Is this a sectional boiler?

Onepipe

I will be replacing a hot water boiler cerca 1940 I’m guessing but I have never seen anything like it. It looks to have been an old coal or wood fired and at some point converted to NG. I’m hoping that it’s a sectional so that I can pop each section off for removal but I’m not sure. Also it’s a small 900sqft house piped in series. All rad are piped in and out through lower rad taps. Thought I would ask.

Steamhead

Probably. Can you take a pic with the front doors open and a light shining inside?

EBEBRATT-Ed

It's an American Radiator so it looks CI to me.

You got some clearance issues to deal with the new boiler. Someone had the bright idea to build walls too close to the old boiler.

mattmia2

It comes apart but don't expect the pieces to be light. There may be asbestos insulation inside the jacket and likely is asbestos cement or caulk between the sections.

Onepipe

thanks. Ya it’s definitely CI with a partial Sheetmetal jacket. The doors are screwed shut and I never opened them so I’m not sure what is inside. As for clearance issues….. that’s all coming down and so is the single wall vent pipe that penetrates the second floor and wall indirect contact with wood…. Just trying to wrap my head around breaking it down before I’m knee deep in the job. I did not think about asbestos insulation between the plates. Thanks.

Mad Dog_2

Watch out...may have asbestos panels under jacket too. Mad Dog 🐕

4Johnpipe

I’ve taken a couple American Standards out, yes they are sectional. Big sections though.

CTETeach

I cringe at the clearances to combustible issues you have there. You are very lucky. 💥

Those old American Standards had asbestos millboard for insulation under the jacket, some kind of vermiculite in the combustion chamber and asbestos rope between sections. I don't know where you are from but between state and federal fines for unlicensed removal and disposal of asbestos. The money you think your saving doing it yourself will very quickly evaporate. The potential fines are quite substantial, often in the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. All it takes is one phone call from a neighbor to ruin your day.

I strongly recommend hiring a licensed asbestos removal company to abate the asbestos and remove the boiler. It will save you the fines, broken back and potential health risks to you and your family.

Grallert

Yes it will come apart. It will make a giant sooty mess too. The statements about asbestos are all true. I would hire someone to abate it and remove the boiler. If you find a good company they will do it neatly and cleanly.

You have a really good system there for an upgrade and should see a big savings and greater level of comfort if done right. Good luck

Lance

If my power lift hand trk with the boiler will fit through the pathway out, we take this out in one piece. less mess, quicker too.

I did not have clearance for an old Cast Iron hot air furnace to leave a basement one year. it was still coal fired. August heat, had to it break up and to avoid coal dust spread through the house we took it out through a basement window. I told my helper don't touch his face, ever. He went in white and came out black. Very small doorways in that old Baltimore house.

Onepipe

Thanks for the new info. This post was originally posted a month ago so that baby is long gone. I ended up pulling it out in one piece due to the asbestos risk. New boiler is in and inspection passed. I replaced it with a cast iron power vent newyorker as it needed to be side vented. Ran the Ben with 3” stainless double wall. Turned out really nice and best part was the new boiler was a lot lighter going in!!!! HA!!

EdTheHeaterMan

I think you are going to need more that this to get

the job done.

Onepipe

haha. Good catch