Dunkirk v. Williamson/Weil McClain

Options
2»

Comments

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Posts: 7,599

    How often did that boiler cycle during cold weather?

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Posts: 27,878

    Nothing wrong with your fuel usage. And I wish I had a 1000 gallon tank… used to have a 2000 gallon underground, but the State regulations changed and the oil company wouldn't touch it any more. It was fine.

    Is this an above ground tank in the house? In which I case I would seriously consider having some one — likely not your oil dealer, since you seem to not have a regular one, but someone 00 check the tank for wall thickness and integrity. If you get a leak in that puppy, and you don't catch it right away, you are going to have a VERY expensive cleanup experience… if it's an underground tank… how old is it? Again, if it leaks, it's going to cost you big bucks.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • Steve_211
    Steve_211 Posts: 79
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1904702#Comment_1904702

    I didn't pay much attention to it, but on the initial start-up on the call for heat, it would fire, run a bit, then shut down due to the Cycle Guard. Then it would cycle up to 8 times per hour until the thermostat setting was reached. After that, maybe 4 or 5. The boiler is controlled by a vaporstat instead of a pressuretrol; ounces of steam. The house is over 100 years old with it's drafty characteristics and the only insulation being beneath the exterior siding and in the attic.

  • Steve_211
    Steve_211 Posts: 79
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1904720#Comment_1904720

    The tank is in the ground. I don't know how old it is, I got the house in 1982. I had it pressure tested around that time and the tank was sound. Since I have to replace my boiler and am converting to gas, it's not going to be filled from the last heating season. It's about empty now, around 50 gallons. Over the 43 years, I didn't experience an inordinate amount of oil consumption and/or odor, so I assume it's still sound.

  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Posts: 4,584

    " The boiler is controlled by a vaporstat instead of a pressuretrol; ounces of steam. "

    I would have used a timer to minimize the short cycling, especially with oil. Since your new boiler is also oversized it will probably still short cycle (hopefully less). And folks seem less concerned about beating the Gas Valve to death.

    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
  • Steve_211
    Steve_211 Posts: 79
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1904883#Comment_1904883

    What type of timer to minimize the short cycling would that be? What are they called and are they available at the neighboring plumbing & heating supply house?

  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Posts: 4,584
    edited October 8

    Its a "Delay on Break" Timer.

    I would not expect to find it locally.

    One source;

    https://www.supplyhouse.com/ICM-Controls-ICM203FB-ICM203F-Delay-on-Break-Timer-6-Wire-Leads-03-10-Minute-Knob-Adjust-Delay

    Some times hook up can be a bit fussy depending on your system.

    What it would do, as soon as the first burner shut down (of a thermostat cycle) due to pressure it opens the circuit so even after the pressure drops and the pressure switch (Pressuretrol and/or vaporstat) re-closes it keeps the burner off for a predetermined time period. You can adjust the time period.

    The way I see it, if you are building excessive pressure your radiators are probably saturated and don't need more steam so why burn fuel to make or maintain pressure. Delaying the restart of the burner may let the dissipation of the radiators satisfy the thermostat.

    Also, personally I don't like cycling mechanical things for no real benefit.

    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
    Steve_211
  • Steve_211
    Steve_211 Posts: 79
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1905739#Comment_1905739

    Thanks, I'll keep that in mind if short cycling becomes an issue. Regarding your recommended source, I know of and dealt with Supply House many times before when I couldn't locally find what I need.

Categories