Ancient boiler HELP!
I have an ancient steam heat boiler in my basement. It was originally coal and converted to gas long before I came along. The conversion burner has died of old age. I am trying to find someone to replace it. The boiler still works great at just won't turn on or off by itself anymore.
I have called every heating plumber and mechanical place in my area. I am located halfway between Chicago and Detroit.
Does anyone know anyone who can help me?
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Hello Rina,
Please visit the find a plumber page here on the Heating Help Forum home page.
If after searching for a steam licensed plumber in your area within 50 miles you cannot find someone you should contact your local plumbing inspector in your county and ask for list of steam licensed plumbers that can help you with your repair needs as he or she will know who can work on steam heating systems.
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I was hoping tagging @GGross in your last post might have him give you some leads. You can try Hutzel in Ann Arbor, see if they still have someone that knows combustion and conversion burners. There must be someone in Lansing and Grand Rapids.
you can look on the national comfort institute's page for someone in the area that is certified for combustion.
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I don't have many contacts that far south for service unfortunately. Most of the installers and techs down that way that I deal with are contacting me about viessmann systems.
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Your Coal conversion to Gas may have an antique gas burner. You may just need a simple part replacement that has nothing to do with steam. Call your gas company and see it they have service people that can help you. I like to think of it this way. If your gas burner is not burning any gas, the gas company is not making any money selling any gas. It is in their best interest to get your heater working.
Edward Young Retired
After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?
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This is their system, it is a conversion burner with an ancient gas train
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@Rina, you're not getting a modern gas power burner installed without major fabrication to the burner door. Did you send pics to the heating, plumbing, and mechanical places? If so, maybe thats why the lack of feedback. Below is an example of a modern power burner. You can see the difference in the big rectangle opening in the existing burner compared to the round air tube on a modern power burner.
Having a burner that has "GYROSCOPIC - BALANCE" is really awesome, but maybe it's time to upgrade the whole system. Then I'm sure they'll all come knocking.
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All the old timers that would even try to do a modernization of that coal boiler are long gone. It is time to get a new boiler. That may be a hard ask because there may not be a steam boiler installer near you that can get it right. I would interview as many plumbing and heating companies as you can get to answer the phone and ask them if they own a copy of The Lost Art of Steam by Dan Holahan. If they do not, then they are disqualified as incompetent.
Any boiler installer that attempts to do this job must be able to read the instruction manual and follow the piping diagram included with it. That near boiler piping in the I/O manual is like a gospel for steam boilers. If you don’t follow that manual to the letter and each pipe fitting is in the proper order, then you will be condemned to the underworld of inoperative heaters. That is a recipe for disaster if you get someone to learn that they don't ever want to install another steam boiler ever again after installing your new boiler.
I remember selling a replacement steam boiler when I worked for a fuel oil dealer. The job went very well. After I left that company, I found a customer that needed a steam boiler and the new company I worked for didn't do boilers. I recommended my old employer. They told the customer that they stopped selling steam boilers when I left the company because they had no one that knew how to do it.
There was another plumber that took the job and he did a great job, but we are a dying breed. The youngsters are just not learning how to do it anymore.
Edward Young Retired
After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?
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Where is @offdutytech located? Maybe he knows someone. If the boiler is old you may not want to do a "through the door conversion" You can still get the old style gas burners. You could call Midco they are in Chicago and make burners:
Midco International, Inc.
4140 West Victoria Street
Chicago, IL 60646-6727Call UsToll-Free:(866) 705-0514Maybe they can steer you in the right direction.
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Who is it that is in Chicago? Is it @The Steam Whisperer ? Replacing that is a complicated job, I would try to convince an expert to make a road trip. Making the current conversion burner work or replacing it is a little less complicated. Maybe find someone that works on commercial gas power burners.
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In the Detroit area, but I can call my hydronics supplier and see he would recommend closer to your area. What city/town are you close to?
Owner of Grunaire Climate Solutions. Check us out under the locate a contractor section. Located in Detroit area.
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