1979 Burnham Gas/Steam Boiler help

rthorworth

Thank in advance for the help... I'm looking for some general advice. And I KNOW hard to assess without actually seeing it but....
I have 1979 Burnham Boiler (Gas) that had a small CO leak. Local provider (BGE Baltimore) assessed and said I should have someone clean and check it. Warning note says: "Dirty Pilot and making CO 200 ppm".

I called "BGE Home" and the serviceman looks over and tells me it's a 1979 boiler and I've got my money out of it, and I should buy new. He showed me some corrosion with a mirror in the back and said "I could take the 3 hrs to take it apart and clean it, but if I do and it still leaks, I've got to shut it off before I leave and I'll have to charge you the 3 hr labor anyway. I got the gut feeling he just didn't want to mess with it. So... I paid my $90 visit fee and licked my wounds.

So my questions: Because it's from 1979, is it even worth trying to fix? (in my experience older stuff is made better than new and is worth fixing) I realize there is an efficiency benefit to newer but..

And if I get it fixed should I find a Burnham specialist or is it probably a universal HVAC guy thing?

details if it helps:
Burnham ANS Z21-13 B 1979
Boiler # P-205-W
DOE HTG CAP 107,000 BTU/HR
WATE BTU/HR 93.000

KC_Jones

You need @steamhead to come and take a look at it. He is in Baltimore and one of the best with steam.

RobG

I totally agree with KC Jones. You are lucky to be in the service area of one of the finest steam heating companies in the US. Frank and Gordon are a two man operation so you are guaranteed to get them and not some ambiguous service guy. Click on the link above or look up "All Steamed Up" on the find a contractor page on this site. If you search "Steamhead" on the site you can see what they do"

Rob

j a_2

You don’t have a steam problem, you have a questionable C O problem…Was it on an annual service this was discovered or did you suspect a problem….and call… where was the reading taken from and for how long was the boiler running prior to readings taken…..I assume you have enough make up air and chimney is venting as it should…what was the draft reading at time of reading….Often the problem lies outside the boiler…..If the boiler cast iron sections are good, and the boiler has seen reasonable service over the years, i would have no problem servicing/repairing and letting it rip….Installed my first solo steam boiler 1979…still running as of yesterday….It runs better than me lol...

Steamhead

Thanks, all.

Rthorworth, if this is a Burnham 205, it is a hot-water boiler- unless at some point there was a steam version of the Series 2. They still make Series 2 hot-water boilers, but with electric ignition instead of standing pilots.

Give us a call at 410-321-8116. We're not in the office much, but when we pick up your message we'll do our best to work you in.

rthorworth

Wow, stroke of luck I guess... I really appreciate the feedback. @steamhead, I'll be calling first thing Monday and we can talk. Thanks again everyone! Resting easier....

Jason_13

FYI this boiler was never made in a steam version.

rthorworth

Yeah I probably have it wrong... I have radiator heat... hot water. I have heard it referred to as steam heat... thought it was steam. Obviously it's different. I'm just a homeowner not a heat guy.. just needed some help and so glad this forum is here. All about learning though and it's nice to have people weigh in that don't have buck invested.