Need Steam Pro Help in Roanoke, VA

GeorgeV

I am looking for a steam pro that is anywhere close to Roanoke, VA. I need to replace a 1978 H.B. Smith boiler that has developed an above the water line leak between sections. I am pretty sure I can limp along for the rest of the winter and make it a summer project. The current boiler was installed next to a 1929 Heggie Simplex Coal fired boiler. It has worked well for 40 years as currently installed but I am sure everyone would say that I need to remove both boilers and rework the headers. Is there anyone that is close enough to help with this project or that can recommend someone. I have failed miserably to find anyone local that can help me. Before educating myself on this website, I hired the local commercial company when I moved in. I am still finding and fixing things they screwed up. I could write a book about it. I have studied the “Lost Art” and put a lot of it to good use fixing issues, but I know replacing the boiler is over my head. I have attached a couple of pictures showing the current situation. Thanks in advance for any help.

Ironman

I'm near Staunton. You can p/m me your info.

nicholas bonham-carter

Save any of the old boiler info tags as the museum here will need them.—NBC

Steamhead

I agree- remove both boilers and pipe it properly. The Heggie-Simplex probably has asbestos covering it, so that will need abating as well.

What make is the old oil burner?

GeorgeV

Oil Burner has a Esso Heat tag on it that says Gilbarco Products in small letters. Here is a picture of the tag.

GeorgeV

Also, here are the instructions from the Heggie-
Simplex

Jamie Hall

Highly recommend @Ironman . I've watched him work -- first class all the way.

EBEBRATT-Ed

Yeah. Gilbert & Barker my Uncle worked their. West Springfield, MA about 5 miles from me. They moved south in the 60s. Don't know if they are still around they make gas pumps

Steamhead

GeorgeV said:

Also, here are the instructions from the Heggie-
Simplex

Those are apparently instructions for the steam system itself. The Wiley system is a new one on us. Two questions, @GeorgeV :

1- is there any way you can scan those instructions to a .pdf file and post it?

2- Is the rest of the system still there- valves, traps, strange looking devices in the piping near the Heggie-Simplex??

Fred

You're very fortunate if you can get @Ironman to do this job for you!

GeorgeV

Wiley Simplex was out of Lynchburg, VA. All of the original piping is still in place, however someone may have added a main trap at the end of a loop or replaced one of the old ones. Most of the radiators still have the original traps and valves on them. The valves are orificing so, at a low pressure, the system runs great. For the most part the system is balanced and heats the entire house uniformly. Here are some pictures of the pipes in the boiler room and the traps. I will see if I can get a PDF of the instructions without taking them out of the frame.

Ironman

@DanHolohan
Can you give any input or info about this system?

Mike_Sheppard

Following. Never heard of this one before.

Steamhead

From what I can see so far, aside from the operating pressures it looks like standard Vapor. There seem to be enough of these systems around that Barnes & Jones lists a rebuild kit for the radiator traps, part # 3143.

In the picture with the two main vents and a potbellied trap, the trap looks like a Webster and the vent sitting on top of it looks like a Trane.

In the third pic it looks like there is a Return Trap in the piping, and another Trane vent.

@Ironman , when are you going there? This might be a good occasion for a Steam Summit!

Jamie Hall

Are you sure about the vapour bit, @Steamhead ? When I look at those pressures, I'm seeing up to 10 psi when it is zero outside, varying with outside air temperature. Which fascinates me. At that pressure the steam will be condensing at 240 F, giving a lot more output from the radiators. Outdoor reset for steam?

Which leads to the question -- what kind of fancy gadget is there -- or was there -- on this puppy which regulated the pressure?

Steamhead

Yes, aside from the pressures. Also, the Return Trap pics didn't show up till now. It looks similar to a Trane.

Ironman

Steamhead said:

From what I can see so far, aside from the operating pressures it looks like standard Vapor. There seem to be enough of these systems around that Barnes & Jones lists a rebuild kit for the radiator traps, part # 3143.

In the picture with the two main vents and a potbellied trap, the trap looks like a Webster and the vent sitting on top of it looks like a Trane.

In the third pic it looks like there is a Return Trap in the piping, and another Trane vent.

@Ironman , when are you going there? This might be a good occasion for a Steam Summit!

I'd love that. I don't have a definite date yet because I told George I may have to come on short notice. If you wanna plan something firm, I'm open to that.

I only found one paragraph in the old heating manual when I googled this. I'm gonna try and copy and post it.

Steamhead

Well, you're not gonna believe this, but Wiley-Simplex reached as far as Baltimore. Look what we found:

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/168879/its-a-wiley-simplex-not-a-vapor-regulator-co-system/

Ironman

How 'bout that.

I found very little info online so far. The company was acquired by Lookout Boiler around 1930 which appears to have been by Keewannee later on. But I haven't found any technical info to speak of.

Steamhead

Maybe there's a Historical Society or similar group in Lynchburg that would have more info or know where to look............

Steamhead

Ironman said:

How 'bout that.

I found very little info online so far. The company was acquired by Lookout Boiler around 1930 which appears to have been by Keewannee later on. But I haven't found any technical info to speak of.

Got out my copy of Byrley's "Hydronic Rating Handbook". Heggie-Simplex has its own entry- I'm assuming that was when it was located in Joliet, IL. But the Lookout Boiler section also references Heggie-Simplex boilers. Lookout was located in Chattanooga, TN. There is a Lookout Mountain near that city which was the site of a Civil War battle, and I'm guessing that's where the name came from.

Since there doesn't seem to be that much info, I'm guessing that Wiley-Simplex, Heggie-Simplex and Lookout were pretty much regional players. I have seen at least one old Heggie-Simplex boiler in Baltimore, so I know they made it this far. It remains a fair question, however, as to how much of a market they had in the South. That part of the country had its share of one-percenters who would spring for the latest tech, but the further south you went, the less need there was for heating. Though we have heard of a Dunham and a Webster system in northern Alabama- note that these threads have been through a couple Wall versions so the posts have gotten scrambled.............

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/104173/need-help-understanding-dunham-system

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/95109/cousin-margaret-and-warren-webster

Steamhead

According to page 31 of this redevelopment plan, Lookout built their factory in 1920, went through some name changes and closed in 2000:

https://chcrpa.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2017/12/Moc_Bend_Gateway_Plan_Study_2012-Final_2-page_spread_format.pdf

@gerry gill - think you and Steve could do one of your patent searches to see who Mr. Wiley was and what his connection was to Simplex Steam Specialty?

GeorgeV

I have attached PDF versions of the operating instructions for the Wiley Simplex System. The tag on the Heggie Simplex shows Joilet, IL.

GeorgeV

Try again.