1961 Wards boiler

MikeRoss

I have a customer in San Diego with a 1961 Wards boiler. I'm guessing "Montgomery Wards"  it's done. 72k BTU boiler any recommendations on a replacement?  1 1/2" galvanized pipe output to 12 standing Radiant heaters throughout the house. The ones like in the 20's movies.  No zones.  Only one Honeywell controller that operates the pump.

MikeRoss

By the way. It's water unit at 15 PSI 

Steamhead

Do a heat-loss calculation on the house- that's the most important thing. There are several software programs that make this easy.

Then choose a suitable boiler from local sources. Is this oil or gas? What brands are available there?

EdTheHeaterMan

Does the old Wards boiler operate on gravity (thermocycling) or is there a circulator pump?

This is important when selecting a new boiler that is not designed for condensing operation. If the near boiler piping is not properly designed when the replacement is installed, then flue gas condensation may rot out the boiler sections and you will need a replacement in 10 to 15 years or less. Properly designed piping will allow that boiler to last as long as the old one you are removing.

And post pictures.... We love pictures!

mattmia2

I suspect san diego with standing cast iron radiators is the perfect application for a mod con. It can match the heat loss of the house with the swt and doesn't get the same sort of workout it would in say illinois.

Mad Dog_2

We called it "Monkey Wards."  Mad Dog 🐕 

MikeRoss

Wow thanks for the quick response.  "heat-loss calculation on the house". Not planned on doing that.  House is 100+ years old.  So...it's southern California. Cold here is in the 40's-50's for a few days. At night.  

Unit has a Circ pump.Customer I hearted the house, doesn't plan on being there vary long.  Want's to flip it in a year or two.  Currently this is the only heating in the house.  House size two story 3,200 sq ft or so. Only one zone for whole house.

MikeRoss

What is a Mod con?  

MikeRoss

Unit is natural gas

ethicalpaul

MikeRoss said:

Wow thanks for the quick response.  "heat-loss calculation on the house". Not planned on doing that.  House is 100+ years old.  So...it's southern California. Cold here is in the 40's-50's for a few days. At night.  

Unit has a Circ pump.Customer I hearted the house, doesn't plan on being there vary long.  Want's to flip it in a year or two.  Currently this is the only heating in the house.  House size two story 3,200 sq ft or so. Only one zone for whole house.

Just an observation, and stop me if I'm being too forward, but you came asking for a boiler recommendation and the people who know said what you'd need to do in order to find out the right boiler, and you said you're not going to do that, so what's the question again?

STEVEusaPA

I’d look into an air to water heat pump. You’ll never get a small enough fossil fuel boiler.

mattmia2

mod con = modulating condensing (boiler). They can be around 90% efficient when applied correctly and are easier to move around, the downside is they require more maintenance and tend to have a shorter life than cast iron boilers but they can also supply the low temps you probably need for those cast iron radiators directly without some sort of mixing arrangement. they have a modulating burner that helps them match the heat loss of the house when set up correctly. the first step is a heat loss calculation on the building. you don't know how much heat you need to add without knowing what it is losing. if your heating seasons are short and mild the shorter life is less of an issue.

leonz

MikeRoss said:

I have a customer in San Diego with a 1961 Wards boiler. I'm guessing "Montgomery Wards"  it's done. 72k BTU boiler any recommendations on a replacement?  1 1/2" galvanized pipe output to 12 standing Radiant heaters throughout the house. The ones like in the 20's movies.  No zones.  Only one Honeywell controller that operates the pump.

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pecmsg

MikeRoss said:

Wow thanks for the quick response.  "heat-loss calculation on the house". Not planned on doing that. 

So, you really dont care if its properly sized?

dko

Surprisingly, well maybe not surprisingly at all, when I ask too many questions majority of customers shut down and get annoyed. A very small handful would listen and do it the right way. World would be wonderful if everyone was like on this forum, but for sure you guys are the minority. a very small minority. The most I can usually get out of someone is "it's a 2 story house, come on, just give me whatever works."

Ask for radiator count, "i'm not going to go back there to count."
Talk about EDR, "what's that?"
It's going to oversized, "leaves room for additions"
And my favorite also the most popular, "not my problem after."
This is the majority.

If they don't answer questions, it's because they don't care for the result. As long as it works someway or another.

realliveplumber

pecmsg said:

MikeRoss said:

Wow thanks for the quick response.  "heat-loss calculation on the house". Not planned on doing that. 

So, you really dont care if its properly sized?

Imagine if a doctor acted like that.

Ehh, just give him about 4 or 6 of those pills, every 2 to 8 hours........

Hes 72 years old anyway, he'll be checking out within the next day to 20 years.....