Cold Start

brucewo1b

I work mainly with oil and a warm start boiler is always better after a year than a cold start boiler, I usually recogmend 130 minimum on oil and 140 on gas even though it is said to be ok, now a three pass boiler such as a Burnham Mega Steam will handle a colds start better than a pin style boiler like a Weil McLean Gold etc.

Michael G.

Cold Start a steam boiler? is it ok?

I was recently advised by a heating consultant that it is ok to cold start my boiler and effectively leave it running at a very low temperature all summer long. We are also in the process of adding on a hydronic system to the steam boiler, hopefully with an Everhot heat exchanger. However, the convention wisdom (also according to my heating contractor) is that you should always leave the system at no lower than 140 or 160 degrees F. Anyone have any input or articles about this?

Michael G.

Dunkirk gas boiler

Any idea whether or not you can cold start a Dunkirk or Burnham gas boiler without any problems? Also, what problems could their be with cold starting a boiler?

brucewo1b

Well they get cold

and clammy like a cold glass of water on a warm day, then any dirt on the heatexchanger turns into a clump of hard mess which will decrease your efficiency, cold start is great for selling not so great for servicing. I have also seen pins slowly rot away which perminately ruin your efficiency.