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Richardson 1282 boiler

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brooklyn_brit
brooklyn_brit Member Posts: 1
in THE MAIN WALL
16634.jpg

We're looking to buy an old house in Brooklyn and it has this ancient thing in the basement - a Richardson 1282? We've been told it's a gas and hot water system.

Though it seems to work, our assumption is that it would be best to replace it before we move in because the cladding probably has asbestos.

Do readers agree? and is it really 80+ years old? That seems wild!

Comments

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 7,289

    without taking samples and analyzing it I cannot say 100% that it is Asbestos but I’m fairly certain it is.

    brooklyn_britbburdEdTheHeaterManJUGHNE
  • bburd
    bburd Member Posts: 1,319

    80 years old? Probably closer to 100 or more. It may be the original boiler in that house.

    —
    Bburd
    Mad Dog_2
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 18,722

    @brooklyn_brit , yes, they built things to last back then. It's probably original to the system. Unless a pump has been added, which I doubt, the water circulates by gravity. Originally it burned coal, then was converted to gas.

    We call it a "snowman" boiler, because of the white coating which I would say is asbestos until proven otherwise.

    There's probably an expansion tank located in the attic or a top-floor closet. This gives room for the water to expand as it is heated. Nowadays these tanks are placed in the boiler room.

    Regardless, it's probably around 40-45% efficient, and parts for that conversion burner can be hard to get (unobtainium?). I'd replace it on that basis. Any good cast-iron boiler, sized to the actual heat loss of the house, will work fine and last for decades if properly installed. You may need to have a stainless-steel liner installed in the chimney too, because of the lower exhaust temperature a new boiler would have.

    Some folks will say to use a super-efficient condensing boiler, but they need more maintenance, and I've had some interesting experiences finding parts for them. Also you can't exhaust them into a chimney, and not all houses have proper sidewall exhaust locations.

    The most important factor is a good contractor. Here's a good place to start:

    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/state/NY/

    All Steamed Up, Inc.

    Baltimore, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting

    pecmsgEdTheHeaterManbrooklyn_brit
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 12,514

    It takes a special kind of plumber/heating contractor to do the replacement of that boiler just right. I would get at least 2 estimates for that replacement job. Use the Find a contractor link @Steamhead posted. You may be surprised as what that job is going to cost, especially when the actual wholesale replacement boiler cost is only $2,XYZ.00 and the retail price to the consumer is over 5 times that much, or more. There is a lot to getting that old one out and the new one in.

    The other important point is selecting the correct size based on a heat loss calculation. You don't need 200,000 BTU input boiler if the home only needs 48,000 BTUh to stay warm on the coldest day of the year. Anything bigger that what you need can end up being more expensive to operate. That means that you will pay more for a bigger boiler so you can pay more to operate it. You don't want that.

    Edward Young Retired

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

  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,605

    How much of the piping can you see in the basement?

    It also most likely has the same insulation, that A word.

    You can have the boiler asbestos removed separately from the rest of the piping.

    However it is good to have it all gone.

    Seller should give you a good allowance for the abatement and also new boiler, IMO.

    Somebody here will want that gauge and door.

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 20,504

    T answer your questions:

    Yes, it should be replaced

    Yes, probably 100% that it has asbestos

    Yes, at least 80 years old and probably the original boiler.

    Their are a bunch of good contractors in NY @JohnNY , @EzzyT and @Mad Dog_2

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 17,499

    it does look like a modern gas valve has been retrofitted to the conversion burner so as long as parts of the burner itself don't rust out or crack (some versions of that type of burner have a refractory disc on top of the burner that is prone to cracking after 3/4 of a century or so and no longer available) parts are available for the burner for someone that knows what they are doing.

    if a mod con or a conventional cast iron boiler is the right choice depends on subtle details of the installation and even then is still usually pretty subjective. bringing a mod con vent out a sidewall can be less expensive than fixing a deteriorating chimney, bringing a vent out the sidewall can be challenging in some installations. mod cons usually take up less space. conventional boilers will need return water temp protection on a gravity conversion. a mod con can be more efficient and even on a gravity conversion. many times a cast iron boiler can last 2x or more longer than a mod con although neither will last as long as that original boiler.

    I think i see a bladder type expansion tank in the closet above the boiler.

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