Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.

Gravity hot water boiler

Butch_2
Butch_2 Member Posts: 8
Hi all, I work in maintenance and believe that I can install a boiler. I have a question. I have this old (35 year old)gravity hot water boiler (for heating only, no domestic hot water) with 2 supply lines and 1 return. First off, do they still make gravity boilers? Secondly, would I be better off just installing another gravity system or converting to one that has a circulating pump? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Butch

Comments

  • Mike T., Swampeast MO
    Mike T., Swampeast MO Member Posts: 6,928


    Difficult (if not impossible) to find a modern boiler with tappings of sufficient size. You'd probably be better off converting to forced flow.

    If you DIY, PLEASE have your work reviewed unless you already work with combustion appliances regularly--and I don't mean just replacing water heaters now and then.
  • Al Letellier
    Al Letellier Member Posts: 781
    gravity system

    It's pretty tough to beat an old gravity system that's installed correctly and working right. If you system is like that, both Buderus and Viessmann make excellent boilers for gravity installations. Other than the lack of zoning capabilities, gavity systems work great and are quite efficient. Look carefully before you leap.

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"
  • Butch_2
    Butch_2 Member Posts: 8


    THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT GENTLEMEN. SOUND ADVICE! SO WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS THAT I AMY HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING FITTINGS FOR A NEW INSTALL OF A GRAVITY SYSTEM?
  • Boilerpro_3
    Boilerpro_3 Member Posts: 1,231
    Some other gravity boilers

    I believe Burnham has one and probably the Weil Mclain EG series (all three inch tappings). If you look at steamers, you may find more boilers with the large tappings you need.

    Boilerpro
  • Mike T., Swampeast MO
    Mike T., Swampeast MO Member Posts: 6,928
    From a boiler mfgr.

    "You really do not want to pipe the system directly through a new boiler. You would be much better off setting up a primary secondary injection system whereby your current return(s) would connect directly to your supply(s)
    and the boiler could be connected into that piping with 2 tees close together with a pump to inject into the system.

    If equipped with a Tekmar variable speed injection control, this setup will perform well and the boiler will be protected by means of a return water sensor."

    You essentially have to join the return(s) to the supplies(s) with a BIG pipe in a manner that ensures good gravity flow and put a little injection system from the boiler into closely spaced tees in the big pipe. Obviously you want the direction of the injection to be the same as the direction of gravity flow so you would put the supply tee from the boiler lower or downstream and the return tee to the boiler higher or upstream.
This discussion has been closed.