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Can I use new oil boiler to replace old? Old is leaking. Old has vent, looks like new does not? TY

Rkal
Rkal Member Posts: 2
edited October 9 in Oil Heating
IMG_8863.jpeg IMG_8866.jpeg

new

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old

Comments

  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,765

    That’s not a DIY project. Get someone who knows what they’re doing.

    Improper installation of a boiler can cause an explosion or CO poisoning.

    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
    HydronicMikeHVACNUTtechforlife
  • Rkal
    Rkal Member Posts: 2

    TY- yes I do know that and would have a plumber install. But is the new a good replacement for the old?

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 14,334

    need way more information. is it hot water oir steam? what is the system it is connected to? if it is steam we need to know the edr of the connected radiation, if it is hot water we need to know the heat loss of the building.

    techforlife
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 26,430

    Who knows? Nowhere near enough information to tell.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    mattmia2
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 11,173

    If your old boiler is way oversized and you experienced short cycling in the coldest days of the winter, then the replacement boiler is too big. If the old boiler didn't properly heat the home then it might be too small. If Goldilocks selected the old boiler and it was "just right", then that replacement boiler will probably work fine.

    What I am saying is: to select a replacement boiler you should have a professional measure your home for a heat loss calculation. Many older homes had Coal Boilers that were converted to Oil and even to Gas. When those old conversions were replaced, the plumber may have selected the replacement based on the coal boiler size. Many of those coal boilers were oversized by as much as double or more. If your home's heat loss is only 60,000 BTUh then that replacement boiler is way too big.

    But if you are asking “will the new boiler do the same job as the old one”… it is very close to the same size so it will do the job in the same way as the older boiler did, short cycling, wasting fuel and costing you more than you need to spend for comfort.  And who wants to spend more on fuel oil at today's prices?

    Think about the last time it was the coldest day of the year and the old boiler was operating to keep you comfortable. Did the oil burner shut off for 10 minutes or more a couple of times during the hour? If it did then it is too big.

    a boiler that can produce 138,000 NET BTUh installed in a home that needs 60,000 BTUh on the coldest day will get hot so fast that the water temperature will reach the high limit setting and the burner will shut off for some time. When the water temperature drops below the high limit setting the burner will come back on. If the burner operates 10 minutes on and ten minutes off for several hours at a time, then the 138,000 BTU capacity is actually only 69,000 BTUh. It only operates for 30 minutes every hour so it only needs to be a 69,000 BTU capacity heater.  I hope this helps you to decide on the proper course forward.

    Mr. Ed

    Edward Young Retired

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

    rick in Alaska
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 11,173
    edited October 8

    Another thought about this:

    Not all plumbers are good at boilers and/or oil heat. Be sure to get someone that understands boilers and how to install them so as not to create air problems on the hydronics side of the system. And your fuel oil dealer should know if someone is good with oil heat systems.

    Screenshot 2025-10-08 at 3.40.05 PM.png

    Take special note of this near boiler pumping arrangement commonly called Pumping Away. The order of the components shown in blue are crucial to proper air control in the closed system.

    Edward Young Retired

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

  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 7,034

    Who's Lou?

  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 2,870

    Is it a fact the system is Hot Water ? The old boiler looks like Steam or Hot Water the new boiler is just Hot Water.

    image.png image.png
    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System