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1933 Burnham Boiler - Questions and Potential Replacement

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os2man4
os2man4 Member Posts: 2
edited August 3 in Strictly Steam

I recently purchased a house that has quite a history. Original house was built in 1820, but redone in 1933. A newer section was constructed in the 80's. The older section (approximately 3800 sq feet is currently heated by a Series G-1 Number 2708 (Included pictures of the boiler and the data plate in this message). I've been attempting to find out more information on the unit without success. I found a post with a catalog https://www.heatinghelp.com/assets/documents/185.pdf

but I can't correlate what I see on the data plate with what is in the catalog. Can anyone assist me in finding information on the unit / understanding the spec sheet? I am seriously considering replacing it with a modern unit as my heating bill was quite large. I'd like to know more information about how it is currently sized to compare it with my notes for selecting / deciding about a replacement.

The system is a 1 pipe setup with two feeds and two returns, one for the back of the house and one for the front. The burner has a 2 GPH nozzle on it.

Some thoughts that I had that I would like to double check if my logic is sound

When the heat was running during the winter, standing in the boiler room, it must have been 100 degrees. Seems to me that if the boiler is outputting that much heat into the room, its heat that's not heating my house (while a basement shouldn't be freezing, I don't need it to be a sauna).

I am aware that the boiler and pipes are asbestos covered and that would need to be remediated for any replacement plan. I am also understanding that getting the old boiler out of the basement is going to be fun (but its something I have accounted for).

The boiler must have at least a hundred galloons of water its heating up before it can make steam, it seems as if the newer boilers have significantly less water capacity which means they spend less money heating water mass before they make steam.

My main purpose right now is to decrease my oil usage and increase the temperature that the house can be set to.

Did a radiator steam calculation and came up with 634 sq ft of steam. Seems like a Megasteam or a Peerless would be an appropriate replacement (Pasted the specs below). Does this seem logical. The boilers seems significantly smaller then what I have and I just want a sanity check on what I am selecting before I pull the trigger on a purchase.

Thank you very much,

Jim

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Comments

  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 10,779

    You don't need to know anything about that old boiler to replace it with a new boiler.  You need to find out how much equivalent direct radiation is connected to that old burnham.  With that info, you can select the proper replacement  boiler

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

    mattmia2Mad Dog_2
  • os2man4
    os2man4 Member Posts: 2

    Totally agree, my local HVAC Company who currently services my boiler helped me do a steam calc and came up with 634 sq feet, so that makes sense, but I would like to understand from a financial perspective how close what I have is. I have a feeling that its over sized, which would lend myself to replacing it being worth it. I would hate to spend a significant amount of time and money to wind up with a newer boiler and the same or close to it annual heating cost. That money and time might be better spent elsewhere (like maybe windows).

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,903

    That Burnham 2708 is rated 1550 square feet. Double-check your radiation- also see if any rads have been removed over the years.

    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    bburd
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 18,279

    As @EdTheHeaterMan said there is no information about the old boiler that will be useful.

    If you double check the load calculation (radiation) and its right that is the # to use.

    The biggest question is how does the house heat? just trying to find out if you need any work on the system such as venting which can save fuel.

    If the boiler works and is not leaking, you may want to do insulation and windows first.

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 13,602

    the actual input and out put will be set by how the oil burner is set up. coal boilers typically weren't fired at their full capacity for a number of reasons. it looks like that is a multi pass boiler so if all the baffles are in place and the oil conversion was done well the efficiency might not be terrible.

    delcrossv
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 18,279

    The actual combustion efficiency is probably good but the seasonal efficency not so much as you are heating a lot of water up and have larger stand by losses.

  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 10,779

    https://www.heatinghelp.com/systems-help-center/how-to-replace-an-old-steam-heating-boiler/ . this is picture proof that you don't need the old boiler specifications. Uncanny about the picture in this article is SOOoooo close to the boiler in @os2man4's post

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

    mattmia2
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 13,602

    Is this one pipe or 2 pipe? You can undersize 2 pipe a far bit to get closer to the actual heat loss with a reasonably well functioning system. It can be done with 1 pipe as well but everything has to be perfect to not end up with parts that won't heat.

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