major problems

eduardo garces

hello everyone, i have been reading the forum for quite a while, but felt underqualified to talk to you guys about my boiler, but now, i need the help. please.
i bough a 1925 three family house in ct, the house has electric heat on the third floor, and steam systems on the other two bottom floors. i live in the first floor, and the boiler is shot. the unit is a round arco series boiler, someone told me it's original to the house. the first floor is a 6 room with roughly 1200 sq ft, there is 6 radiators in place. my question is: which especific boiler should i buy?. i have a friend who is a plumber, and he is willing to barter the installation with me for automotive work. but i want to make sure i am providing him with the right boiler for the right price. the piping is all intact, but the boiler itself is just too old. what can i replace it with. any suggestions will be greatly appreciatted. thanks in advance. any links would be great. anything would help. how many btu's do i need etc? i need to aquire some knowledge in a matter of two weeks, thanks a lot. what is the best brand etc. looking for the best and economic way out.

Perry_2

As a homeowner

I believe that your approach is very shortsighted; and in your attempt to figure out the cheapest way to install "any" boiler - that you will in fact find out that you have paid for something that doesn't work.

You need to find a person who understands steam systems to help you. For starters: the boiler must be sized to the installed radiators; however, it is likely that the installed radiation may be way oversized and it would be best if you eliminated some of it. Their also may be other problems with the system that need addressing.

I suggest that you click on "find a professional" and get several names. Then call and discuss with them and find out who really is knowlegable about old steam systems. Then hire them.

Long term that is your cheapest option. Trust me on that.

If you want to read up on things and learn how to sort out who knows what they are talking about or not: Go to the "Shop" button on the upper left and get a book called "The lost art of steam heating" (or something like that).

If you have someone who does not understand how to size the boiler - and how to fix or properly adjust the rest of the system - and you focus soley on how to get it done very cheap now.... I'll bet you will be sorry later -- big time.

Perry

Big Ed

EDR

Pick up the book EDR too. You need this book too in figuring out the btus needed...

Unknown

You Need A Pro!!

I "Super-Agree" with Perry. You may have no idea the "uncharted waters" your about to sail-into. Get yourself a Pro, and have it done properly!!!

Mike T., Swampeast MO

There's nothing at all wrong with barter--I use it frequently.

The key to barter however is ensuring that both parties receive equal value.

Unless the "plumber" is already familiar with steam systems and has already done just this sort of job numerous times, you're likely to loose if you're completely familiar with the automotive work that he wants. If both of you are reaching then I'd give little chance of satisfaction for either...

Unknown

That`s kinda what I meant Mike........

I didn`t mean to take anything away from this Plumber, but as the HO he should be careful of what he`s getting-into! I`ve seen alot of these "deals" go bad. When, and if, the heat goes-off, will he "drive" over at 3 in the morning to fix-it?

Perry_2

loosing heat in the middle of the night

is the least of my concerns.

I am more worried that my fellow homeowner gets someone knowlegable enough to understand how his system is set up to work, what else is wrong (if anything), and getting a boiler in there that will make the system work properely.

Imagine installing a boiler and finding out that the radiators barely get warm at all.... It is entirely possible. Then having to buy and install another boiler.

If he can barter with the professional for auto/truck service - all the better. But, he needs to have someone who really understands the system and how to make it work right.

It is even possible that his problems are not even the boiler - but other things. Replacing the boiler would not solve any of those other things.

Perry

eduardo garces

my problem is that a professional won't just tell me what i need to buy, so i can find it on my own. i have no problem with professionals making their money, in fact i would love to have the money to make this happen right with a hydro system set up for ac in the summer, but for now like everyone else has had to do it before, i need to replace this boiler with something to replace it, i don't care if it's used, in fact the boiler is good itself, it heats up just fine, i dumped a whole lot of items on it, but now we need to put a chamber and set up the burner at the bottom of it, it just looks like a lot of mickey mouse work. i don't have a problem reading and buying the books, wich i will this winter, but my house is feeling colder by the day. i am just not feeling right about this boiler, i believe a newer unit will be safer. remember, they used to put coal in this thing, and they sealed the opening with bricks, and set the burner in there all glued up. i just want something to stop the pipes and the house from freezing, this is not a show house trust me. it's a big project. it was abandoned for six years, bought it in june, i rented all the apartments allready and moved into the first floor, the only one in bad shape is my floor actually. i am out of funds, but i also did a lot in these past months. help me out here guys

Timco

Buy the EDR book from the shop secton, find and add up the EDR of all your rads, figure your BTUH, and size the new boiler accordingly. Then chose the efficiency and brand that suits your budget. The EDR / BTUH instructions are in the front of the book. Well written by a wise man.....No matter how big of a dump, you will always regret an improperly sized boiler wether it in gas bill or just never heats. (or likely both!) Trust me.

Tim

Perry_2

Is the boiler your problem

Their is nothing inherently unsafe about putting a oil or gas burner into an old coal furnace. Not be the most efficient by modern standards - but not unsafe.

You indicate that the boiler heats up just fine. Are the problems you are having with the boiler - or is it that the rest of the system is gunked up and or degraded and not working right?

I note that steam pipes are not full of water and don't freeze and break. The return lines may have been full of lines and frozen in the past. You do note that the building was abandoned for 6 years. If you are not living in it I may be tempted to just drain the boiler and system and let it get cold for another year.

By the recomended books and maybe there is something relatively cheap that you can do to get some heat this winter.

Perry

eduardo garces

thank you for your advice, i am just afraid that the boiler will break or explode, however an hvac professional is comming to my house to help me out on this jam. i am trying to size the new boiler and it's fun. there is great help at http://www.colonialsupply.com/resources/radiator2.htm if anyone is going trough this process. there is also another website of people willing to help you do everything you think you are capable of doing, and even explain the whole process of steam heat to you at http://www.boilerroom.com. great site. heating help people are great help too.