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Steam boiler needs replacing?

kaskarn
kaskarn Member Posts: 2
edited October 12 in Radiant Heating

Howdy all, we purchased a house a couple years back (Northern NJ) and are starting to learn more about the joys of homeownership.

The Peerless 100k BTU steam boiler that heats up our 2.2k sq-ft house was installed in 2014 (the radiators + pipes are much older). From the state of the heat exchanger, the previous owners were proper goofs and probably never maintained or paid attention to it.

I've attached two pictures that show the heat exchanger last year, and as of yesterday. The maintenance guys (Gold Medal Service) told us the unit was shot, probably had a leak somewhere (which they couldn't find) and needed replacing asap. I'm not a plumber and generally don't know things good, but I am inclined to agree based on the pictures they took; however, it still seems to run OK at this time (radiators get hot, nothing is exploding or leaking).

I thought I'd ask whether people agree this is an emergency, before blowing 15k$ on a new boiler + servicing (we'll be getting other estimates because that sounds outrageous?)

Cheers

Steam boiler needs replacing? 2 votes

Sure, looks like it's got a year left in it
0% 0 votes
Get this changed next week, but this isn't unsafe
100% 2 votes
Danger: only turn this on if you think steam explosions are rad
0% 0 votes

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 24,797

    Doesn't look that bad. The question is — does it use water when it is running? That's really the only sure diagnosis. A good steam system shouldn't use more than a gallon of water a week — and perhaps much much less.

    So — fire it up and see how much water it uses.

    And learn all you can about steam heat — our leader here on The Wall wrote a neat little book "We Got Steam Heat" available from the site store — highly recommended.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    kaskarn
  • EzzyT
    EzzyT Member Posts: 1,343

    @kaskarn that doesn’t look good at all could require replacing.

    Where in northern NJ are you located?

    I would be willing to come out to your house to provide you an analysis on the boiler along with a system analysis.
    I can be reached at 2018878856

    E-Travis Mechanical LLC
    Etravismechanical@gmail.com
    201-887-8856
    delcrossv
  • kaskarn
    kaskarn Member Posts: 2

    And learn all you can about steam heat — our leader here on The Wall wrote a neat little book "We Got Steam Heat" available from the site store — highly recommended.

    Thanks @Jamie Hall I ordered the book, exactly the resource I was looking for!

    I would be willing to come out to your house to provide you an analysis on the boiler along with a system analysis.

    I can be reached at 2018878856

    Thanks @EzzyT I'll shoot you a text! We're in Ramsey, so no worries if it's too far a hike for you

  • EzzyT
    EzzyT Member Posts: 1,343

    ok, I service the Ramsey area. I’m in Bergen country too.

    E-Travis Mechanical LLC
    Etravismechanical@gmail.com
    201-887-8856
    ethicalpaul
  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 5,288

    take @EzzyT’s offer

    You won’t find anyone better!

    delcrossv
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 6,609

    a peerless lasting 10 years…it must have really been losing a lot of water/steam out the radiators or somewhere

    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

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,371

    Agreed. When @EzzyT gets there he will want to look for buried returns (which are almost always leaking), leaking vents, loose packing nuts etc.

    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    ethicalpaul