Weil-Mclain WGO-3, Oil to Gas Conversion Burner?

Ross_24

I have a client interested in an oil to gas conversion.



Their boiler is current an oil-fired, Weil-Mclain WGO-3 from 2008.



Weil-Mclain has not tested nor recommends any specific gas burners for conversion.



I'm assuming they're looking at a boiler replacement as the only option?

Tim McElwain

Good application for a

power gas conversion burner.

Ross_24

What burner

Would you recommend for this unit?

Steamhead

Several of us

have gotten good results with the Carlin EZ-Gas. It is available with several different diffusers (heads), the 9-slot one is the best choice for this boiler. 

Tim McElwain

The new

Carlin EZ Gas Pro is also a good choice.

Paul48

Double-check

the heatloss. You may be able to dial things in perfectly with the proper orifice.

j a_2

conversion

Read the conversion gun of choice manual front to back, before making your choice…Carlin, for one offers great reading material,they will gladly send it to you…If that boiler has not been serviced/cleaned annually….I would replace it...

icesailor

Clean Servicing:

Just because a boiler has been cleaned and serviced annually, doesn't make it clean.

But that boiler can be cleaned to like new conditions if someone cares to do it properly. Which includes swinging the front open, removing the rug, and running a beater screwdriver up from the chamber side to get all the kibbles and bits down and out. Best done with a fluorescent light in the chamber and scraping the crud down. You know it's going to be bad because it is a cold start. If you choose to do it, replace the door and bonnet gaskets with new rope seals. I don't know the thinking on this (I'd do it) but replace the "rug" with a thicker Lynn "Wet Blanket" piece of wet refractory. It reflects heat back into the flame and cuts down on condensation from cold flames on cold starts.  Replace the door and bonnet gaskets with Lynn refractory rope, held in place with High Temp. RTV. Make it as air tight as possible.



People don't like Pin Boilers because they are too lazy to clean them properly. They don't clean 3-pass boilers properly either, why do you think they would do a better job on Pin Type.

Henry

Conversion

We will not install a conversion burner. According to our code, it needs to be certified on site. BTW, it will not give one, more economy over a condensing boiler! A chimney liner will not be required and plastic venting and direct combustion air will improve economy.

Steamhead

Here we go again

it was only a matter of time.......



Henry, the EZ-Gas Pro is listed as a conversion burner. That's enough for most AHJs. If you won't install a listed conversion burner, someone else will. End of story.



And the thermal efficiency of a good wet-base/power burner boiler is good enough, when combined with the longevity of cast-iron it makes your super-expensive mod-con installations appear to be rather poor values, especially considering all the changes to the building that are sometimes needed to vent a mod-con's combustion products properly.



Remember, we're still in a recession, which means fewer people have the discretionary income to rip everything out and put in all new, no matter how hard you push them.

Fizz

W-M SGO-6 Conversion in Dec/2011

We converted an 11 yr old a W-M SGO-6 in Dec, 2011, and went with a Wayne PF250-AF, which, btw W-M directed me to Wayne, though they didn't specifically recommend a conversion.  My boiler had a 1.75 gph nozzle, and per Wayne manual a firing rate of 240K was recommended.  Well initiially we fired to connected load of radiation, which was 156K.  This was insufficient, so we refired to 186K with great results!  It was dumb luck as our boiler was over=sized originally, but I checked W-M next lower rated boiler, the SGO-5  which was still more than needed BTU's, with recommended fire rate of 203K.  We calculated at about 10% less than last figure, which was stll slightly higher, but withing alloted downfiring of SGO-6 capacity.  Dumb luck!!!  Any way, I am very pleased with results, saving thousands of $ over last 3 yrs v oil, and the heat is very comfortable, now that we're firing at a rate close to connected load.  I know all conversions are done on boiler by  boiler basis and that is wise, an SGO-3 may not be good fit for Wayne, just relating my experience.  If follow advice of these steam gurus, you will be in steam heaven!  Good luck.

j a_2

will it

Will it work ? site unseen, i guess so

is it legal ? Check with the powers to be

Is it cost effective ? Depends on way to many factors, here in the Boston area, definitely,not.