Steam boiler replacement

Dave0176

2007 installed Burnham V84, owner wanted to replace it to convert to gas, however while removing the boiler we found the rot starting on the middle sections. It was a good time to do it as next winter it would’ve probably let loose. We went in with a Weil-McLain EG45. The mains are split one side being 1-1/2” and the long main 2-1/2” of course the old near boiler piping left much to be desired. The oil companies were great at servicing and leaving their tags however they never really cleaned this boiler very good as you can see from the pics.

Steamhead

And the oil companies wonder why they always lose business......

Looking great so far!

EBEBRATT-Ed

Neglect. The owner should write a book "how to ruin a 12 year old boiler"

RayWohlfarth

wow hard to believe its only 12 years old

Dave0176

Bit more progress.

lchmb

looking good!! Sad to see the old boiler in that condition. I am curious though, why the double drop?

Dave0176

lchmb said:

looking good!! Sad to see the old boiler in that condition. I am curious though, why the double drop?

That main starts off as a counterflow.

Intplm.

@Dave0176 Excellent looking job. Always nice to see such nice work

lchmb

that explains that.. thanks!!

mikeg2015

For the Hartford loop, are you just using a Y strainer and removing the strainer basket? I Haven’t seen any plain Y fittings anywhere.

Danny Scully

No it’s a wye fitting @mikeg2015

Dave0176

mikeg2015 said:

For the Hartford loop, are you just using a Y strainer and removing the strainer basket? I Haven’t seen any plain Y fittings anywhere.

My supply house gets them in on my request, not cheap however. These are made by Anvil, Ward doesn't manufacture them anymore.

ethicalpaul

> @EBEBRATT-Ed said:
> Neglect. The owner should write a book "how to ruin a 12 year old boiler"

Or the servicer should

EBEBRATT-Ed

@Dave0176 , nice job

Dave0176

EBEBRATT-Ed said:

Neglect. The owner should write a book "how to ruin a 12 year old boiler"

The HO just bought the house last August. The PO did have the oil service contract, just unfortunate that a lot oil companies techs don’t do good job.

mikeg2015

> @Dave0176 said:
> For the Hartford loop, are you just using a Y strainer and removing the strainer basket? I Haven’t seen any plain Y fittings anywhere.
>
> My supply house gets them in on my request, not cheap however. These are made by Anvil, Ward doesn't manufacture them anymore.

Did an amazon search. Holy hell $111 for a 2” wye. I’d feel compelled to paint it gold after installation.

Local supply can probably order them for less than that... maybe.

Steamhead

Dave0176 said:

EBEBRATT-Ed said:

Neglect. The owner should write a book "how to ruin a 12 year old boiler"

The HO just bought the house last August. The PO did have the oil service contract, just unfortunate that a lot oil companies techs don’t do good job.

And in this case, as in millions of others, they lost the customer as a result. The gas guys don't even have to try- the oil guys are handing them new customers on a silver platter.

EBEBRATT-Ed

@Steamhead & @Dave0176

Can't even guess how many wet base boilers I have seen with the firebox full of soot and never cleaned out, especially the older stuff and larger commercial stuff Smith 28, Weil 88, Burnham etc that don't have swing out doors.

I mean, come on you brush the boiler where do they think the stuff goes? It's in the chamber.

I mean on the ones that burn clean and have difficult access you have to pull the burner or get in their every 3 years or so.......not every year just lazy. Flue pipe is the same thing, gotta check it once it's clean every s or so is ok if combustion is good

Mike Cascio

She’s a crusty one Mr Grinch! Nice clean install as always. What a shame a 12 year old boiler got wrecked from lack of maintenance.

Dave0176

The HO sent me some pics he took of us .... here is my 67 yo pop still putting in steam boilers. I don’t know what I’m gonna do when he can’t do this anymore. These kids today
won’t work this hard.

LionA29

Beautiful work @Dave0176

Dave0176

More work completed, replaced over 50’ of return piping and temporarily test fired the boiler. Getting there.......

EBEBRATT-Ed

@Mike Cascio

I think you have been watching too much Steve on You Tube LOL

ethicalpaul

Dave, I love that jank power hookup

SeanBeans

Hey @Dave0176

Are cross fittings required in jersey on steam control piping? Or you do that for ease of cleaning?

JUGHNE

Ed, do you refer to the Steve with the little dog?
He has some interesting videos, I find his approach to be quite educational with tidbits of info and usually entertaining.

ScottSecor

I'm also in NJ, no it is not code nor required to use cross tees on residential steam boilers for control piping. However, it is certainly a nice touch and pretty much guarantees the standard 1/4 inch pigtail will not get clogged. Dave goes above and beyond most of his competition.

EBEBRATT-Ed

@JUGHNE
Yup, that's the one. I get a kick out of that guy. He does some hacky stuff but after you watch a bunch videos you can't deny that he is a hard worker and he is no dummy. Some things are **** backwards though.

@ScottSecor

every place is different, I think the crosses are an ASME thing. Probably not required on residential although a good idea. In MA everything over 200,000 input is considered commercial unless installed in a house. Then they want man reset high limits on HW & Steam 2 LWCO on steam (1 with reset) and a LWCO on hot water, emergency switches outside all boiler room entrances.

At one time in MA all the 1" piping below the water line on low water cutoffs used to have to be brass but they dropped that

JUGHNE

I have used the cross tees on boilers that have multiple devices.
Each gets it's own 1/4" SS or brass long riser nipple off of the 1/2" black manifold.
If the lower black piping is clear each year then the 1/4" risers are most likely clean.

JUGHNE

Ed, his service truck is even interesting.
A lot of stock items and he can even find them.
I even watch the oil burner work, even though I haven't seen any oil for maybe 30 years.

ethicalpaul

He's sure no steam man though

EBEBRATT-Ed

@ethicalpaul that's for sure, cut and slide

EBEBRATT-Ed

@JUGHNE
When I started I "73" all of New England, ME, MA, CT, VT, NH,RI was 80% heated by oil. I am sure it's no where near that now but still remote areas that will probably never get natural gas. Still a lot of oil around here though

New England SteamWorks

***** 5 Stars. Really sweet!

Mike Cascio

> @EBEBRATT-Ed said:
> @Mike Cascio
>
> I think you have been watching too much Steve on You Tube LOL

I suspect a lot of people watch Steve Lav on this forum! I watch it with my coworkers for lunch entertainment. We call it putting on some leakas!