trying to identify my boiler

Remeran

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this. recently purchased a home built in the 1920's the heating is working fine but I was curious at how old the boiler was. There are index cards with service dates on them that go back to 1979 but I suspect it's even older. I googled for at least an hour and could not find it. The info I know:

Built by US Radiator Corp in Detroit michigan
Series no. 6-11
seems to labeled capitol? Maybe that's the model?

basically whats on this label I took a screen shot of. Here it is:

Remeran

forgot to mention it also says capitol comfort line on it.

Steamhead

1950s at the latest. United States Radiator Co. merged with National Radiator Corp. sometime in the latter part of that decade.

EBEBRATT-Ed

But now we don't have the technology to make a boiler that will last 60+ years

Remeran

I was surprised that I couldn't find it with the series number and the original company but google failed me. I guess I'm no longer surprised considering the potential age of the boiler. I'm a first time home owner so I have zero experience with this stuff. Is it common for old boilers to last this long? Should I be worried despite it seeming fine? Would I even be able to find someone who can service it?

delta T

Remeran said:

Is it common for old boilers to last this long?

Yes. They built boilers to last back in the day. I have repaired and serviced several boilers from the 30's that are still working fine. Now efficiency......that's a different matter.

Remeran said:

Should I be worried despite it seeming fine? Would I even be able to find someone who can service it?

There are definitely people fully capable of servicing an old boiler, most times they are far simpler and easier to service than the newer boilers. That being said, choose your contractor well. Check the 'Find a Contractor' link on the main page of this site and see if there is anyone near you. If not, let us know where you are, and we may be able to recommend someone.

All boilers require regular maintenance, just like your car. A standard tune up on this type of boiler would involve removing the burners and cleaning them, cleaning the burner chamber, cleaning the pilot, verifying the operation of the safety devices (relief valve, temperature high limit, etc...), verifying proper operation of the pump/s, zone valves, expansion tank, feeder, backflow preventer, air eliminator etc., then re-assembly of the burners and pilot, check gas pressure on the inlet (static and running), check gas pressure on the manifold, and check combustion with a digital combustion analyzer (this is very important).

Steamhead

I think I found it. It actually appears in the Beacon 1959-1980s book, under National-US, so this one was probably made around the time of the merger since it is still marked US Radiator Co. The actual model number is 6W-11CP which denotes a packaged boiler, but the rating is the same. Go here:

https://heatinghelp.com/assets/documents/201.pdf

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

You have a wonderful boiler, capable of many more years of service. I just checked one out last month and it was in great shape.

It's probably worth it to find a qualified technician in your area to look it over. Where do you live?

Remeran

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes said:

You have a wonderful boiler, capable of many more years of service. I just checked one out last month and it was in great shape.

It's probably worth it to find a qualified technician in your area to look it over. Where do you live?

I live in Cheltenham, Pa. That picture looks similar to my boiler with some differences. I'm not home right now but I'll take a quick picture of the whole thing for anyone curious. It's red and a cream color.

EBEBRATT-Ed

@Remeran
It well may be the best boiler ever made. I would have someone qualified work on it, check combustion including a carbon monoxide test, check the chimney and go right through it.

You want your family safe.

I would not replace it just due to age if it runs good and is safe keep going

But facts are facts I would start putting money aside for its eventual replacement

Remeran

For anyone curious

Big Ed_4

A few spill switches and in home carbon monoxide detectors I would recommend .

Tim McElwain

Take some pictures of the controls and I can help you to understand what they do and what would replace them if needed.

EBEBRATT-Ed

Most guys now would say "its a pc of junk get rid of it" and I am sure that day will come.

Just goes to show the quality of some of the old stuff. If it was junk it would have been gone years ago

John Mills_5

EBEBRATT-Ed said:

But now we don't have the technology to make a boiler that will last 60+ years

We have the technology, We just make stuff cheap because homeowners want to buy cheap.