need advice on heating system replacement

Jim G

I currently have a Burnham V33 Steam boiler with a SunRay Gun. It has been very reliable, but is probably 20+ yrs old. I have a large coil for heating the first floor of my home. Then there is a tap off the bolier for providing heating of a basement. Steam heat for the second floor.

I use 1000 gal of oil yearly to heat a 2100 sq ft home. I was considering replacing the boiler and going full hot water. After receiving an astronomical quote I am considering replacing either:
Just the gun
Steam boiler and gun with same configuration above to save $.

Please advise of the best value change. I want to ensure efficiency and reliability.

thfurnitureguy_2

Jim, you might want to check the tuning of your system before you start over. I payed one of the local Wall guys to come out and check the piping, the burner setting ... He found a ton of things that were done wrong and costing comfort and fuel. Lots of it! I believe my boiler was replaced in hopes of saving money. It was not the problem! click on the "find a professional" It will be the best money you have spent.

Al Letellier

replacement/upgrade

good advise from the furniture guy...typically replacing the burner only is not a bug $$$saver. Remember that the boiler is the same age (technology wise as well as age wise)so a new burner is not always a good bet for saving fuel. The V33 was a great boiler but is 30+ year old technology. If the steam system is working and it sounds like it is with the fuel consumption. So have a pro checkout your boiler and get it to peak operating efficiency...with the age of the boiler, a upgrade
might be in order.

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Jim G

Boiler replacement

Al,
You hit the nail on the head. my 2 concerns were:
Should the combo be replaced because of age? (it seems the answer is yes)
and
If I do, should I just hook it up the same way it is now? (meaning hybrid or convert totally over to HW?)
That is still the question. I have quotes as high as $8000 to convert totally over to HW!

Ragu

Jim G

I think you are getting good advice from the guys above. Think of your heating system as a SYSTEM, rather than individual components. The burner converts the oil into a hot flame, the boiler transfers the heat of that flame into the water, the piping and controls deliver the heated water to your convectors which (hopefully) provide you with an abundance of warmth and comfort. A Pro will look at the entire SYSTEM re:efficiency and reliability, and give you sufficient information for you to make an informed decision. Best of luck.

Bill Nye_2

I would

get rid of the Sunray, replace it with a Riello, Carlin, or Beckett ( not in any order of preference. } I like them all.

That V-3 was a great steam boiler with a good amount of iron and water content. The newer boilers are shorter, less water and may not like all of that extra stuff going on.

Does everything work ok now? I think a newer burner would help with fuel consumption. That, and spend your money on tightening up the house, windows, doors, drafts etc.

Jim G

Gun

Bill, if I understand you correctly, changing the Gun is good, but if I change the boiler as well, the current configuration may not work because the newer boilers are low mass boliers?

Bill Nye_2

Jim

I'm just old school I guess. I have changed very few V-3 or ealier Am. Std. boilers because they leaked, usually it was because they were getting "old".

I have changed many newer boilers because they leaked or cracked, all brands.

I like the new burner technology, 14K ignitors, psc motors, oil solenoid valves, electronic primary controls, etc. A new boiler would only be a percent or better more efficient than what you have, but this is only opinion, I have no facts, just what I have seen.

If the cold is coming in around leaky windows and heat is escaping through a drafty house with poor insulation, a new boiler won't help that much.

I would go with a new burner, spend the extra money on tightening up, and if the boiler craps out you are only out a burner and maybe you could make a deal with the guy who installs the boiler for your only slightly used burner, field tested we call it.

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Steamhead

Jim, the first thing I'd do

is take a complete look at your system. If it's half-steam and half hot-water, and you want to replace the V3, I'd look at using two separate, smaller boilers: one steam and one hot water. This would optimize the design and capacity of each for the system it would serve, would insure that the entire house would not go cold if one boiler broke down, and the hot-water one could also drive an indirect heater for your hot faucet water.

I have an ABC-Sunray burner on my Burnham V-14 (with valve-on-delay added) and service several others. When set up properly they burn just as well as a Beckett or Carlin (don't have much experience with Riellos). However, parts other than the fuel unit, motor or ignitor can be difficult to find for these units, so if it's in poor shape you will probably end up replacing it.

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