Boiler Brush Recommendations

Brycewvu

I have a Weil McLain SGO Series 3 (SGO-7) boiler and I want to get things cleaned up before the next heating season. I went to my local store and they have several brush options ranging from 3/4 inch flat to 2 inch round and different handle lengths. Does anyone have any recommendations on brush size or what to buy that will fit in the heat exchange passages? I know it does't have to be an exact fit, but any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

HVACNUT

I would think your service professional would know. Seven section steam boiler? The house must be huuuge.

Mad Dog_2

I buy 1 the small ones. Mad Dog

EdTheHeaterMan

When brushing from the top, be careful on that last section. If you drop the brush too far, you can damage the back wall of the combustion chamber

EDIT:

Brycewvu

Thanks for the tips. I have not opened up the boiler for maintenance before and the last guy I had come out to service it didn't bother other than look in the burn chamber viewer with a flashlight and change the filters. Looking back, the guy was definitely a "knucklehead with his right turning only screwdriver" as Dan would put it. I've learned a lot in the past 2 years with this system from The Wall, Youtube, and of course Dan's books.

@HVACNUT The house is about 2,000 feet of heated space. I think based on some EDR calculations my BTU load is about 85,000. This SGO-7 says 240,000 BTUs per hour with a 2.0 nozzle on the sticker. I need to do a bit more research and measurements this weekend but I am pretty sure this boiler is well oversized. Any tips on making this boiler more efficient or reducing the amount of oil im burning (Nozzle is 1.50 - 70deg B) is greatly appreciated!

HVACNUT

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1809504#Comment_1809504

Not too much you can do. What burner? With a 7 section, I'd want a long throw down the chamber, but without impingement.

You could try down firing a little, as long as the stack temperature remains above the Dew point at steady state. If the boiler has the PA404A PressureTrol, and its set as low as it can go, with a diff. of 1, that's all I can offer.

There are however excellent steam pros here. There could be numerous things they can recommend to increase efficiency and comfort. If you want to start a new thread with pics of the boiler piping, controls, vents, and some rads, I'm sure you'll get some good tips.

EdTheHeaterMan

Since a steam boiler operates at higher temperatures, (215° as opposed to 180°) you may be able to get away with down firing the boiler by as much as 25%. (15% is the usual recommended reduction). Try a 1.10 GPH nozzle at 140 PSI pump pressure. that may still have a stack temperature high enough to eliminate flue gas condensation.

At the end of the heating season, inspect the heat exchanger for signs of wet soot or corrosion of the heat exchanger pins. if you see that… then increase the firing rate. If the HX looks good, then use that reduced firing rate. One of the Weil McLain reference manuals indicate that a *GO-7 boiler can fire as low as 1.35 GPH.

HVACNUT

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1809553#Comment_1809553

Where is that data from? I see a reduced firing rate of 1.60 GPH for the WGO. And the literature for the SGO doesn't show a down fire option.

My Beckett OEM specs download is weird for the WGO 7 section. It's shows 2 identical setups except for the nozzle.

EdTheHeaterMan

I was looking at page 5 of the Beckett Burner manual that is included with the WGO, WTGO, and SGO boilers . @HVACNUT

https://www.weil-mclain.com/sites/default/files/field-file/Beckett%20AFG%20Burner%20Manual%20for%20WM%20GO%20Oil%20Boilers%20-%200618_1.pdf

So I would try it and see if it works. 1.10 @ 140 PSI gets you close to 1.35 GPH

HVACNUT

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1809636#Comment_1809636

Actually, looking closer, it's a 1.35 GPH nozzle with a 1.60 GPH input.

At 1.35 GPH input, those rear sections would sweat like Michael Jackson at Chuck E. Cheese.