Weil Mclain dropping 80 series boiler

The Steam Whisperer

Just found this out from my supplier. I imagine the broad sections/large steam chest and big 4 inch tappings are just not as cheap as the Smith 19HE with narrower sections, more btu per section and small 3 inch tappings. The 80 series is probably the last smaller power burner cast iron boiler that is a good steam design.

DanHolohan

Sign of the times. 

Steamhead

It's still on their site:

https://www.weil-mclain.com/products/80-commercial-gas-oil-boiler

EdTheHeaterMan

I remember when I installed the WM 78 boilers and was told they are replacing it with the 80 series. I feel so old!

EzzyT

I confirmed with several wholesalers and the local rep that the 80 & egh series have been dropped and they are also redesigning the lgb series too.

The Steam Whisperer

EzzyT said:

I confirmed with several wholesalers and the local rep that the 80 & egh series have been dropped and they are also redesigning the lgb series too.

That's what I heard too. If they aren't replacing the EGH with a new model, that leaves a big hole in the WM Line up, since the LGB requires at least 8 to 9 feet of ceiling clearance to meet venting installation requirements.
Also, no 80 series leaves another big hole...no small commercial power burner models.

AS for the LGB IMO, boilers this big used for space heating should only be power burners, not atmospheric. Most of the atmospherics in this size range that are in steam systems are only operating with seasonal efficiencies around 50%. Even EDR sized atmospherics will only reach around 58% seasonal efficiency in typical steam systems. Power burners under those same conditions would be running about 61% in typical installations and near 70 % in EDR sized installations. Mod burners would probably bump those numbers several percent.
Its sad to say, but simply replacing typical oversized atmospherics with modulating power burners would cut emissions nearly 40%.....no obscenely expensive heat pump retrofits required.

Steamhead

So this leaves the Smith 19 and Peerless SC- any others?

The Steam Whisperer

I don't know what Burnham has. I wouldn't touch the SC unless I can under fire it about 20% or more. When they run at full rate they melt the burners...I had 3 SC's with 3 different burners and all experienced extreme heat burner failures. The tube on the Power Flame literally melted and the cartridge warped and the Midcos had repeated problems with components warping. Tiny combustion chamber with way too much heat.

Steamhead

Burnham has the V9A series- another one that runs too hot IMHO.

The Steam Whisperer

The V-9 is nearly twice the size of the SC for the same input. At around 575MBH input the SC is 22 1/2 x 32 x 43 high, the V-9 is 32 x 30 x 57 high.

Steamhead

They still run hotter than on the 80 series though.

The Steam Whisperer

I imagine they do....I've never even seen one. I've only come across about 3 or 4 Burnham Commercial boilers.... 2 of them steel.... in the past 10 years in Chicago. The Outlet was so small on the steel boiler that massive amounts of water were getting thrown up 3 stories of express riser before pouring down the one pipe steam downfeed lines. Burnham insisted that the outlet size met all industry standards..... while it obviously was not working. They must of saved about $150.00 on a 5 million btu boiler.

New England SteamWorks

We will be using the new Burnham SteamMax for larger, gas jobs. Still a hole though above 629 Sq Ft for oil, without the 80....

Steamhead

New England SteamWorks said:

We will be using the new Burnham SteamMax for larger, gas jobs. Still a hole though above 629 Sq Ft for oil, without the 80....

I wish Burnham would get off their high horse about firing the MegaSteam with a gas burner. That would be a much more efficient and durable gas steamer than the SteamMax will ever be.

JohnNY

Bob Melinis, head of Training at Weil-McLain, tells me that WM will be derating some LGB models to replace the EGH line at least temporarily.

The Steam Whisperer

JohnNY said:

Bob Melinis, head of Training at Weil-McLain, tells me that WM will be derating some LGB models to replace the EGH line at least temporarily.

The problem with the LGB is that it requires around 8 to 9 feet of ceiling height minimum in order to meet the venting requirements in the manual ( minimum rise off the draft hood is 3 feet of straight pipe on page 7 of the manual). This was confirmed with a letter from the Weil Mclain. Not many boilers rooms here in Chicago have that space. These also seem to be a 14 year boiler in most steam systems and how they are piped with all welded piping. If piped with threaded offsets I seen more like 24 years. Single riser boiler usually tend to last more like 24 years.