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Burnham Boiler Problems

Mike R.
Mike R. Member Posts: 12
Since the casting leakage problems of the Burham oil-fired V7 series residential boilers, many heating contractors do not want to sell me a Burnham. I have a 45+ old Burham Pace-Pak that has had better days. I'd like to stick with Burnham. Has anyone out there had good luck with the newer Burnham V8 series where the V8 has not inherited the V7 problems?

Comments

  • Leo
    Leo Member Posts: 770
    If I understand it right

    The V8 improved upon the V7. I haven't heard of any problems with it.

    Leo
  • Mark Hunt
    Mark Hunt Member Posts: 4,908
    I have several


    V-8 Burnhams out in the field and I have not had problem one with any.

    Burnham is a GREAT company and they stand behind their product.

    I would have no problem recommending the V-8. American made to boot!!!!

    Mark H

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  • our company

    has recently switch from another brand to burnham and i'm impressed at the higher quality of the product.
  • Dave Yates (PAH)
    Dave Yates (PAH) Member Posts: 2,162
    Wow, I coulda had a .....

    My experiences with the V8 and Burnham have been nothing short of great! None of the V8's we've installed have given us so much as a moment's worry. Easy to service too, which will save you money each year during clean & tune. Nice n quiet too.

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  • Jeff_12
    Jeff_12 Member Posts: 9


    I install Burnham's with Beckett burners exclusively unless a customer is adamant about another brand. We shy away from riello's because there isn't a supply house around us that carries any parts. We have had good luck with no complaints at all. We get decent efficiency. I commend burnham with the way they have backed up the V-7 problem.
  • jackchips_2
    jackchips_2 Member Posts: 1,337
    I'll add

    two words in recommending Burnham: Glenn Stanton.
  • A few hundred installed

    by our company so far , have not had a problem with the V8 line . And the customer and technical support is the best we have encountered , bar none .
  • Pat Clark
    Pat Clark Member Posts: 187
    Burnham

    We are are Burnham dealer for 6 years now. We don't deal with Oil as we have a natural gas setting. Very few problems with the Burnham line and when we did have a problem, Burnham stepped up to the plate.

    Pat
  • Keith_5
    Keith_5 Member Posts: 24
    Burnham

    You won't be disapointed, Keith
  • Thanks Jack

    But there is more to Burnham than just me. There are hundreds upon hundreds of dedicated employees, a network of very good distributors, representatives and of course.....all of you! Thanks for the support and input because without that, we wouldn't be where we are!

    Glenn
  • fishface
    fishface Member Posts: 10


    Burnham boilers are great! I have several V-8 series out there and no problems at all. Whenever I have to perform even an annual cleaning it is so nice to see a Burnham when I walk in the door. Great boilers and a great company.


  • > Since the casting leakage problems of the Burham

    > oil-fired V7 series residential boilers, many

    > heating contractors do not want to sell me a

    > Burnham. I have a 45+ old Burham Pace-Pak that

    > has had better days. I'd like to stick with

    > Burnham. Has anyone out there had good luck with

    > the newer Burnham V8 series where the V8 has not

    > inherited the V7 problems?



  • KBP&H
    KBP&H Member Posts: 48
    check the scrapyard

    A good indication of what's working in an area and what's not is to stop at the local or big scrap cast buyer.. Wenever I stop I see mostly Weil from the early gasket period,, and hardly any Burnham. and old A/S. This is a heavy water / steam boiler area and I recently installed a RV 5 in my own house and others,,, I wouldn't shy away from Burnham!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • steve_38
    steve_38 Member Posts: 74
    burnham boilers

    Are excellent, but i choose Peerless WBV/ECT W/Riello
    over most equipment out there...
  • steve_38
    steve_38 Member Posts: 74
    i happen to like the new burnham steel boiler over

    most steel boilers, but 95% of the time i'm installing
    Cast Iron Boiler...
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,343
    I'll second that

    Any time I've had a question about a Burnham, Glenn and his crew have helped me.

    I see many Burnhams out there and we've never had to replace one. I know of one Burnham steamer that survived a dry-firing recently- of course this is not expected but it shows the boiler was well-made.

    Here's a V-14 that's old enough to drink and still Burnhaming. It's efficient enough that I don't see the need to replace it.

