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Determining Old Boiler BTU

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ertbrandon
ertbrandon Member Posts: 2
in THE MAIN WALL
Hello, our company was sent out to provide an estimate to replace an old "American Radiator and Standard Sanitary Company" Cast Iron Sectional Heating Boiler. I'm assuming it was manufactured between 1948 and 1967 as in the upper right of the placard it says "American-Standard" and on the bottom "American Radiator and Standard Sanitary Company" The only label or Placard on it are the "instructions for shutting off and lighting" I am trying to find the best way to determine the BTU input of the boiler so we can confirm it is sized correctly and so we can spec out the new boiler properly. It has 8 Burner Orifices and 3 Pilots and 9" Draft Hood.

Any Takers?

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  • Abracadabra
    Abracadabra Member Posts: 1,948
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    Is this steam? If so calculate the EDR of the radiators and use that figure to size the boiler.
  • Tim McElwain
    Tim McElwain Member Posts: 4,625
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    What is the drill size of the orifices on the burners? Give me that and also a picture of the controls especially the gas valve.
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,343
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    I'm with @Abracadabra -- if it's steam, get the EDR of the radiators and size it that way. If it's hot water, do a heat loss on the building and size it that way. Don't assume that the boiler that's in there is the correct size! They often aren't...
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    John Mills_5
  • ertbrandon
    ertbrandon Member Posts: 2
    edited December 2016
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    Its Hydronic. And we want to know the BTU so we can see if it was sized properly in the first place. Unfortunatley I wasn't able to get the orifice size as they did not want me to turn off the boiler. The other pictures of the LWCO and other controls are crappy so here's what I have.



  • Tim McElwain
    Tim McElwain Member Posts: 4,625
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    Go to the gas meter and with the boiler running clock the burner on the 1/2 foot dial. Do you know how to do that?
    rick in Alaska
  • Paul48
    Paul48 Member Posts: 4,469
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    It doesn't matter what size it is. Assume it is wrong. Providing the existing boiler provides enough heat, clocking the meter will give you a worst-case scenario for providing a ballpark estimate.
    John Mills_5HatterasguySWEI
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,860
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    That's hydronic? What about the McDonnell & Miller low-water cutoff mounted on the left side, which is used on steam boilers?
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Robert O'Brien
    Robert O'Brien Member Posts: 3,541
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    The size of the existing boiler is absolutely useless information and has no bearing on properly sizing a new boiler.
    To learn more about this professional, click here to visit their ad in Find A Contractor.
    John Mills_5HatterasguySolid_Fuel_ManSWEI

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