Block failure causes.

andprogeny

This is concerning a ten year oil fired old V-8 with a failed block. Boiler is connected to an indirect. Competitor tells customer it may be undersized which caused failure. I disagreed. I ran the serial number and found it was already replaced under warranty after 9 years. Burnham and I say block failure is due to undetected steam leaks in the system and/or water quality. No history of boiler flooding. Burnham says sizing wouldn't do it.
I measured the rads but have not yet added up the load as she was considering hvac instead.
What does anyone have to say about block failure caused by undersizing?

Jamie Hall

Block failure caused by underusing? That's a new one. Nice try -- but no cigar.

How much water has been being added? That could do it. (steam leaks) So could firing it with not enough water in it. So could aggressive water -- such as very hard, or high chlorides, or ion exchange softened water.

andprogeny

Under sizing. That's what a competitor told her and she seems to want to believe it. I've encountered things like this before and I just put tech support on speaker and let the customer hear everything.

The Steam Whisperer

Actually undersizing may make the boiler last longer.... nice long steady heating cycles reduces the expansion and contraction cycles of the boiler, reducing stress. A 1 year block life tells me there is something probably wrong.

andprogeny

10 year. First one was 9. This one 10. Still too short.
I just spoke to her again. Going to replace the boiler after pressure testing the system,all new vents and valves where needed.

Steamhead

If you're not going to switch her to gas, the Burnham MegaSteam is the way to go.

Good that the heat-pump pushers didn't get her.

EBEBRATT-Ed

@andprogeny

and consider that even if it was undersized for how much of the year?? We only get to design temps a very small portion of the year

DanHolohan

I would look at chlorides in the water as the culprit. That's common with this boiler.