Steam Boiler Installation (URGENT)

Doug1

I need a reputable steam boiler contractor (name and phone would be helpful) in Denver Colorado to replace my existing failed steam boiler. The house is 4,400 square feet and has 27 radiators. This is beyond urgent! Please help.

JUGHNE

It sounds like you have a leaking boiler. Or is it something else?

KC_Jones

I haven't seen any steam people in Colorado hanging around here and there isn't anything in the find a contractor. Perhaps someone knows of someone in that area? If not we could probably help the OP be a project manager of sorts to walk a contractor through what needs done? It has been done on here before. Depends how hands on you want to be? If this is a boiler replacement the other option would be to get perspective contractors to send you pictures of their steam boiler installs, post them here and we can tell you immediately if they know what they are doing.

BobC

Send us some pictures of your current boilers piping so we can see what has to be done to make sure a new boiler runs well.

Bob

Dennis Bellanti_2

As you know there are a lack of qualified steam guys in Denver because there are so few steam systems. I recommend ACA Denver Boiler (303) 744-3141. If it is a two pipe steam system - one pipe going into the radiator and one pipe coming out, you may want to consider changing this to a hot water system which is relatively easy to do. That opens the door to many qualified contractors in Denver. Feel free to call me if you need further help. Dennis (303) 942-8102.

vaporvac

Hi doug, I have a system a bit larger than your and was in a similar sitiuation. We need a bit more info. Are there two pipes into the rads? (ie. two-pipe). What is the square ftge of the rads ie EDR? That's the first step to a boiler replacement. Replacing one isn't hard, but it need to be done according to the instruction manual of the boiler.
Please don't be deceived by a HW change-over, Not only will you never see a ROI, but there's no guarantee it won't leak and you'll always have to worry about freezing. People tried to steer me in that direction because they would make more money, imo. the difficult part of steam was already done when your pipes were originally installed. I've saved 30-50% by replacing my old leaky boiler and fixing system problems,
Steam is perfect for large houses as it delivers heat, quickly, and economically. Post some pics of your basement pipes and near boiler piping as well as a representative radiator so we can see what you have. I would also strongly suggest posting any contractor's installs and plans.
Have you had any problems with the system and its heat.

Steamhead

I agree. Since a hot-water system runs at over ten times the pressure of steam, you run the risk of creating leaks. It's not worth it.

Also, a hot-water radiator will only give off 2/3 the heat of a steam radiator. This often means a conversion won't heat the building properly. And even if it will, the vaunted savings from using a mod-con boiler won't materialize because you have to keep the system above condensing temperature much of the time. It's not worth it.

We don't do these conversions. We have more respect for our customers than that.

But people keep beating the conversion drum, promising savings that sound too good to be true. The truth is, we can achieve similar savings by fixing the steam. Here is one example of debunking the myth:

http://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/145002/actual-savings-over-steam-heating

DanHolohan

How I wish you and Gordo could be everywhere. It truly is a lost art in Colorado.

Steamhead

Whatever happened to Dave Stroman (sp?)- ISTR he was in Colorado...............

SteamCoffee

Dave Strohman is in Aurora, CO. Tonsofradiators.com or something close to that....good guy

Abracadabra

Dennis Bellanti said:

If it is a two pipe steam system - one pipe going into the radiator and one pipe coming out, you may want to consider changing this to a hot water system which is relatively easy to do.

Big mistake to do that.

Dennis Bellanti said:

That opens the door to many qualified contractors in Denver.

It also opens the door to a whole host of problems.

nicholas bonham-carter

Also Richard, "der Heatmeister"

JUGHNE

Hello, Denver poster, it is getting late here East of you. The east coast pros will read anything you post early tomorrow AM.

nicholas bonham-carter

Also Richard, "der Heatmeister" is somewhere in Colorado

Steamhead

SteamCoffee said:

Dave Strohman is in Aurora, CO. Tonsofradiators.com or something close to that....good guy

Yup- here he is:

http://tonsofradiators.com/index.html

ChrisJ

DanHolohan said:

How I wish you and Gordo could be everywhere. It truly is a lost art in Colorado.

There's an easy solution to this.
Talk Bruce Springsteen into doing a show in Colorado. Problem solved.

Dennis Bellanti_2

Thank God we have you right coast guys to keep us in line. Your experience and knowledge is appreciated. We have done a handful of steam to hot water conversions with success. Must have been lucky on those old pipes.

I got to tour the district steam plant downtown last month and it was fascinating. They have quite a challenge with replacing the pipes under the streets and maintain meticulous records of every section. Some of the pipes are 80 years old and still working. They admit that they are living on borrowed time.

They are working toward down sizing the system by billing for peak use periods. This motivates the building managers to bring the heat up in the buildings at a slower, steady rate and it has proven successful. They are able to keep an extra boiler off-line during typical peak periods.

We have done several jobs where we recover the heat from the condensate on large buildings and use it for snowmelt. It is a great use for "wasted heat".

DanHolohan

I wish I could have joined you on that one, Dennis. Denver was the first city to do district steam.

Doug1

I am VERY grateful for everyone's input. I will attempt to learn how to reply to the comments individually, but that might take some time so I hope you can accept my global reply.

I've had 2 recommendations of Dave Stroman from this link as well as 2 independent Denver companies. Better yet, Dave came by the house and explained everything. I am thrilled with his understanding, solutions, and look forward to a warm and cozy home.

I'd also like to say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dan Holohan's "We Got Steam Heat". Until reading the book steam heat has always been a mystery. Now I greatly appreciate the lost art and am looking forward to having wonderful heat in my home.

Most appreciative to your responses!
Doug

SteamCoffee

Glad it's working out! Just don't utter those crazy "..just convert to hot water.." words without really understanding what the pro's and con's of the process actually are... Btw Denvers altitude makes for lower temp steam, about 200 degrees or so.

Dave Stroman

Dave Stroman here. Yes, I am still around. Very busy. Do not hang out here like I used to, but still very much involved in the magic of steam.

Steamhead

Good to hear from you, Dave!