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Is it time to wave the white flag on my gas-adapted steam-heat boiler?

Niall
Niall Member Posts: 3
in THE MAIN WALL
Hi everyone,
my house is a fairly typical 1931 house on Long Island, NY. The heating space is approx 3,000 sq ft. We converted from oil to gas with an Economite Model E20B gun on a Burnham V85 boiler shortly after moving in 13 years ago. The heating has never been balanced or consistent and certain radiators never radiated much heat at all. Many HVAC folk have tried their hand at solving that puzzle and failed.
Now, turning on the system over the past few days has triggered my gas alarm so at minimum I need some repair for that (I have turned the system off and shut off the gas supply). I'm thinking it might be time to replace the boiler for a dedicated gas boiler. Is this a prudent next step and would it increase the chances of more consistent heat distribution? If so, would love to hear recommendations (perhaps Burnham SIN3LNILE2 ?) and approx cost of going that route.
Thanks in advance from a newbie.

Comments

  • nicholas bonham-carter
    nicholas bonham-carter Member Posts: 8,578
    I suspect your supply piping, and/or main venting to be at fault here.
    Post some pictures of the boiler, and it’s piping, and a typical radiator showing the pipe(s).—NBC
    Jim_R
  • Niall
    Niall Member Posts: 3

    Boiler


    Piping, with vent. Line to the right going into ceiling supplies a radiator (pictured below) above it. Line to the left supplies a seperate radiator.
    This is in the basement.


    Radiator on first floor supplied by above.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,387
    The Midco E20 is the wrong burner for that boiler. It can't move enough air through the flue passages. I'd upgrade to a Carlin EZ-Gas, with which it would work much better.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    Jim_RGBart
  • nicholas bonham-carter
    nicholas bonham-carter Member Posts: 8,578
    Steamhead, what other boilers would the Midco e20 work with, instead of the Burnham he has, (that information might make the Midco easier to sell if he replaces it).—NBC
  • Danny Scully
    Danny Scully Member Posts: 1,440
    Where in Long Island are you located @Niall?
  • Niall
    Niall Member Posts: 3
    @Danny Scully I sent you my location directly. Thanks.
    @Steamhead Thanks. Until yesterday had my doubts that any conversion was efficient enough but this forum has put that doubt to rest (a bit!).
    @nicholas bonham-carter BTW the vent has been replaced at least twice also. The radiator vents have all been changed in the past.
    @Jim_R thanks for the etiquette advice. Apologies for mentioning $ here. As for previous attempts at fixing this, some of the stories are comical but are similar to yours!

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