Need to replace our steam boiler and would like some advice

annevanc

Sorry, a little ignorant here, but tell me what you need to know and I will endeavor to find out

We have an older farm house in Vermont with steam radiators. We LOVE the heat, but we have been told there is a crack in it (not sure whether the crack is in the boiler or the heating element) and it needs to be replaced. Unfortunately, we can't get anyone to tell us where to buy a new one or even what to look for. The answers are along the lines of "well, you could convert your radiators to hot water" or "you could replace your radiators" (basically "we don't know how to do anything with this, please make it something we know about) or "nobody uses those any more" (well, we do). It won't talk to the smart devices, so none of the efficiency people want to talk to us either. There are also helpful comments about it "paying you back in 20 years" (we're 62 and 70, so this is not really a great plan for us).

I am hoping that someone here will be able to point us to resources or let us know where to find a boiler, or give us information We did find one guy locally who knew how to fix them, who could probably install it, but he's a bit of a grump and doesn't want to manage the whole project. I looked at the map of contractors and there's no one in Vermont on the list, but maybe in NH or upstate NY?

Anyway, any and all information that doesn't fit in the "start over" category would be greatly appreciated. OR if you've tried it and experienced the consequences and are now firmly in the "start over" group because of your lived experience, THAT would be useful. It's the ones who know nothing telling us this that make us bats.

Thank you SO much.

Anne

pecmsg

if there’s a crack then flooding the boiler will show where.
where in Vermont?

Tom_133

Where in Vt are you?

delcrossv

1. There is NO REASON to convert to hot water
2. See above.