Hole in Steam Boiler

ethicalpaul

You just about have convinced me to cap off my NG and install a tank! 😂

dlipter

My Burnham v8 boiler only lasted 12 years. How long has the Megasteam been in production? Why should have confidence in it's durability?

Steamhead

The earliest MegaSteam post I can find is from 2007. I know we installed one around or prior to that time that is still running nicely. When I get a chance I'll look up the contract for that job.

The MegaSteam was designed to eliminate all the weak points in the V8 series. Where part of the V8's heat transfer surface was above the waterline, the MegaSteam's is completely under water. This eliminates the unequal expansion & contraction at the waterline, which is partly responsible for sections failing at that point. It also increases the boiler's efficiency.

The only problem with the MegaSteam is that US Boiler gets their pants in a knot regarding using gas burners in it. Their Independence gas steamers don't last as long as they should in our area, so we won't install them. The MegaSteam with a gas burner would be the ideal replacement in these cases. When are they gonna get with the program?

BobC

@Steamhead You can lead a horse to water but you can't make the dumb SOB drink.

Bob

pecmsg

dlipter said:

My Burnham v8 boiler only lasted 12 years. How long has the Megasteam been in production? Why should have confidence in it's durability?

I would concentrate on WHY the boiler only lasted 12 years.
Too large, excessive water usage, excessive pressure, poor piping, poor venting.
The instillation and the people doing it are more important than the name on the tag!

hvacfreak2

I have been there man , V7 to Megasteam convert here. I'll say that I questioned buying into the same brand for the replacement but I realized that there was a part of the failed boiler that I needed to own. With the brand name change perhaps they did too.


https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/155931/mst-396-work-in-progress

New England SteamWorks

I installed my own MegaSteam in my home in 2007, -still going strong. And there has yet to be a single report here or elsewhere of a MegaSteam failure.

New England SteamWorks

And BTW, I spoke with Burnham big-wigs about a month ago (after Weil decided to discontinue two supply tappings on EG) in search of a replacement. The Independence is not it, but I thought the MegaSteam with a gas gun could be.

You always get a different story, but the one I got this time was that after initial testing the efficiency numbers were disappointing. They were basically inline with the Independence numbers and they didn't want to cannibalize the Independence. Especially because a new improved Independence is due out shortly. They said the flue ways for oil are too large for gas. And the certification process is lengthy and very expensive.

Of course, they didn't bother to consider longevity, because, (afterall) they are in the business of selling boilers...

EzzyT

Ryan that’s interesting, when I was at Carlin and Beckett factory earlier this year both head of tech support and lab testing showed me that they meet and surpassed the efficiency numbers with a gas power burners that US Boiler Manufacturer wanted to see on the Megasteam. As you just said there in business to sell more boilers.

Steamhead

EzzyT said:

Ryan that’s interesting, when I was at Carlin and Beckett factory earlier this year both head of tech support and lab testing showed me that they meet and surpassed the efficiency numbers with a gas power burners that US Boiler Manufacturer wanted to see on the Megasteam. As you just said there in business to sell more boilers.

Maybe USB has an unholy alliance with one or more oil companies?

EzzyT

Frank I don’t know about that but as we all know they’re in business to sell more boilers.
I think they just don’t want to have any conflict with any of there other boiler lines.

Fred

Steamhead said:

EzzyT said:

Ryan that’s interesting, when I was at Carlin and Beckett factory earlier this year both head of tech support and lab testing showed me that they meet and surpassed the efficiency numbers with a gas power burners that US Boiler Manufacturer wanted to see on the Megasteam. As you just said there in business to sell more boilers.

Maybe USB has an unholy alliance with one or more oil companies?

Could also be that it's not designed by USB and they have to pay royalties on units sold for some number of years? It would be interesting to find out who holds the patent(s) on this product.

Dave0176

New England SteamWorks said:

. Especially because a new improved Independence is due out shortly.

I’m interested in seeing what they do to the Independence? 3” tappings??