Adding Bricks to My Boiler

Marc_7

I’m a rank amateur homeowner who tries enough things around the house to get into trouble. I have an American Radiator & Standard Sanitary steam furnace probably installed with the house around 1920. It’s labeled Big 8 24. I gather it is a return system because there are no vents on the radiators. The boiler has been converted from coal to natural gas.

When I bought the home I noticed that someone had added bricks, I believe to both the upper and lower chambers…but over time they disintegrated or I removed them at someone’s suggestion. I’ve always run the gas at the highest output since anything less doesn’t seem to drive the radiators at the far reaches of the house. But for obvious reason, this year I wanted to try to squeeze more out of my gas usage.

The boiler chamber measures 45 inches deep by 30 inches wide by 21 inches high. It’s a big empty chamber. I thought, and here’s where I need the help, if I could keep some of the heat trapped in the chamber longer I could conserve energy. So I purchased 20 firebricks and built a small wall about 2/3 aways back from the front. The brick wall is about 14” high (so about two thirds the height of the chamber). I’m hoping I can turn the jets down somewhat and still get the same heating output. Also I’m hoping that the bricks will retain some heat after the gas jets are turned off.

Also, I bought a carbon monoxide detector and put it close to the furnace to make sure I’m not killing my wife and me in the process.

Question is do you think this has any merit? Is it too dangerous?

By the way there is a ledge in the furnace where the bricks reside that almost seems like it was built to hold something like this. Could be coal I guess.

Thanks for your help.

Marc

Unknown

Conversion burners

in old boilers and furnaces need a professional to do what you are doing. You are playing with something very dangerous. Repairing the inside of boilers and furnaces requires many years of experience. Then after that pursuing the adding of baffling bricks up in the sections is definitely not something that should be done by a non professional.

As one who has done over 3,500 of these conversions I strongly suggest you hire a professional to finish the job.

Leo

Old

Marc,

Given the age of your boiler and the fact it was designed for coal you should really consider an up grade. Even a lower efficiency boiler designed specifically for gas should save you on your fuel bills.

Leo

Constantin

Marc,

I am a mere homeowner myself and I would not attempt to do what you're doing without the benefit of a lot of related experience like Tim has.

In other words, I would remove your creation and call a pro if you're serious about trying to eke out some extra efficiency. Better yet, consider your options re: replacing the dinosaur with a unit that was designed for the fuel you're intending to use it with.