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Steam Boiler Installation (URGENT)

Doug1
Doug1 Member Posts: 1
I need a reputable steam boiler contractor (name and phone would be helpful) in Denver Colorado to replace my existing failed steam boiler. The house is 4,400 square feet and has 27 radiators. This is beyond urgent! Please help.

Comments

  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,042
    It sounds like you have a leaking boiler. Or is it something else?
  • KC_Jones
    KC_Jones Member Posts: 5,722
    I haven't seen any steam people in Colorado hanging around here and there isn't anything in the find a contractor. Perhaps someone knows of someone in that area? If not we could probably help the OP be a project manager of sorts to walk a contractor through what needs done? It has been done on here before. Depends how hands on you want to be? If this is a boiler replacement the other option would be to get perspective contractors to send you pictures of their steam boiler installs, post them here and we can tell you immediately if they know what they are doing.
    2014 Weil Mclain EG-40
    EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Boiler Control
    Boiler pictures updated 2/21/15
  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,476
    Send us some pictures of your current boilers piping so we can see what has to be done to make sure a new boiler runs well.

    Bob
    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
  • Dennis Bellanti_2
    Dennis Bellanti_2 Member Posts: 36
    As you know there are a lack of qualified steam guys in Denver because there are so few steam systems. I recommend ACA Denver Boiler (303) 744-3141. If it is a two pipe steam system - one pipe going into the radiator and one pipe coming out, you may want to consider changing this to a hot water system which is relatively easy to do. That opens the door to many qualified contractors in Denver. Feel free to call me if you need further help. Dennis (303) 942-8102.
    lchmbBob Bona_4
  • vaporvac
    vaporvac Member Posts: 1,520
    Hi doug, I have a system a bit larger than your and was in a similar sitiuation. We need a bit more info. Are there two pipes into the rads? (ie. two-pipe). What is the square ftge of the rads ie EDR? That's the first step to a boiler replacement. Replacing one isn't hard, but it need to be done according to the instruction manual of the boiler.
    Please don't be deceived by a HW change-over, Not only will you never see a ROI, but there's no guarantee it won't leak and you'll always have to worry about freezing. People tried to steer me in that direction because they would make more money, imo. the difficult part of steam was already done when your pipes were originally installed. I've saved 30-50% by replacing my old leaky boiler and fixing system problems,
    Steam is perfect for large houses as it delivers heat, quickly, and economically. Post some pics of your basement pipes and near boiler piping as well as a representative radiator so we can see what you have. I would also strongly suggest posting any contractor's installs and plans.
    Have you had any problems with the system and its heat.
    Two-pipe Trane vaporvacuum system; 1466 edr
    Twinned, staged Slantfin TR50s piped into 4" header with Riello G400 burners; 240K lead, 200K lag Btus. Controlled by Taco Relay and Honeywell RTH6580WF
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    edited November 2015
    I agree. Since a hot-water system runs at over ten times the pressure of steam, you run the risk of creating leaks. It's not worth it.

    Also, a hot-water radiator will only give off 2/3 the heat of a steam radiator. This often means a conversion won't heat the building properly. And even if it will, the vaunted savings from using a mod-con boiler won't materialize because you have to keep the system above condensing temperature much of the time. It's not worth it.

    We don't do these conversions. We have more respect for our customers than that.

    But people keep beating the conversion drum, promising savings that sound too good to be true. The truth is, we can achieve similar savings by fixing the steam. Here is one example of debunking the myth:

    http://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/145002/actual-savings-over-steam-heating
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    KC_JonesChrisJ
  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,513
    How I wish you and Gordo could be everywhere. It truly is a lost art in Colorado.
    Retired and loving it.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    Whatever happened to Dave Stroman (sp?)- ISTR he was in Colorado...............
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • SteamCoffee
    SteamCoffee Member Posts: 123
    Dave Strohman is in Aurora, CO. Tonsofradiators.com or something close to that....good guy
  • Abracadabra
    Abracadabra Member Posts: 1,948
    edited December 2015

    If it is a two pipe steam system - one pipe going into the radiator and one pipe coming out, you may want to consider changing this to a hot water system which is relatively easy to do.

    Big mistake to do that.

    That opens the door to many qualified contractors in Denver.

    It also opens the door to a whole host of problems.
    KC_JoneslchmbChrisJ
  • Also Richard, "der Heatmeister"
    SWEI
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,042
    Hello, Denver poster, it is getting late here East of you. The east coast pros will read anything you post early tomorrow AM.
  • Also Richard, "der Heatmeister" is somewhere in Colorado
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796

    Dave Strohman is in Aurora, CO. Tonsofradiators.com or something close to that....good guy

    Yup- here he is:

    http://tonsofradiators.com/index.html
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 15,583

    How I wish you and Gordo could be everywhere. It truly is a lost art in Colorado.

    There's an easy solution to this.
    Talk Bruce Springsteen into doing a show in Colorado. Problem solved.
    :p
    Single pipe quasi-vapor system. Typical operating pressure 0.14 - 0.43 oz. EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Control for Residential Steam boilers. Rectorseal Steamaster water treatment
    vaporvac
  • Dennis Bellanti_2
    Dennis Bellanti_2 Member Posts: 36
    Thank God we have you right coast guys to keep us in line. Your experience and knowledge is appreciated. We have done a handful of steam to hot water conversions with success. Must have been lucky on those old pipes.

    I got to tour the district steam plant downtown last month and it was fascinating. They have quite a challenge with replacing the pipes under the streets and maintain meticulous records of every section. Some of the pipes are 80 years old and still working. They admit that they are living on borrowed time.

    They are working toward down sizing the system by billing for peak use periods. This motivates the building managers to bring the heat up in the buildings at a slower, steady rate and it has proven successful. They are able to keep an extra boiler off-line during typical peak periods.

    We have done several jobs where we recover the heat from the condensate on large buildings and use it for snowmelt. It is a great use for "wasted heat".
  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,513
    I wish I could have joined you on that one, Dennis. Denver was the first city to do district steam.
    Retired and loving it.
  • SteamCoffee
    SteamCoffee Member Posts: 123
    Glad it's working out! Just don't utter those crazy "..just convert to hot water.." words without really understanding what the pro's and con's of the process actually are... Btw Denvers altitude makes for lower temp steam, about 200 degrees or so.
  • Dave Stroman
    Dave Stroman Member Posts: 764
    Dave Stroman here. Yes, I am still around. Very busy. Do not hang out here like I used to, but still very much involved in the magic of steam.
    Dave Stroman
    SWEILionA29
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    Good to hear from you, Dave!
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting