1907 Installation

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

Gravity system. "No Heat" call. At first I thought it was a bad thermocouple; only getting 9 millivolts. But it still wouldn't fire with a new one. The aquastat is fine. I'll change the gas valve.

Any idea what the input rating is? 200K?

mattmia2

you need a professional that understands conversion burners and combustion to adjust ne new valve if you replace it. did you press the reset button on the baso valve after you replaced the thermocouple? did you check that there is power from the transformer and the thermostat was closing?

EDIT:
I didn't see who posted this. the input would have been set while setting up the combustion by looking at the stack temp and the water temp.

Larry Weingarten

Nice find! I really like the knurled thumb and flat screwdriver screws on the aquastat. We don't make em like that anymore. 😇

Yours, Larry

EBEBRATT-Ed

oldie for sure.

Steamhead

In the 1913 "Ideal Fitter", that boiler is rated 500 square feet of hot-water radiation on coal. At 150 BTU/square foot, that works out to 75,000 BTU per hour (75 MBH). For comparison, a Peerless EC-03 boiler has a net water rating of 80 MBH, and fires at 0.75 GPH or 105 MBH.

Since an old coal boiler like that might be as low as 50% efficient, especially if the flue passages are not baffled, firing it with an input of 150-200 MBH might not be out of the question. You'd basically have to try it and see, using the analyzer of course.

I'd at least get that customer to consider replacing that beast. Yes, I know that would cost big bucks, but the fuel savings would probably make the job worth it.

tim smith

Alan, it’s probably a bad Basi pilot safety, one with red button. How many mv you getting at baso with thermocouple screwed in with test jack inline? The little magnet wires in baso break eventually. You can get a new inline pilot safet valve. I am pretty sure I have one on shelf.

tim smith

test outlet pressure tap to main gas valve for pressure when pilot lit and baso reset. I main valve opening? But no gas?

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

@Steamhead I've been working with the five children who grew up in this house. Their parents are still living there, but they are not in good shape and the kids are making sure that they are comfortable and have everything they need. In the meantime, they don't want to make any major changes.

@tim smith I'm pretty sure you're right about the Baso safety. You can feel the magnet hold the valve open when you push and release the reset and that wasn't happening here, even with the new thermocouple. But I didn't trust the Honeywell main valve as it was getting very hot on a call for heat.

So, I'll be installing a new combination gas valve and aquastat. When I drained the system and started unscrewing the old aquastat after the system had fully drained, I noticed air being sucked in through the threads of the aquastat and more water draining out of the system; a lot of water over an hour or so. I thought to myself, how can this be happening on a vented system. I found the reason, not in the attic, but hidden in the shadows against the wall between the boiler and the water heater. Any guesses?

mattmia2

Sidearm water heater.

You could check the coil on the baso with an ohmmeter, it is just a solenoid powered by the thermocouple.

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

mattmia2

oh, a heat generator

RayWohlfarth

Wow nice system

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

I thought it was so cool that Rubbermaid came out with an attic expansion tank replacement.