Burnham ANS Z21-13A 1983

Azrael_Ak

Hello there,
I have a Burnham ANS Z21-13A 1983 low pressure boiler in my home and have been getting gas bills saying I have been using 20-25CCF/mo. and during the summer months I have not turned the thermostat on once. Is it normal for a pilot light to use this much gas?

Thanks

RobG

Does it heat your hot water as well?

Azrael_Ak

Nope just 100% Boiler. The hot water is on a different meter paid for by the landlord.

JUGHNE

I use 25-30 CCF a month for hot water indirectly heated by boiler.
Do you have a gas range or dryer?

Just curious, if I may ask what does that 20-25 CCF cost per month?

Steamhead

ANS Z21-13A 1983 is not the boiler's model number- it is the standard under which that boiler was designed and tested. Is this a steam or hot-water system?

Azrael_Ak

Ahh well Sorry i could barely read the label. It is only the gas boiler....hot water heat. And the reason i am so concerned is...my gas bill was pretty high for not using ANY heat this summer.

April, May, and June I was in between 20-25 ccf. I am not sure how it could change over the summer with no activity just being a pilot.

We pay:
Enstar customer charge: $14.00
Service Charge (Base): 18.00 ccf @ .114200 $ 2.06
Regulatory Cost Charge .289000% $ 0.08
Total Enstar charges $16.14

Supplier Gas Cost: 18.00 ccf @ .677070 $12.19

Current Gas Charges------------------------------------$28.33

This is my July bill. I quit using my heat back in April. Which is springtime in Alaska.

Also if it isn't normal consumption for this... are there aftermarket pilot lights you can replace it with to be more efficient? I removed and replaced the ancient Honeywell mercury switch thermostat and installed a brand new digital Honeywell programmable switch.

Azrael_Ak

That's over 100$ over the summer for not using any heat. Outrageous in my book

Steamhead

Look closely at the label- there should be some numbers stamped in it. If you post those numbers, one of them will probably be the model number. Also post a picture.

Honeywell makes the Y8610 upgrade kit that will convert a standing pilot to electric ignition. But if we know the model number, one could probably get the upgrade parts from Burnham.

JUGHNE

Does your bill show the meter readings, that is previous, present and amount used? There is always a minimum charge per month even with no usage.

Also you could shut off the gas service valve at your boiler, if you have a standing pilot it will have to be relite for heating.
You can then sharpie/pencil mark the hand position on the meter to see if it is actually rotating. I mark the 2 smallest increment dials carefully looking straight the dials. If you see any movement in an hour or day then gas is going somewhere else.
I would say is your meter and you could shut it off, just be sure you have the right meter. Someone will speak up if there is no hot water etc.

Tim McElwain

A pilot with a .018 size orifice at 7" W.C. pressure (pilots are not regulated through the gas valve) will burn about a cubic foot per hour. Depending on the cost per therm for gas a yearly bill for a pilot could be between 100 to 120 dollars a year. The charts for calculating this are found in the National Fuel Gas Code NFPA 54.