What was the worst looking boiler you saw that was still operating?

Steamhead

Lard said:

The plan is to yank it out eventually and do a cast iron boiler/hot water system since the ductwork is rather sad (and asbestos-wrapped).

That's the best plan I've ever heard for one of these setups.

It would be even better to do steam

RobertMcRae

There were four of these in an old Victorian on North Broadway in Saratoga Springs, all still running, barely. I’ve replaced two so far. The other two will go this summer.

EBEBRATT-Ed

@RobertMcRae

Lotta good work there. Good luck with that

RayWohlfarth

@RobertMcRae Those thing should be give their last rites. You must be like a boiler whisperer to keep them going

Lard

> @Steamhead said:
> The plan is to yank it out eventually and do a cast iron boiler/hot water system since the ductwork is rather sad (and asbestos-wrapped).
>
> That's the best plan I've ever heard for one of these setups.
>
> It would be even better to do steam

Mini-tube steam is tempting, of course! A simple, efficient, low-maintenance solution is what is desired.
The trouble is that nobody around here (west-central Ohio) knows much about a steam system—hence the disaster at the church I care for. If the need arose, nobody else would be able to repair/maintain it but myself. This is scorched error territory with a few hydronic insurgents.

The “dragon” furnace will go a couple more years before it is scheduled for slaying, so there is time to decide.

HotanCool

Jellis said:

Not a boiler, but this is one of my favorite oldies, guy said he remembered when his father had it converted to oil when he was a kid and he would never replace it!

I've only seen one if those Octopuses. Thankfully.

Solid_Fuel_Man

@ChrisJ I'd say fuel savings wins almost every time, vs keeping I efficient equipment.

Reoccurring costs (fuel and maintenance) add up quickly over a 10-15 year period.

I do a lot of efficiency audits on commercial buildings. Lighting numbers are huge. "Oh you are only saving 30 watts a fixture" is the usual answer. Well that 30 watts X 500 fixtures is 15kWh saved every hour they are on. Payback is often much faster than your think.

ChrisJ

> @Solid_Fuel_Man said:
> @ChrisJ I'd say fuel savings wins almost every time, vs keeping I efficient equipment.
>
> Reoccurring costs (fuel and maintenance) add up quickly over a 10-15 year period.
>
> I do a lot of efficiency audits on commercial buildings. Lighting numbers are huge. "Oh you are only saving 30 watts a fixture" is the usual answer. Well that 30 watts X 500 fixtures is 15kWh saved every hour they are on. Payback is often much faster than your think.
>

15kwh per hour. What's that, $300 a year?
That doesn't look right but I'm having a brain fart

Solid_Fuel_Man

At 15.7cents (our rate here in Maine) that is $2.355 an hour saved. Multiply that by 12 hours a day and 30 days a month 12 months a year.... $10,173 a year saved...

I know this for electrical, but the same applies to gas or oil consumption. A little tiny bit now equates to a lot over a lifetime of an appliance. Granted heating is only 6 months a year here in Maine anyway!

Leonard

I found "60 watt" sprial florecent light bubs paid for themselves in ~30 days vs incandecent. They were ~ $1.50 each, in NH I pay ~ $.20/KWH. Now I use them everywhere light is on long time and doesn't frequently get turned on/off. I love them, same color as incandents and I'm fussy about color. Noticed I save ~ $10/month on electric bill., that's $2,400 in 20 years !!!

75 watts of light only takes 19 watts, a plus is in summer I don't have to run A/C as long or can even leave it off. Three 75 watt incandecent bulbs heats up the room fast.

Sylvania supersaver 75watt one is 1250 lumins, 2700K, has CF19EL/super/827/RP/yx next to bar code of 0-46135-29693-2

Have a 100 watt LED one outside, color is off ,very white, but only uses ~16 watts. So now when we go out to eat I don't mind leaving light on so will have light when get back at night. Tried fluorescent but in COLD winter took 5 minutes to fully light , it's also a security light.

loran5582

HotanCool

loran5582 said:

ChrisJ

Solid_Fuel_Man said:

At 15.7cents (our rate here in Maine) that is $2.355 an hour saved. Multiply that by 12 hours a day and 30 days a month 12 months a year.... $10,173 a year saved...



I know this for electrical, but the same applies to gas or oil consumption. A little tiny bit now equates to a lot over a lifetime of an appliance. Granted heating is only 6 months a year here in Maine anyway!

I knew I did something wrong with my math.
I tried several times and it kept coming up wrong.

I swapped out all of my incandescents for CFL's back in 2005. Back then, TCP was my go to brand.

Now days, 99% of my stuff is LED, usually 3000-3500K in living areas and 4000-4500K in the kitchen, bathroom etc. I think most are Cree and a few cheapies in the attic etc.