Need Opinion-Hot Water Boiler

[Deleted User]

I have a Mills hot water boiler around 1956 with newer Beckett Burner. My oil supplier refused to service it in 94 because there was a crack in the rear of the fire box. His bottom line...sell me a new system. After some checking with some commercial guys, except for some inefficiency, this was a decent boiler and that the fire box could be relined. One of his guys relined the box, clean and tuned the furnace. Well, I am at it again. I now have tenants and the oil guys are refusing to service the boiler unit, plus they are scaring the heck out of the tenanats suggesting the system is dangerous and they had condemned it. They have not come up with anything specific other than it is old and they don't want liability of servicing an old unit. Any suggestions, opinions. Would love to hear. They want to sell me a Weil-McLain for
$ 2,500.

Thanks in advance

Steamhead

They must REALLY want to sell you a new one

I'd get a second opinion if I were you. Try the Find a Contractor page of this site to locate a real Wethead. I'll bet most of them would love to see that Mills boiler!

According to Frank Gerety, writing in his excellent book "How to get the Best from One-Pipe Steam", the Mills boiler is one of the all-time best designs out there. It's a cast-iron water-tube boiler with a lot of heat-transfer surface.

I can't understand why the oil techs you use would refuse to service that Mills. Maybe you need to switch oil companies.

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ed wallace

new system

if your boiler is not leaking keep it i happen to like the mills boilers only reason to change it is better fuel effiency dont know where you live but in boston area it would cost about $3500 to replace

Boilerpro

$2500.00 boiler replacement

In my parts 2,500 dollars usually will get you a new hot water boiler, complete with incorrect sizing, incorrect piping, air bound system, chimney damage, sections that need to be unplugged every other season and about a 14 year life out of a 30 year boiler.

Boilerpro

heatboy

Is that an installed price?

$2,500 seems.............well, incredibly low.

Warm Regards,

hb

"Expert in Silent Warmth"™

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Leo

The Joys of Oil

Working for an oil company one of my arguments against gas is, look in the phone book and call another company. Dealing with a utility you have no choice but with oil companies you do. If you aren't satisfied call another company. Now unless there is something you haven't told us there is no reason not to work on this beast. For steam it is great but for hot water there is a lot of iron being heated and there is a good chance the boiler is overkill for the house. That being said call another company that will work on it. I once worked for a company that had an agressive sales program but we worked on everything new or old. The price quoted in my area of Mass is basically giving the unit away.

Leo

[Deleted User]

Thanks

Thanks for all the tips. This Mills seems to be a favorite among many old hats.

Mike

Mark J Strawcutter

around here

the utility delivers the gas, a heating contractor services the equipment. I have _lots_ of choices for who services my equipment. I'm not locked in to the fuel supplier for service.

Mark

ScottMP

Wow

what part of Boston ?

I live near Boston and I could'nt get the boiler in your basement for that price!

2,500.00 is the boiler some mark-up and a couple of pipes.

If your getting a boiler installed for that price TAKE IT.

Scott

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Leo

Mark You are lucky

in this area there are many companies who install gas systems but few who service them. Gas is a populer fuel but oil is much easier to get serviced whether it be an oil company or a service company.

Leo

tim from Reed Wright

boiler price

I agree, in Washington that price might be for the boiler and a couple safeties and thats it. I wonder if there just talking about a burner and maybe new low water cut off.