which boiler parts should be preemptively replaced?

Nom_Deplume · December 21

Hello…homeowner here. Our HTP fire tube boiler is running like a champ in its 13th year. The only thing that has ever needed replacement is the refractory disk, which was crumbling. We've also replaced the expansion tank.

But maybe it is a good idea to replace some boiler parts next summer, rather than have them go bad in winter when it would be an emergency. In your experience, which parts are now more likely to fail given more than a decade of use? The fan? Anything else? (Ignitor and flame sensor are clean and sensor is reading normal current.)

Also, how about circulators? Our are Grundfos 3-speeds, UPS15-58, running for maybe 20 years.

Many thanks for any suggestions!

kcopp · December 21

maybe have the parts on hand if you are concerned… No sense in messing around if all is working fine. Circulators are pretty robust but having one around is not a bad plan.

EBEBRATT-Ed · December 21

13 years old I would make a list of parts and get prices. Might help with your decision. Some mod con MFGs stop making parts available after 15-20 years. Some sooner.

Ware and tare parts like gaskets, ignitor, flame sensor and refractory I would probably get Circulators I would not stock they are readily available. Fan and blower assembly and "The main brain" are $$$ and a harder decision

EdTheHeaterMan · December 22

When I sold a lot of Crown Boilers there was this kit I purchased to service the ModCon boiler they purchased from Europe and rebranded. After sell about 6 of them, I purchased the kit. it had an ignitor, flame sensor, gaskets for the heat exchanger and flue collector, the electronic control that operated everything, some temperature sensors that would clip onto the pipes, and a flue gas temperature sensor that was pushed thru a high temperature rubber gasket of some type. How many circulators are on your system? are they all the same? If so, I would get one of those. With about 15 boilers of that model total, I only used one control board and one flue temperature sensor in the 7 years after I started using that boiler until I retired.

That Kit went with the new owner of my customer list. I'm not sure he knows he even has that kit if parts are needed.

Nom_Deplume · December 22

Many thanks for the suggestions!

We have primary/secondary with two loops so 3 circulators. I can buy one, but it is true that they are also available locally in case of emergency.

It is the blower assembly and the circuit board that I was worrying about. It's a big investment, but no more expensive than one after-hours no-heat call. Anyway, thanks again!

which boiler parts should be preemptively replaced?

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