replacing a Weil-McLain 78 Boiler

tony01

I have a question for you professionals out there;

in this place, a church so is a business, they have a

Weil-McLain 78 Boiler

Boiler Model No: 878

Series No:1

#2 oil

Gross I=B=R Output, Btu/hr 886,000

There is a leak in some of the sections mostly in the back, the plumber that came “that was sent from the oil company” to assess the problem said that the boiler probably has to be changed because probably is not going to find spare parts for that old boiler, that boiler is obsolete, and if he finds spare parts he will just change the sections, if not it needs a new boiler;

If he installs a new boiler, he has to bring everything to code, versus replacement parts only.

To me, I would prefer to install a new boiler, so it is less likely that later on, another section goes bad.

Question 1: which one do you recommend, need that output or more, cause the boiler works overtime to achieve the set thermostat

Question 2: which company do you recommend here in NYC, everything to code

Jamie Hall

The company part is easy — @JohnNY . Hire him and turn him loose.

And let him figure out the answer to question 1.

delcrossv

@JohnNY is your guy.

KC_Jones

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/199900/replacing-a-weil-mclain-78-boiler

Need clarification on this statement:

"Question 1: which one do you recommend, need that output or more, cause the boiler works overtime to achieve the set thermostat"

Do you mean once the place is up to temperature it still runs full out to keep it there, or that you let things drop to low temps when the space isn't used and it has to run a lot to meet the temp. Those are 2 very different scenarios. I will say this, it's extremely rare someone comes here with a properly sized boiler, they are usually oversized.

The boiler is sized to the radiation for steam. So all the radiation needs measured, come up with the EDR number (not BTUs!) and compare that EDR to boiler output from the manufacturer. That is the max limit of the capability of the system. The emitters can only put out that amount, a bigger boiler won't make more heat. So, that is the first step in boiler replacement.

Based on what I know, I'd be putting a new PROPERLY SIZED boiler in. Fixing leaking section of an old boiler doesn't make sense to me, as the rest of the sections could fail next year and you pay more money to fix an old boiler.

What is the water treatment program like on that boiler? Good water treatment is key to longevity of a boiler.

There are several good contractors in NY, I don't know the geography well, so I will leave the contractor question to others. The only one I know for sure does the city is @JohnNY who owns Gateway listed on this site and he knows steam for sure.

tony01

meaning, the thermostat is set to 67-69, sometimes when it is too cold probably in the 20F it is almost impossible to reach 69F, t

tony01

sorry but I hope doing this right, the way to reply.

well the guy that the oil company send, he said if he can find spare sections he will replace those, like I said and you mention too, it is better to install a new one.

sorry but not water treatment, the management do not understand and don't want to spend in something they don't know.

tony01

the boiler question is about what kind of boiler to install, cause do not want to ask whoever comes to estimate give an estimate for an "X" boiler and another one give an estimate for a "B" boiler it is like comparing "apples to oranges", whoever makes an estimate needs to estimate base in a specific boiler, knowing a good replacement boiler would help, this boiler was very good but it is already dead.

I keep going there to put water in the boiler so it runs since it is cold.