steam boiler converted to hot water

wayne_11

Hi, I am a remodeling contractor and have a new Weil Mclain 68 boiler that I have had for a few years in storage. It came factory trimmed for steam and I am wanting to use it in my own house as a hot water boiler. From the manual I can see the differences in tappings to use pretty plainly (same model used either in steam or hot water). This unit )set up for steam) has a rectangular domestic coil on the left side and the control well was installed in a tap at that location. From the manual I see that when use as hot water, an optional circular domestic coil is located at the front which now is simply a blank 7 inch round plate with a plug in the center tapping. Where I have a rectangular water coil now is replaced with blank in the hotwater version. The control well is picture at circular plate in the hot water setup. I would like to use that domestic coil if possible but I am not sure if it makes a difference as to the location when set up for hotwater. I can see why it would if used as a steam boiler. Also if I can use it should I then have the control well at the domestic coil tap or on the front circular plate ??

J.C.A._3

#1,

Figure out a way to check the integrity of the present coil. If it has been sitting in someplace that might have frozen it, it may not be any good.

#2 You CAN use the coil in the steam port when firing the boiler for hot water. In fact I always wondered why they offered both. Either will work BUT....

#3There will have to be another type of control installed in the front plate tapping anyway. That is the place for a high limit. I would still keep a "maintenance" control in the well provided in the coil plate, and a high limit/reverse acting control in the front top hole to make sure the call for heat won't steal my hot water.

#4 and most important....Why bother? Your going to be running out of hot water all the time! Install an indirect heater and dump the coil altogether. In the long run, your going to have too many problems associated with the coil. Just cut to the chase and rid yourself of it. JMHO. Chris

wayne_11

Thanks Chris,
The boiler has never had water through it but easy enough for me to pressure check the coil. I am thinking of some way to tie the coil with a current electric HW tank. I am going to provide a zone for future indirect with the near boiler plumbing now but at this point I am mainly concerned with getting the boiler fired up and heat in the house. Just making use of the direct coil because it is there. I guess I could also pull it and pehaps get a few bucks for it and put it toward indirect. Any thoughts on dumping direct coil heated water into a conventional electric tank?

Unknown

Yep , we call it

an aquabooster . Some call it a water bank . The coil produces the hot water and the tank stores it . You'll need a bronze circulator pump to heat the water in the tank . It's a very economical alternative to an indirect heater .