Need help with replacing American Radiator Co. oil burning boiler

michaelaharoni

I just bought a 1904 house in Lovelock Nevada. The house has an oil boiler in the basement. I am restoring the house and would like to replace it with a gas heating system. i don't know anything about radiator heating and I need some advice as to my options.

nicholas bonham-carter

First of all, determine what type of heating boiler you have-steam or hot water. Some pictures of the boiler, and radiators, (valve end) would help us identify your system.—NBC

michaelaharoni

I believe it is a steam heater.

STEVEusaPA

It's not a steamer...well rather I should say, it shouldn't be making steam. But I'll pay for S/H if you want to send me that gauge.

It's the usual stuff.
Find a competent installer who knows hydronics.
Determine a heat loss.
Size the boiler to the heat loss.
Install using the best practices. Didn't even know heating oil was a thing in Nevada.

gennady

Seems you have asbestos there. must be removed legally and without contaminating house.

michaelaharoni

Thanks. Will do

nicholas bonham-carter

Now that you know it is a hot water heating system, (probably gravity circulated), you can look into the options for changing the boiler to a gas fired one.
The choices are: cast iron, or modulating-condensing boiler. You need a pro to do this as you need a make which is supported by local parts availability, and a local expert.
In the meantime, download the free SlantFin heat loss calculator, and determine the needs of the system. Do not size the new boiler from the old one, just in case it was sized wrong to begin with.
Some excellent hydronic books are available here from the bookstore.—NBC

HVACNUT

@nicholas bonham-carter, there's a giant 4 bolt flange circ at the back of the boiler. Not that it makes a difference in boiler options.
@michaelaharoni, you stated you need help determining what boiler should be used. Come back, and the gents here will get info from you to see how to correctly procede.
Things like, is Nat gas presently available? Atmospheric or mod con? There are also very efficient oil fired boilers to consider if converting is too pricey.
Come back and talk it out.

GBart

Don't you love it when someone installs a new burner with a cad cell relay and leaves the stack relay in the pipe?

nicholas bonham-carter

hvacnut has sharp eyes!

HVACNUT

> @nicholas bonham-carter said:
> hvacnut has sharp eyes!

One eye actually. I'm blind in my left eye so I'm a cyclops.

Steamhead

GBart said:

Don't you love it when someone installs a new burner with a cad cell relay and leaves the stack relay in the pipe?

What a hack.

michaelaharoni

is it possible that the oil boiler is both, water and steam?

Jamie Hall

michaelaharoni said:

is it possible that the oil boiler is both, water and steam?

Possible -- but very unlikely. However, if you could take a picture of several representative radiators, including both ends and any valves or other fittings and the pipes, we can tell pretty fast.