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Replace my Burnham hot water boiler or renovate?

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mixheat
mixheat Member Posts: 3
in Strictly Steam
Hello. I have a Burnham hot water cast iron boiler, oil heat. Installed in 1991. 25 years old.
The fire box is just about gone on it. I am going to have a new indirect 32 gal hot water heater installed, have a oil fired hot water heater now that needs to be replaced. My burner man suggested replacing firebox on boiler and installing new Riello burner, it is a 3 section cast boiler. It would be significantly more money to replace boiler. Would I be making a mistake to overhaul boiler instead of replacing? Don't want to have to replace it in 10 years if this is not the right way to go.
Any suggestions? Thank you

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  • Fred
    Fred Member Posts: 8,542
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    The new burner may be reusable when you need to replace the boiler but I'd be inclined to replace the boiler in total. 25 years is a pretty good life for a boiler. I too have a Burnham and it is soon to be 34 years old but I know at some point a new boiler is in the cards. Is your "burner Man" qualified to make an assessment of the boiler? If so, what is his general opinion? (keep in mind it will be just an opinion)
  • mixheat
    mixheat Member Posts: 3
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    Thanks Fred. He is definitely qualified, said because it is cast iron, the sections will not go bad or if I had a additional $3k could put a new burner.
    I appreciate him trying to save me money just looking for another opinion.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,845
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    What model Burnham?
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,376
    edited September 2016
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    A three pass boiler such as a Buderus G115 or the Burnham MPO is much better built, very easy to clean and operates far more efficiently.

    Something that few consider is the actual operating efficiency of the boiler in the field. 1/16th of an inch of soot can cause an 18% reduction in efficiency. A three pass boiler has smooth surfaces that are very open and easy to clean. A pin boiler has dozens of pins in the casting to provide surface for more heat transfer. Sounds good until it needs cleaning and then it's almost impossible to get all the soot out between the pins.

    The Buderus with a good outdoor reset control can very easily be 30 - 40% more efficient since its flexible cast iron can take cooler water temps.

    Personally, I think it would be a huge mistake to invest that kind of money in that old boiler.
    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
    SWEI
  • mixheat
    mixheat Member Posts: 3
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    Thank you gentlemen. I really appreciate your input. I'm not sure what type of Burnham boiler it is. But I really felt like investing money in an old boiler was not a good idea. Now I just have to borrow money out of my Harley fund to invest in a new boiler

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