Single Pipe Steam - crack in boiler

JaymeHart · December 21

I seem to have a crack in my Year 1991 Burnham 406B 175k btu boiler (nat gas), feeding a 2 story house in lower Westchester NY. It has certainly lived a good life and kept us quite warm thru the 16 years we have owned the house.

We still have heat. Boiler just uses up water, I assume thru steam lost to the flue. When we did the overfill test, there was a leak.

1: any recommendations for a good Single Pipe Steam expert to contact for a new system quote? I saw the "Contact a contractor" button. All seem to be in NYC. Now sure who works in lower Westchester near White Plains.

2: any thoughts on a better boiler brand than Burnham? I have been super happy with the Burnham, it is easy to run. And I appreciate the simplicity of this boiler. But open to understand if there are better options.

3: the boiler (in the basement) heats 9 steam radiators, and also has a water loop for a single radiator in our kitchen. The water loop was added when we did a renovation 6 years ago. If replaced, is this still a good idea? Or should I really look at a closed loop heat exchanger setup for that water loop. I worry the current setup means more water needs to be heated for steam, maybe that led to the crack?

I have learned a ton over the 16 years from this website on how to get the best from my single pipe system. I upgraded to a BigMouth main vent (really helped with upstairs even-ness of heat), reduced the cut-in/cutout pressure for better performance, upgraded the thermostat control unit from a Honeywell to a Taco to get a C wire, etc.

Thanks all!

Jayme

EzzyT · December 21

Hi I service the Westchester area. You can reach me at (201) 887-8856

JaymeHart · December 21

Awesome EzzyT. I will reach out after the Holidays. Thank you.

Ironman · December 21

You won’t get anyone better than Ezzy.

ethicalpaul · December 21

Ezzy must have seen the extreme shortage up there and gotten set up to work there, good move.

I worry the current setup means more water needs to be heated for steam, maybe that led to the crack?

No, the loop is fine IMO. And you don't have a crack, you have a hole rotted in the top. Try a Peerless.

EBEBRATT-Ed · December 21

Try anything except another Burnham.

dopey27177 · December 21

Do you have underground condensate return piping?

If you have the return underground it more likely that is you leak.

If the boiler has a crack in it it a temporary repair is to put two glasses of oatmeal into the boiler.

The oatmeal will eventually plug up the crack.

This is a real old timers temp fix.

I used this on my Richardson pancake boiler 50 years ago, it got me thru winter.

Jake

JaymeHart · December 21

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1828370#Comment_1828370

Good to know. Thank you.

JaymeHart · December 21

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1828378#Comment_1828378

Ha! I never expected the phrase "feed the boiler" to mean giving it oatmeal!

RTW · December 21

Congratulations to JaymeHart for consulting this site Before boiler replacement! Maybe a patch and fix IDK but you are in good hands with the pros from this site. Normally this site is discovered by homeowners only After bad installation or even unnecessary replacement .

Regards,

RTW

JaymeHart · December 21

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1828404#Comment_1828404

Thanks. Well, I tend to be a DIY type of guy, and way back in college I had a summer job with the Plumbers and Electricians who serviced all of the campus building boilers. My job was to climb inside and clean the boiler empty tank during the summer season. But I learned a lot about boilers that summer, so when I bought a steam heated house. i was pretty excited to have some prior knowledge of how it worked.

Replacement is way outa my DIY league tho.

ethicalpaul · December 22

No it isn't 🙂 But maybe in the winter it's not the best time to try

dabrakeman · December 22

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1828382#Comment_1828382

Does it work better with cinnamon and raisins?

dopey27177 · December 23

I can only give you what I learned from the guys before me and what worked when I had to replace my boiler.

Raisons and cinnamon don't help but the oat meal did.

The oat meal is cheaper than stop leak.

Jake

Single Pipe Steam - crack in boiler

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