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Cracked Steam Boiler Section Help

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John Reilly
John Reilly Member Posts: 1
in THE MAIN WALL
My plumber says I have a cracked boiler section in my steam system and that the boiler should be replaced. Does anyone know where it is that a section would crack, the top, bottom or middle? This is a WeilMclain about 30 years old. Can the sections be replaced instead of ripping out the whole boiler?

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  • Paul Fredricks_3
    Paul Fredricks_3 Member Posts: 1,556


    It could crack anywhere. I'm assuming this is a residential boiler. At 30 years old it makes sense to replace the whole unit. No sense putting good money after bad.

    The bigger question is why did it crack? It could be that the section is full of mud which over heated the section. It could be that the low water cut off failed and the unit ran dry. The important thing is to identify and correct the problem before they just throw in a new boiler and hope for the best.
  • Dave Stroman
    Dave Stroman Member Posts: 765


    One of the most common problems I have seen lately is the boiler "cracking" from incorrectly installed risers and header. Pushes the sections apart.

    Dave in Denver

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  • frank_25
    frank_25 Member Posts: 202
    \"cracked\"

    That word [cracked] could be a catch all for anything else. A leaker, caused by too much fresh water being added would have a hole at the water line; a poorly engineered and/or installed WM w/leaking rubbers erodes the iron at the flue side of the casting; a rubber gasket for a tankless or plate will erode the outside of the casting; a true "crack" is from cold water entering a hot section [uneven contraction of the iron] Lots a things can be called cracks, but the bottom line is it's KAPUT. Don't spend too much time worrying why, just replace the whole damn thing, then check out your entire system from air valves to quick vents to returns
  • Weezbo
    Weezbo Member Posts: 6,231
    Generally it would Depend on How COLD it was :)

    when "He should have known better to add cold water to that boiler"....fornicates with it...

    fixing them is no light weight project for the uninitiated...
  • Al Corelli_2
    Al Corelli_2 Member Posts: 395
    Couldn't of said that better myself, Frank.



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