Burnham Heat Exchange Leak - RV5NSL-L2 Boiler Seal to slow and plan for replacement?

tdipietro

Noticed a damp area under the boiler earlier this week, took off the shroud to discovered corrosion and a minor leak between the heat exchanger pieces.

• Installed 20 years ago, I still remember the joy of getting it down the stairs, with the plumber giving me that motivational speech about how lifting this down the stairs was building charachter in me, the young inexperienced 20 year who just bought a house.
• Background - The house is in Massachusetts - 2250 SF - built in 1918 with the original windows that let you know when it is windy outside and with Natural gas.

Question 1 - Is it worth adding Boiler Seal to try and buy me a few months to save up, research and plan a replacement or do I just leave the pressure low and surround it with water detectors….

Question 2 - Replace with another traditional boiler or jump on the Combi-Boiler train?

• The boiler is located in the basement, next to my home office, will the combi-boiler fan drive me crazy? Gas Fired Hot water tank, 5 years old, flushed it last month and it took 3-5 gallon buckets to get to clean water, which has me concerned.

Question 3 - Sadly, the plumber who helped me 20+ years ago has passed away, otherwise he would have been my first call. How does one find a good independent plumber nowadays?

pecmsg

Where is this located?

tdipietro

In my basement….. Lowell, MA

pecmsg

LRCCBJ

These photos demand further investigation.

There are trails running down the side of one section. Since water does not run vertically upward, take a look and see if you can find the leak above where the photos currently show. All that corrosion at the bottom of the section could be caused by water just sitting at the location for years and the location where you would obviously conclude it is leaking may only be surface rust caused by the drip from above.

Additionally, since it does not appear to be wet, the leak must be quite small. I'd make a valiant attempt with JB Weld. You might be surprised how well it will do on tiny leak. I would do it with the boiler drained of water.

tdipietro

I appreciate the detective work, years ago the backflow preventer leaked which is right above this area and I think that is what caused the trail marks.

As for the size of the leak, you are right, you can't see it drip, at its worst, I have seen steam coming from that seam. Following the leak for 4-5 days now, a paper towel under the boiler would be wet every morning, but not soaked.

EBEBRATT-Ed

@New England SteamWorks or @Charlie from wmass

And don't buy another Burnham. There failure rate in MA & Rhode Island is excessive. Especially with a water boiler you should have got more than 20 years out of it.

EBEBRATT-Ed

It looks like you will easily make it to spring only another 4-6 weeks.

I would avoid sealer unless the leak gets much worse.