Time for New Boiler?

tom_54

I have a Weil McLain boiler. I am told it is probably 50 years old. Is it time for a new one or can a good pro clean it out enough so that I can get a few more years out of it?

Boiler Size = A-B-0B18
Series: 3 Oil = 1.25 GPH Baffles = 110
Min Valve Cap Safety = 134 Lb/Hr Relief = 134 MBH Sq Ft. Steam = 420 MBH Water = 100.5
ASME Max W.P. Water = 30 PSI Steam = 15 PSI
Tankless Water Heater = 5 G.P.M

Mark Walnicki_2

Questions

How big and how old is the house?

How is the insulation & the windows?

How is your domestic hot water situation? Do you have enough?

I'm guessing you probably have cast-iron radiators?

kevin coppinger_4

yeah....

you could get a few more years out of it...but if nothing else I would start getting proposals from true steam boiler installers.....kpc

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J.C.A._3

What Kevin said....

with a few more questions.

#1. How long do you plan to be in the home?

#2 Have you seen the price of fuel lately ?

#3 If you plan to live there for a while, you'll be cutting your fuel costs considerably, isn't that a bonus?

#4 If you need to get out of there any time soon, won't the cost of a new heating system add VALUE to the existing home?

Depending on where you live, the added value will more than double a few checks on the home inspectors and realitors reports. You gotta spend some dough to save something, one way or the other. Personally, knowing that the fuel suppliers have set us up for higher prices, I would make the upgrade as soon as possible.

Nothing is getting cheaper and the fuel used to heat a home is a BIG factor in the big picture. JMHO. Chris

jeff_51

boiler repalcement

I noticed you said you had a tankless water heater. That is about the most expensive least eficient way to heat water. Get rid of that old boiler and install a new hot water maker. Not only will you save on fuel usage, but will end up with alot more hot water a less cost

oil-2-4-6-gas

.

i'm a very simple man so i'll give a simple answer----YES

tom_54

thank you....how about

replacing the system altogether? I am thinking that if I replace the boiler I might as well replace the whole system. While my house is small I would like to be able to have zoned heating. My first floor is easily accesible from my basement and I am redoing my second floor so at the moment it is mostly open. My wife likes the look of the old cast iron rads so I said if we do switch she can keep them in the living room and the dining room, but everywhere else baseboard. I haven't ruled anything out so your opinions would be greatly appreciated.

tom_54

in answer toyour questions

#1. How long do you plan to be in the home?

Long Time

#2 Have you seen the price of fuel lately ?

Unfortunately yes

#3 If you plan to live there for a while, you'll be cutting your fuel costs considerably, isn't that a bonus?

Yes it is

#4 If you need to get out of there any time soon, won't the cost of a new heating system add VALUE to the existing home?

I would hope so

kevin coppinger_4

a steam system...

is very comfortable if done right...I see no need to change it...sort of throwing out the baby w/ the bathwater analogy. Also if you want to add hot water baseboard in the future you can still do that off the new steam boiler. If you get a good pro he could work with you as to your wants/needs...kpc

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Kyle Kubs - Benchmark Home Inspections

Pressure relief valve

Replace the boiler or not - do your family a favor and replace the pressure relief valve - Looks to have been there a while and they don't get better with age... (occupational hazard, first thing my eye's go to...)

jerry scharf_2

TRVs

Tom,

You may never have heard of thermostatic radiator valves. They allow each radiator to react to what's going on in that room. They are elegantly simple and require no power. It is often far more economical and less invasive to add these to a system rather than changing the system out. I think they are the best way to go for standing iron radiators, better than thermostats, valves and the like.

You will be surprised just how comfortable your house can be.

jerry

Steamhead

Keep the steam

As the other guys have said, with a new boiler and thermostatic radiator vents in the rooms you want to keep cooler, you'll have an efficient, flexible system. And it won't freeze up in a power failure.

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