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    Consulting
  • Rich_10
    Rich_10 Member Posts: 6
    Burnham Boilers

    I have installed a lot of burnham boilers, have a v13 leaking now about 14yrs old. Not much luck with the v7,burnham replaced the leakers at no charge and gave me labor.Installed a few v8s they seem to be a good heavy boiler.
  • Mike R.
    Mike R. Member Posts: 12
    Peerless

    In my search of opinion or experience with the Burnham V8, I also earched a website called the Boiler Room. In that forum, owners of Pearless also claim water leakage similar to the Burnham V7 series.
  • KBP&H
    KBP&H Member Posts: 48
    maybe not------

    Was at local supply house picking up stuff and saw 4 Peerless recent boilers on the flooor waiting for return approval, all recent inst- 3 yrs or less, all leakers,,,, ask around,,, ask your supplier to show you his boiler in the supply house and keep your eyes open,,, if you don't see what you like,,, look elsewhere....
  • Anthony Caliri
    Anthony Caliri Member Posts: 2


    I have strictly used Burnham boilers for the last fifteen years and have nothing but good things to say.
  • I prefer the Smith 8 series

    I was a strict Burnham installer until the casting problem. I was about to try the Burnham V8's until I found 2 in the field that were leakers. I have been installing Smith Series 8 oil-fired for 5 years now without a glitch. They are Quieter than Burnham, Great to service, Excellent factory support, Perform incredible. I guess we each have our own preferences and experiences.
    Dave Mayer

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  • Mike R.
    Mike R. Member Posts: 12
    Burnham V8 vesus Utica

    Okay, in response to my 2/19/04 inquiry, some of you praise the Burham V8 while one or two say they have found V8 leakers.

    What is your opinion on a Utica Boiler?
  • hydronicsmike
    hydronicsmike Member Posts: 855
    Leakers?

    Not too long ago, I had a guy in a seminar who completely bashed a North American Boiler Manufacturer for their poor quality in products. The cast iron was blamed for causing his last couple of Boilers to start leaking after being installed for just a couple of months......Only to find out later that the cast sections had started leaking because the Boiler was exposed to low return temperature........


  • I am not a big fan of Utica, either. I think their combustion chamber is a little too short and they are not the most accessible for annual maintenance. Obviously I have given my opinion on Burnham, the problems I have encountered were not due to low return temp., but manufacturing. I prefer Smith series 8. Weil Mclain GO series is nice but a little loud, Peerless has many nice boilers, Dunkirk alot like Slant Fin or Utica-short chamber not so easy to maintain, Williamson-very nicely priced-easy to maintain-quieter than Weil.
    Dave

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  • Rudy
    Rudy Member Posts: 482
    just for the name

    Why are you changing the boiler? Just because you want new stuff or maybe, can we save money and be more comfortable? Why would a person who works on this stuff not want to install a burnham boiler? Just on histroy of the boiler alone or is this person trying to help you by recomending something with more benefits? Someone you trust to keep the old boiler running might have a lot of good reasons for something different. just a thought.
  • How many leakers did Burnham actually have

    Glenn I can tell by the support these guys give you that your a straight shooter. I am curious how many Burnham V7 boilers actually had defects and leaked. I am here to say I only had 10 boilers fail. I am anxious to hear your honest response.
    upstateben
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,343
    Utica and Columbia cast-iron boilers

    are essentially the same. We have a bunch of Columbias out there and they have held up well, with one exception- an oil-fired steamer that was fed thru a water softener. The factory is evaluating that one now.

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    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Dave Logan

    I'll take the high road on this answer because I already know your intent with this post based on your past comments. I'm not sure if this question can be answered by anyone. I can state honestly that it may not necessarily have been caused by a defect because we have various areas where the problem has not occurred. I can also state that we have and continue to back them up. Hope this helps.

    Glenn
  • hr
    hr Member Posts: 6,106
    Bingo, Mike

    wonder what percentage of failed boilers fail due to inadequate return temperature protection, and/or bad water chemistry? 50%, maybe more? With low temperature radiant only installations, bet that number is realistic :)

    hot rod

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  • Hot Rod

    It doesn't only have to be a Radiant system. It can be an over-radiated system with a large temperature drop or a system with temperature reset with too low a system temperature during the intermediate climates. All cast iron is forgiving with its flexiblility, but how much and for how long is the big question. All cast iron manufacturers have had to deal with this reality (yes....even the European ones). Some advise to, at the very least, install a bypass. Others call for various other piping methods such as the variable speed injection bypass piping methods we utilize in our Revolution and Opus boilers. Here is an interesting article on the subject from our Director of Engineering. Hope this helps.

    Glenn

    http://www.burnham.com/news/Current-Articles/boilerprotection.cfm
  • gerry gill
    gerry gill Member Posts: 3,078
    excellant article

    thanks for posting that link..definitaly a good read.
    gwgillplumbingandheating.com
    Serving Cleveland's eastern suburbs from Cleveland Heights down to Cuyahoga Falls.

  • Burnham boiler problems

    Mike R, I have had not a leaking or defect problem since I switched from Burnham to Buderus 5 years ago. Caveat Emptor.
This discussion has been closed.