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Sizing a New Steam Boiler

Madman23
Madman23 Member Posts: 3

I am removing an old Burnham steam boiler with an indirect tank and installing a new one. The old one has no info on it whatsoever. The indirect tank is a Boiler Mate WHS602, 60 gallon. I measured all the radiators and got 299 sq ft of steam required. I am going with Burnham MST396 Megasteam. I believe it should be big enough but I just want to make sure. Thoughts from anyone would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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Comments

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 7,630

    that’s way too big. You want the 288

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

  • KC_Jones
    KC_Jones Member Posts: 5,883

    Please don’t install a boiler that massively oversized.

    Why did you bother measuring the radiators if you’re just going to ignore the number? That makes no sense.

    I agree with Paul the 288 will be more than enough.

    2014 Weil Mclain EG-40
    EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Boiler Control
    Boiler pictures updated 2/21/15
  • Madman23
    Madman23 Member Posts: 3

    My thoughts were were with the 1.3 service factor, that brought my sq ft of steam to just under 400. Plus the indirect tank, I wanted to make sure I had enough for everything. Am I thinking completely wrong?

  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,702

    The 33% is built into that spec already and 33% is too much anyway.

    The 288 is what you want.

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

    bburdethicalpaul
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,774

    Au Contraire, gentlemen- since the new MegaSteam will likely have a CycleGard low-water cutoff, you don't want to undersize it. The CycleGard shuts the burner down every 20 minutes or so to do a burner-off water level check- this is to make sure foam in the water isn't giving it a false level. This effectively reduces the time the boiler is at full steam, and therefore, reduces its capacity. ISTR the reduction can be up to 10%.

    Go with the 396.

    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    ethicalpaul
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,702

    What's the difference between the 288 and 396? They both have the same shipping weight so I assume it's the same boiler?

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

  • STEAM DOCTOR
    STEAM DOCTOR Member Posts: 2,366

    Get rid of the cyclegard

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,774
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • STEAM DOCTOR
    STEAM DOCTOR Member Posts: 2,366

    Probably correct. Personally, I have had close to zero success with warranties. Always an excuse. And can never talk to the actual people making the decisions. There are probably people out the who would suggest removing the cyclegard and reinstalling it if a warranty issue came up. Just saying.

    ChrisJ
  • Madman23
    Madman23 Member Posts: 3

    The 288 and the 396 are the same boiler. Just you install baffles on the 2nd pass on the 396 to get the extra sq ft of steam. Thank you gentlemen. This has been very helpful. I appreciate the help

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 7,630
    edited October 2024

    I unlike apparently everyone in this thread own and operate a cyclegard and it has no measurable effect on the boiler’s capacity to make steam.

    And regardless with the extra 33% already in place, there is no way that boiler is undersized

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 17,749

    And you don't need to add anything when you have an indirect

    ethicalpaul

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