Looking for a new oil boiler (I heat my radiators with steam)

georgede54

I'm probably going to be buying a new oil boiler. Is there any independent rating source, or other place, that would help me to compare the enormous number of models that are on the market.

STEVEusaPA

The usual mantra from professionals on this site:
1. The installer is more important than the boiler.
2. In the case of steam, boiler sized to the edr of the connected radiation..

There really isn't any true independent ratings source. Most of the bad reviews are going to be from:
1. Wrong size boiler.
2. Improper piping/installation.
3. In the case of steam, incorrect near boiler piping, and improper venting.

In general, with oil, I like to avoid pinners, as they almost never get cleaned properly. But there may not be too many options.

Where are you located?
There are some master steam guru's here with a lot of experience with all the major boilers.
There are also many wonderful examples of their work on this site.

Jamie Hall

As @STEVEusaPA says, a boiler isn't a refrigerator or a washing machine. It's part of the whole system which heats your house, and it must be sized properly (as he says, to the radiation) and installed properly -- and the latter part of the equation is at least 90 percent of the success or failure of the job -- and a sizeable chunk of the efficiency and longevity.

Some folks like one make or type of boiler better, others like others better. Sort of like some folks like Chevys, and some like Fords.

Find a good installer whom you can trust (as @STEVEusaPA says, there are a number who are on this site) and work with them.

Ironman

For oil fired steam, I would only use the Burnham MegaSteam.

Steamhead

Ironman said:

For oil fired steam, I would only use the Burnham MegaSteam.

This. Also, Crown has a version of the same boiler- the Freeport 2/FSZ.

georgede54

Thanks for the input!

Steamhead

So @georgede54 , how did it work out?

georgede54

I'm still plugging away. I've started to measure the radiators and do the computations. I've posted some pictures under my "Sizing a new boiler" discussion, if you want to take a look.

The radiator in the living room, which I believe is a column type, is 25.5 inches high x 7 inches wide.

The radiator in the kitchen, which I believe is a tube type, is about 26" high.

I think I know what is needed for people to be able to compute the EDR from the pictures, so I should be posting more in a few days.

Thanks again.

retiredguy

You should list the name of the rads if possible, measure the height, number of sections, number of tubes in each section, and the depth of the sections and a picture of the rads if possible

georgede54

Thanks. I'm not sure what is meant by "depth of section." How do I measure that?

georgede54

Is the "depth" what I might call the width?

Steamhead

georgede54 said:

Is the "depth" what I might call the width?

Depth is front to back, i.e. the side facing into the room to the side facing the wall.

Since there are many different types of radiators, it would help if you took pics and posted them here, so we could see what you're talking about.

HVACNUT

> @georgede54 said:
> Is the "depth" what I might call the width?

Yes, front to back.

retiredguy

Go to the " site map" and click on museum,. Or you can click on "store" and then "museum". Go to Arco cast Iron Radiators and down load the PDF. It will show you the measurements of Arco radiators and how to measure. My old boss who is long gone had this sheet which is very helpful.

georgede54

Thanks to one and all.

georgede54

I have just posted the information and pictures necessary to compute the EDRs for my upstairs radiators in a new discussion titled "Computing the EDRs of My House Radiators for a New Oil-fired Steam Boiler." If you want to take a look and run the numbers, I'd appreciate your efforts. Thanks.