Cracked Weil Mclain boiler

Boilerpro

You'll probably cut those fuel bills and get beter heat with a new boiler installation....if you get the right contractor. I'm in Northern Illinois or check "Find a Contractor" at this site.

Boilerpro

John Zielin

Cracked Weil Mclain residential steam boiler

My Weil McLain residential steam boiler decide to develop a crack. I used a boiler sealer product to stop the leak and that was effective. My question: Should I be thinking about replacing this boiler that is probably 40+ years old or should I just continue to keep it running? Will this sealer solution be lasting?

Steamhead

You need a new boiler

the sealer is a temporary solution at best. Think of it as a holiday present for your house.

W-M makes a good boiler. I'd want to know why it cracked. Maybe there's a problem in the system somewhere that's keeping the water from returning as it should? This, coupled with a bad low-water cutoff, could have caused the crack.

Go to the Find a Contractor page of this site to locate a good steam man near you. If you're in the Baltimore area, e-mail me.

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ed wallace

craked boiler

let it go after 40 yrs it deserves to be retired how often do you buy a new car? its time has come

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Tim_6

Another Cracked Boiler

Amazingly, my 30 year old Weil Mclain steam boiler also developed a crack today and dumped its water all over my basement floor.

I will be replacing the boiler and am interested in any recommendations as to manufacturers. I am tempted to go with another WM, but would appreciate any suggestions before I begin to hear what the contractor and (gasp) oil company have to offer.

Thanks.

Jim_8

Gasp

Tim I don't know why you would gasp over your oil company but not a contractor. I have worked for only a couple of oil company's for over a 20 year period. Nothing at all against a contractor but I sure have seen alot come and go. As well as oil company's coming and going but An oil company that is a full service company has a lot invested. Either way the most important thing for you to do is find someone who really knows steam. The day's of cutting the pipes close to the boiler and sliding a new one in are long gone. You need to know why this one cracked. You also need to have your main and radiator vents replaced and have a good look at any old wet returns . If someone tells you that you don't then you need to find someone else. Good luck.

ed wallace

new boiler

i agree with jim talk to your oil co. and if not happy with them find someone who understands steam systems

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Tim_6

Gasp Reply

No intent to run down oil companies per se, but it does seem they are mainly interested in selling oil. I am sure there are some good ones out there.

The reality is that I do not know for sure if the boiler cracked or not -- I just know that there is water on the floor under the boiler and that it is 30 years old. The low water cut-off has been working fine (and continues to do so), so I am not sure why it might have cracked.

I will use your suggestions in talking with the various people evaluating this tomorrow, although I am concerned that replacing all the vents and returns are going to push this into a HUGE expense (not that it is pretty big as is.) Why should those be replaced, just so I'll know?

Finally, any thoughts on a good replacement boiler?

ed wallace

new boiler

wiel mclain ,burnham, peerless are all good your last weil mclain lasted 30yrs why not another

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Steamhead

Replacing Vents and Returns

If these are in bad shape, they could have contributed to the early demise of the boiler.

Main vents are extremely important. If these are missing or too small, the boiler will have to build more presure to vent the air. This takes more water to accomplish.

If returns are sluggish, they may also contribute. Same with leaky radiator vents or valve stem packing.

When replacing a broken boiler, always look for possible contributing factors.

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Drod

Boilerpro Location

Where are you in Northern IL Boilerpro? What's your company name?
Thanks,
Novice Dale

Boilerpro

Location.....

> Where are you in Northern IL Boilerpro? What's

> your company name? Thanks, Novice Dale

Boilerpro

Location.....

I'm located in Amboy near the intersection of Rte 52 and Rte 30 near Sterling/Dixon. Sorry, I'm not on the "Find a contractor" section..haven't had time to do it yet. Company name is "Boiler Professionals". My territory is from Sycamore to Mt. Morris on the north and Ottawa to Princeton on the south. E-mail me if I can be of help. Happy hunting for a good steam contractor!

Boilerpro

John Zielin

Low water shut off failed

Thanks for your response. To answer your question, the low water shut off failed. The WM boiler just cooked itself as a result.

Roger Litman

Insurance

If your boiler truly cracked and the low water cut off failed, then it is covered by replacement home owners insurance with a couple of deductions. If it rotted out, then you are on your own.Signs of dry fired boiler are a redding of the casting, signs of a bad MM LWCO are a build up of sediment on the bellows of the LWCO, which causes the float to stay up and the switch will fail to shut the boiler down.

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