How long should an Aquastat last?

Ken_13

About 2 weeks ago 2 rooms on my second floor and the kitchen started feelign cooler than the rest of the house. After bleeding radiators and asking around I had a plumber take a look. It turns out my Honeywell Aquastat R8182H is geeting power but not passing it to the pump/circulator. Boiler seems to be fine. Checking my records I see that I replaced the aquastat in March of 2000, and it was not covered under the contract I had at the time (so I no longer carry a contract) and it wasn't cheap.

My questions:
1. How long should the aquastat last?
2. Are they "repairable" or always replaced
3. Can a fairly handy person replace it and if so, what's the best source for picking one up?

Thanks in advance! Ken

Ken_13

About 2 weeks ago 2 rooms on my second floor and the kitchen started feeling cooler than the rest of the house. After bleeding radiators and asking around I had a plumber take a look. It turns out my Honeywell Aquastat R8182H is getting power but not passing it to the pump/circulator. Boiler seems to be fine. Checking my records I see that I replaced the aquastat in March of 2000, and it was not covered under the contract I had at the time (so I no longer carry a contract) and it wasn't cheap.

My questions:
1. How long should the aquastat last?
2. Are they "repairable" or always replaced
3. Can a fairly handy person replace it and if so, what's the best source for picking one up?

Thanks in advance! Ken

Burnham Boiler
Honeywell Aquastat
Bell & Gossett Motor

todd s

controls

That is an expensive control, however it runs everything so if any part of it fails, the whole thing is bad. You could have the boiler rewired by a professional to install seperate controls for the boiler and the burner. I like this option better as you will get much better and safer burner operation.

J.C.A._3

Tough call Ken.

This is a "multi-function, all in 1 control. It has the primary safety circut built into the board, along with a triple aquastst(high limit/low limit and reverse acting)

Having serviced this control for quite a while, and knowing the cost, I would be a little more inclined to split it up, and lessen the chances of having to replace everything, every time 1 section fails.
I would go with a new 7184 as a primary, a Taco SR502 switching relay and a 7124 0r 8124 triple aquastat. Up front will cost a bit more, but when something breaks, you only have to replace 1 part

This is most definately NOT a do it yourself project! Just my opinion. Chris

Ken_13

Thanks........And when do you replace heater

Well I was afraid I'd get these responses. Guy's supposed to call me in the morning.

As for replacing heater, when the plumber was looking at the heater and originally thinking it was the pump, not the aquastat, I asked him about replacing the pipe between the pump and the heater, about 2.5" feet of really corroded pipe. He said if he tried and cracked it I'd be replacing the heater.

With the expense for the aquastat looming and knowing that sooner or later I need t oreplace the pipe, should I consider replacing the heater? It's an oil-brning Burnham, number V-15A-T. I have no idea how old it is but the oldest inspection tag on it is from 9/94.

Thanks again! Ken

Jack, CVMS

R8182H life expectancy

Just had that same problem come up... at a customer's house... at 1:00 AM. Didn't have another R8182H in stock, and besides, I prefer changing them over to an L8124 with a separate R8184G primary. This combination actually cost the customer less than a new R8182H, and now if either ONE of the two components goes bad, it will cost considerably less to replace than the single R8182H.

As my partner had installed the defective R8182H just about 18 months ago, I was determined to find out why it had quit in such a short time. So I performed an autopsy. Turns out there was a bad solder joint on the PC board. Resoldered it, tested it under load, checked the calibration of the tempeature controls with the aid of a pan of hot water on the stove, and put it on the shelf to be used as a loaner in an emergency.

Jack, CVMS

Heater?

By heater, are you referring to the Burnham boiler? If so, sounds to me like there are less expensive ways to take care of the problem. Any chance you could post a photo of the corroded pipe - where it is threaded into the heater/boiler?

Sometimes pipe can become so corroded and thin that it collapses when you put a pipe wrench on it and apply much force. But the pipe can be sawed off short, collapsed into the hole, and pulled out in pieces, if necessary. The threads in the cast iron boiler are generally still in good shape, as the pipe corrodes from the inside out, and it has been protecting the female threads of the boiler. Anyone who has been in plumbing very long has had to use this technique somewhere along the way.

Ken_13

Thansk again......

Probably bad thinking on my part. Was just thinking that with the cost of the aquastat and the possibility of running into problems replacing the pipe in the spring it might be wortwhile to look at the bigger picture.

