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Water Capacity Old Burhnam No. 74 Steamer

Steve Garson
Steve Garson Member Posts: 191
in THE MAIN WALL
I anticipation of installing a new boiler this summer, I am trying to determine the total water capacity of my present boiler. Draining it at the low water cut-off valve gave me 17.5 gallons. Does anyone know how much more water there is from that point to the bottom of the boiler? I don't want to drain it any lower since there is a water loop attached that was not installed with isolation valves.

My interest is to calculate the difference in BTU's needed to boil the water and get to use some of my 30 year old physics formulas.

Comments

  • Fred Harwood
    Fred Harwood Member Posts: 261
    V74

    Total water cap. is 15.9 gallons.

    Steam, 12.5 gallons to the normal water line.
  • Steve Garson
    Steve Garson Member Posts: 191


    But my boiler is 17.5 gallons from the water line to the bottom of the watch glass, so the capacity must be more than that.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    V74 Steam Water Content

    The water content as published in the manual is 15.9 gallons for a water boiler and 13.5 to the NWL in a steam boiler. The water content from the NWL to the LPWL (Lowest Permissible Water Level) is 2.92 gallons. Are you sure you have a V74 model? I've never heard the published contents to be off at all.

    Glenn Stanton

    Manager of Training

    Burnham Hydronics

    www.burnham.com
  • Steve Garson
    Steve Garson Member Posts: 191


    Glenn -
    So pleased to hear from someone at Burnham. The plate on the boiler reads Model 74 Series L1.

    Since you work for Burnham: Was this boiler originally coal?

    I measured the water content by draining into 5 gallon buckets. I could have been a gallon or two off.

    Do you think that I can save 20% on my oil by buying a new Burnham steam boiler.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Well that explains it!

    When I saw that #74 I instantly thought you meant the V74 boiler that we made during the 80's and 90's. The one you are referring to is indeed a very old model that was probably coal-fired. These boilers had tremendous water contents in comparison to today's boilers. It would certainly save a lot of your energy dollars to have this replaced. You can probably put your arm through the flue passageways in these old boilers...maybe even a leg.

    Glenn Stanton

    Manager of Training

    Burnham Hydronics

    www.burnham.com
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