gravity hot water boiler replacement

Gasper

Is it possible to replace a cracked hot water boiler that was heating by gravity, with a new cast iron boiler, and continue to heat without a pump? A customer is requesting this, if possible. Thank you for any feedback.

pecmsg

Why?

EBEBRATT-Ed

You could and I have done it. I used a H B Smith BB-14 which was a large water content boiler. That was probably 40 years ago and it worked fine.

Not sure you could find a boiler with a large enough water content today.

Ironman

That would be more trouble than it's worth. Why would someone wanna do this?

A properly sized and installed mod/con works great on old gravity systems.

EBEBRATT-Ed

The tappings in a modern boiler probably are not large enough for gravity flow. Pick a boiler and call the manufacturer and ask them

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

I've seen it done with a cast iron Peerless boiler.

Gasper

Tapping sizes were my first concern. Water volume of new vs old probably pretty important as well?

Gasper

We also, occasionally, have people asking if new boiler can be retrofitted with a power pile (like the old boiler they have) system. Any thoughts on that?

EBEBRATT-Ed

@Gasper
I am sure a power pile conversion could be done they still use them in gas fireplaces etc.

But, I am also sure it's not really legal

WMno57

I'd buy one.

Simple. Less to go wrong. Could be used off-grid. Would work in power outages. Smaller generator, smaller battery bank, smaller solar array.

What is the MTBF for a Mod-Con? 12 Years?

My current working Boiler is 70 years old.

mattmia2

The older gas valves with the knob underneath to manually open them.