For the time being I will ask about replacing the R8182H with a combination of those parts mentioned in earlier posts.

Really glad I foudn this board. Thanks again! Ken

Ken_13

Thansk again......

Probably bad thinking on my part. Was just thinking that with the cost of the aquastat and the possibility of running into problems replacing the pipe in the spring it might be wortwhile to look at the bigger picture.

For the time being I will ask about replacing the R8182H with a combination of those parts mentioned in earlier posts.

Really glad I foudn this board. Thanks again! Ken

Ken_13

Thansk again......

Probably bad thinking on my part. Was just thinking that with the cost of the aquastat and the possibility of running into problems replacing the pipe in the spring it might be worthwhile to look at the bigger picture.

For the time being I will ask about replacing the R8182H with a combination of those parts mentioned in earlier posts.

Really glad I found this board. Thanks again! Ken

Ken_13

Thanks again......

Probably bad thinking on my part. Was just thinking that with the cost of the aquastat and the possibility of running into problems replacing the pipe in the spring it might be worthwhile to look at the bigger picture.

For the time being I will ask about replacing the R8182H with a combination of those parts mentioned in earlier posts.

Really glad I found this board. Thanks again! Ken

Ken_13

Thanks again......

Probably bad thinking on my part. Was just thinking that with the cost of the aquastat and the possibility of running into problems replacing the pipe in the spring it might be worthwhile to look at the bigger picture.

For the time being I will ask about replacing the R8182H with a combination of those parts mentioned in earlier posts.

Really glad I found this board. Thanks again! Ken

John@Reliable_5

Jack, seems that .................

aquastat and RA117 stack relays always have solder problems.I like you have found plenty with no problems other than bad joints. John@Reliable
P.S. I vote to spilt controls and replacing the pipe as long as the boiler casting itself isn't bad.

Ken_13

Probably bad thinking on my part. Was just thinking that with the cost of the aquastat and the possibility of running into problems replacing the pipe in the spring it might be worthwhile to look at the bigger picture.

For the time being I will ask about replacing the R8182H with a combination of those parts mentioned in earlier posts.

Really glad I found this board. Thanks again! Ken

todd s

Controls

The primary control shpuld be a Honeywell r7184 or Carlin 50-2002. Ask for one of these rather than an r8184g, you'll get interuptd ignition(to save the transformer life) and 15second safety timing(safer than 45second) Good luck

Ken_13

Repairs complete

Had the service guy from the company where I get my oil out today. He was supposed to call me 30 minutes before arrival. Instead, my wife put him on the phone when he arrived. I explained what I had learned last night and where I had learned it - turns out he's not internet savyy. His initial response was that it was a great idea to do the split but that it might cost a bit more up front. Once we worked out the numbers it was, indeed, cheaper now (about $20) and will be alot cheaper in the future.

I just got in from 21 hours at the office and checked the parts. He did use the Honeywell L8124A1007 Aquastat. But I had not heard of the primary controller - a Wayne 101266-003. Hopefully this is okay........

Thanks again to all who responded. Before I talked on the phone he was ready to slap another $450 R8182H in it. I feel much better about the new set up.

By the way - I'vebeen reading some of the other threads here and you guys are true professionals. Heck, you even talk lovingly about your wives - a rare thing today!

Take care and Merry Christmas to all!!

Ken_13

Repairs complete

Had the service guy from the company where I get my oil out today. He was supposed to call me 30 minutes before arrival. Instead, my wife put him on the phone when he arrived. I explained what I had learned last night and where I had learned it - turns out he's not internet savyy. His initial response was that it was a great idea to do the split but that it might cost a bit more up front. Once we worked out the numbers it was, indeed, cheaper now (about $20) and will be alot cheaper in the future.

I just got in from 21 hours at the office and checked the parts. He did use the Honeywell L8124A1007 Aquastat. But I had not heard of the primary controller - a Wayne 101266-003. Hopefully this is okay........

Thanks again to all who responded. Before I talked on the phone he was ready to slap another $450 R8182H in it. I feel much better about the new set up.

By the way - I'vebeen reading some of the other threads here and you guys are true professionals. Heck, you even talk lovingly about your wives - a rare thing today!

Take care and Merry Christmas to all!!

B. Tice

Controller

Ken, the Wayne burner co. has developed a little higher quality Honeywell style primary control thats actually made in USA, not Mexico. I have used them and a elecrtronics wiz Buddy of mine says they are a nice piece.