New Burhamn Boiler - Not enough heat - HELP

Firedragon_4

under the pot. Have the burners setup properly, have the Btu input 'clocked' and make sure a FULL combustion test is done, including CO.

Many plumbers don't know combustion and don't want to.

Anthony_9

New Boiler - not enough heat

I recently converted my heating system from Oil to Gas (steam). The plumber installed a Burhman boiler. Here is the problem, the radiators only get half hot. I had the boiler on for 3 hours last night and the half closest to the valve is very hot, the second half closest to the vent is warm. The bottom of the radiator is cold. When I take the vents off, no steam comes out of the vents. It seems like the guy who installed the system doesnt want anything to do with it. He told me to go out and buy Hoffman vents which are adjustable. Before I go out and spend that type of money, I wanted to know if anyone had any suggestions. This is a steam boiler. Also, I did some testing and closed every valve off and put one radiator on at a time. When I put them on, one at the time, the radiator is very hot and the steam that comes out of the vents is very powerful. As I put more and more of the raditors on, they get less hot and no steam exits the vents. I have a 1200 sq 2 story home (8 radiators in total). ANY HELP WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.

Unknown

I would suspect

that there is a bit of oil or sludge in the boiler water. The installation of a replacement steam boiler is not neccesarily complete once the boiler is in place. The new boilers can make steam much faster than the older ones and that action alone will tend to loosen up any sludge that may be in the radiators and pipes. Eventually the system tends to acclimate itself to that new boiler and less and less debris comes back.

My advice is to have the installer come back and put finishing touches on the job by cleaning the boiler water. This can be done by skimming and also have him clean out the wet return lines near the boiler where most of the system debris ends up. It is truly amazing how well steam boilers work with clean water instead of oil and water. I would really doubt that your problem has anything to do with "not having enough fire under the pot" as George refers to it. But have them check the input anyway as good practice. Also have them check the operation of "all" vents, both radiator and main vents for proper operation. This should pretty much standard practice for any installer. Hope this helps.

Glenn Stanton

Manager of Training

Burnham Hydronics

Jack Legg

next time .... hire a heating contractor .. let the plummer fix yer terlet

lchmb

both ideas

I think I would skip the plumber and get someone in who know's how to skim the system. Just curious though, can you post a pic of the boiler? I would have the boiler skimmed as Glenn stated and also have a proper combustion test done,as George stated. you would be amazed how many boiler's are set up out of the box and that's that. Two week's or month's later they soot and really get messy.

Anthony_9

Boiler SIze

Thanks for all your replies. I just wanted to add that someone I work with said my boiler might be too small for my house. I have approxiatemly 1,300 sq feet, detached, 2 story cape. The boiler is located in the basement. I have 5 radiators on the first floor and 3 radiators on the 2nd (top floor). Here is the information off my brand new Burnham boiler. Input = 105,000 HTG Cap = 87,000 BTU/HR ; Steam = 271 sq ; steam = 65,000 btu/hr ; water = 76,000 btu/hr.

As always, thanks for your feedback

Jack Legg

not enuff !

INFO ....like, how many sections, and the size of the radiators

Unknown

Anthony

Unless that someone you work with happens to be a heating specialist, I would disregard their comments. The folks that have responded to your post here are heating specialists. I have have made recommendations as to what is probably wrong as well as others. Believe me, I get out into basements often with contractors responding to similar complaints and generally it most always involves dirty boiler water. Cleaning that boiler out or skimming is a recommended procedure in the Installation manual. Hope this helps.

Glenn Stanton

Burnham Hydronics

Anthony_9

Radiator sizes

Not sure what sections are, here is the radiators break down:

First Floor

Radiator 1 25" high x 17" wide (10 Fins)
Radiator 2 25" high x 15" wide (15 fins)
Radiator 3 25" high x 14" wide (8 fins)
Radiator 4 25" high x 28" wide (17 fins)
Radiator 5 25" high x 38" wide (22 fins)

Second Floor

Radiator 6 25 high x 35 wide (20 fins)
Radiator 7 25 high x 14 wide (8 fins)
Radiator 8 25 high x 35 wide (20 fins)

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

Anthony

tommyoil

Sounds a little lean

on the BTU load but I'm not the one who did the measuring of the radiators. The installer DID measure all the radiators and check the piping right??? Or did he use the "in and out" method of measuring for a new boiler? That is to say did he walk in, look at the old boiler, and run out? Or did he actually measure the rads? I will defer to Glenn and Firedragons judgement here. But I would also get an accurate heat load on the rads done too. Is there insulation on the pipes? Bare pipes are radiation and need to be accounted for.

David Sutton_5

Anthony i would listen to Glen

i have been on alot of steam calls for the same thing, once the boiler is cleand the system allways works better give it a try

Unknown

Anthony

We need the following information to determine the connected load

For each radiator:

Height

Number of sections (left to right)

Number if vertical tubes or columns in each section (as viewed from left or right side)


I have attached pictures showing the difference between tube style and column radiators.


Glenn

Brian_19

> next time .... hire a heating contractor .. let

> the plummer fix yer terlet



Hey Jack I know just as many stupid heating contractors who don't know a furnace from a boiler.
Most hydronic heating specialists are "Plumbing & Heating Contractors". Judge a person by their knowledge and integrity not their title.
Brian Slovinski PLUMBING & HEATING

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

Brian_19

Hey Jack I know just as many stupid heating contractors who don't know a furnace from a boiler.
Most hydronic heating specialists are "Plumbing & Heating Contractors". Judge a person by their knowledge and integrity not their title.
Brian Slovinski PLUMBING & HEATING

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

Anthony_9

Little Lean

The installed did not walk through the house. He basically looked at the old boiler and said it needed to be replaced with a Burnhman boiler. At the time my gas company was offering "free" (nothings free) boilers and he chose one of those.

Thanks,

Anthony