Oldest Boiler
At least on my route. I believe this Bryant is the original to the house which was built in 1913. The owner has never had it serviced. Efficiency was 83%. Gravity.
Two btu per sq ft for degree difference for a slab
Comments
-
Probably will keep going for another century. 😀
Trying to squeeze the best out of a Weil-McLain JB-5 running a 1912 1 pipe system.
1 -
I’ll take the label if ever you replace it😁
Bob "hot rod" Rohr
trainer for Caleffi NA
Living the hydronic dream0 -
Hi, I like the olde style phone number on the thermometer 😊
Yours, Larry
2 -
Nice big chest on that HX. No primary-secondary necessary.
8.33 lbs./gal. x 60 min./hr. x 20°ΔT = 10,000 BTU's/hour
Two btu per sq ft for degree difference for a slab0 -
30's or 40's? the newest patent dates are the late 20's. did you have gas available in quantities for heating that early?
1 -
The oldest that boiler could be is 1928, as is says “manufactured under one or more of the following u.s. patents” on the plate and references the (newest) date “July 31st 1928”. Still old!
1 -
That's cool. Could that be some sort of differential bypass coming off the supply and connecting to the return? Is that copper smoke pipe?
I have only visited the San Francisco bay area one time. I was amazed with the climate, never gets hot, never gets cold (compared to New Jersey). Really stupid question, do all homes and commercial buildings actually have heat in this area? I'm guessing not that many houses or businesses are heated with boilers? Am I correct in assuming this antique boiler likely only operates at a small fraction of the time when compared to boilers in my area? Sorry for all the questions.
0 -
My brother lives in an old apartment building in Oakland. The building has two-pipe steam. Not very well maintained of course.
Retired and loving it.
2 -
What is that?
0 -
Old(er?) Gravity jewel still working in New Mexico
Bryant 245-8, 430k btu, 2-pipe steam in a 1930s 6-unit 1-story apt building in the NM mountains. 26 radiators 3800sqf
2 -
Could have been a modulating valve that was part of the original gas train.
1 -
@ScottSecor Yes, all houses here have heating as it gets cold - relatively - in the winter.
If you live close to the SF Bay, you don’t need a/c, but that changes if you travel 10 miles east; 10-15 degrees warmer in the summer and 10-15 degrees colder in the winter.
I have no idea what that device is that @HVACNUT pointed out. Could it be a plugged relief valve?I may have to go back to correct it.
8.33 lbs./gal. x 60 min./hr. x 20°ΔT = 10,000 BTU's/hour
Two btu per sq ft for degree difference for a slab0 -
I'm not sure relief valves existed when that was installed.
1 -
Its piped through from the supply to return. Or return to supply. Some type of bypass or flow restrictor? The Dead Men know exactly what it is.
0 -
I’m betting it modulated the gas valve at one time.
1 -
If there are no valves and an open expansion tank why do you need relief valves?
1 -
For sure that gas valve is not original. So a modulating gas valve could have operated from that valve/control thing. Some day when you get back there you may be able to get some closeup shots with numbers or something that might identify it.
"Enquiring minds want to know"
Edward Young Retired
After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?
2 -
that might have been from the era where they didn't have a pilot safety and the burner just modulated down to a level where it was unlikely to go out when it was "off". early gas ovens worked like that.
1 -
I’m also wondering about the tank it the attic, if it was capped off.
8.33 lbs./gal. x 60 min./hr. x 20°ΔT = 10,000 BTU's/hour
Two btu per sq ft for degree difference for a slab0 -
is that psig or feet of h2o?
-1 -
Must be psig.
0 -
That was the original limit control for the boiler- The original gas train had a separate regulator and diaphragm gas valve. The bleed off of the gas valve went thru this. I'm not sure what they used for a pilot safety ( baso ) and I don't know what the small pipe is.
2 -
They probably had an in-line baso safety. Somebody updated it with a combination gas valve. I have customers that still have the original gas train setup.
2 -
@HVACNUT, that looks like part of the control train for a gas actuated gas control system. I only saw a couple of those systems. They were outdated when I started my boiler servicing in 1968. 1/4"od lines went through the limit, safety pilot, low water cut off, if there was one, and ending up at the gas valve where it controlled the gas valve by controlling the movement of a diaphram on the gas valve. They were not a safe control system.
2 -
Someone posted a boiler from about the early 50's here a couple years ago with that type of control where it was all controlled by gas pressure.
0 -
My customer in NE DC is definitely thinking about keeping her 100+ years old identical Bryant gravity boiler for another 100 years. I wish I had a picture with me to post.
2 -
The front picture of this boiler makes me warm just looking at it.
0
Categories
- All Categories
- 86.8K THE MAIN WALL
- 3.1K A-C, Heat Pumps & Refrigeration
- 56 Biomass
- 423 Carbon Monoxide Awareness
- 105 Chimneys & Flues
- 2K Domestic Hot Water
- 5.6K Gas Heating
- 104 Geothermal
- 160 Indoor-Air Quality
- 3.6K Oil Heating
- 69 Pipe Deterioration
- 952 Plumbing
- 6.2K Radiant Heating
- 385 Solar
- 15.3K Strictly Steam
- 3.4K Thermostats and Controls
- 54 Water Quality
- 43 Industry Classes
- 47 Job Opportunities
- 18 Recall Announcements