boilers weren't worth converting. But since you describe yours as a sectional boiler, there may be some Dead Men's Tricks that a savvy tech can use to make it burn less oil. This is how a lot of these boilers were able to keep going during the World War 2 fuel shortages.



If you have an old-style burner, a properly-installed flame-retention type should produce a minimum 10% fuel savings. We've seen this in the field. So if you can't replace the boiler now, you still have somewhere to go.

Richard_20

new burner for old boiler?

auto heat oil burner

Richard_20

new burner for old boiler?

Pierce butler boiler

Richard_20

new burner for old boiler?

pierce Butler boiler

jumper

the real question

We aren't supposed to talk money but these days the questions are:

Is reconditioning the burner much cheaper than installing a new burner?

Is a new burner as good as the oldie but goodie?

Is installing a new burner much cheaper than installing a new boiler?

Is a new boiler as good as an old one?

The answers may depend on time frame.

nan

similar question

I have been getting estimates on replacing the original boiler in my 1939 home. Prices range from 7800 to 12K. This boiler is an American Standard and I've attached a picture of the label on the base of the unit. The equipment work well, and has been maintained. Question: should I check out replacing the burner only? Leave things as they are? or replace everything? Finances are an issue. My oil company has techs who have worked with steam for many years and I was thinking of asking their opinion as well.

JStar

Boiler

Those old boilers have such a high water content, that you would save a lot of fuel-burning time with a newer, smaller boiler that holds a lot less water.

nicholas bonham-carter

Sufficient steam pressure

If your system is well vented, with adequate main vents, you will only need a couple of ounces of pressure. How much have you been attaining up to now?--NBC