Replace or Rebuild or Convert

Stardance · 5:03PM

My steam boiler has developed a slow leak. I've talked with three local contractors regarding the best solution and have gotten three very different answers.

One contractor says we may be able to rebuild depending on if it's the seal that's leaking or one or two sections. He also gave me a price for putting in a new boiler.

Another contractor says rebuilding is never a good solution. So he gave me a price that was twice what the first contractor gave me for a new boiler.

The third contractor thinks I should convert to a hot water system.

I have attached photos of the burner and the boiler info. I have no idea what the cost of installing a new boiler should be or if it's a good idea to attempt a rebuild or a hot water conversion.

I live in a small town in the midwest. My house, radiators and piping are 100 urs. old. The boiler has worked fine since I acquired the house six yrs. ago. It's a 2 pipe steam system.

Any feedback appreciated.

pecmsg · 5:49PM

show number three the door

have number one and number two measure the EDR?
If not you can throw them out also.

250,000 BTU/h, 630 EDR is huge

KC_Jones · 5:51PM

Based on the corrosion I see on that burner tray I'd say it's way more than a slow leak. I have the same boiler and when my original got a leak it dripped all winter to the tune of gallons per day and didn't corrode the burners that much. Either you've had a leak for years, or the leak is fairly bad.

Based on that label it appears to be a 1994 vintage which is 32 years old. For me it makes no sense to try and rebuild a 32 year old boiler.

Replacement of the steam boiler would be my vote. That said, you need to make sure they do it right, starting with sizing the boiler correctly. You have a fairly large boiler for a single family home and I'd guess it's oversized. I'd be taking measurements and working up the size myself first to verify they are doing it correctly. We are happy to help with this part, it's fairly easy to do. After that they need to make sure to follow the manual and pipe it correctly in black pipe. I would suggest you get that in writing so you have some accountability for them. We don't discuss pricing here, but it's going to be expensive no matter which choice you make.

EBEBRATT-Ed · 5:54PM

Don't switch to hot water so take that off the list.

Obviously the water has been leaking down on to the burners and rusted them up. Weather the boiler can be fixed is something difficult to tell from here. Weil Mclain makes good boilers so there is that and that boiler is still made.

That is a large boiler 250, 000 btus

The first thing to do because a lot of boilers installed in the past are oversized (this isn't a good thing; more is not better) is to measure all of the radiators and determine the EDR capacity. This will point you to the correct boiler size. We can help with that. We need height, length and width and some pictures.

This may seem like nonsense if your old boiler did the job, but trust me it is important.

We also can't talk price on this forum so there is that.

Once you have the total EDR load we can pick the boiler.

The most important thing is the correct contractor that knows steam. He has to pipe the boiler in accordance with the instruction manual and skim the water when he is done. Again, I can't stress this enough. Some contractors are hacks (sad to say) and will not follow the instructions.

Don't become a 'Heating HelpHorror Story"

Jamie Hall · 5:57PM

As @pecmsg , your number three — the hot water conversion — is worthless. They may be a good person — but not someone you want "helping" you. Bye-bye.

Now on rebuild or replace. That type of boiler is, generally, excellent — so the real question is exactly what is leaking and where. It may be quite possible to repair it, as your number one says— if it is a leaking seal and the problem hasn't been going on too long. On the other hand, a straight replacement could also be done, and would not be difficult — that boiler is still made. @pecmsg had a good point, though: has anyone added up the actual radiators in the house? That's what determines the size of a steam boiler, and it is possible that a smaller boiler of the same basic design might work. It would be worth finding out.

mattmia2 · 6:03PM

converting to hot water is a terrible idea. fix the steam problems. hot water is a lot more pressure and weight on the piping and you may find leaks in pipes or radiators you don't have at the .5 psig or so the steam is at.

how old is the boiler? a rebuild is likely only a good idea in a small boiler if it is pretty new and it is because of gasket failures. you spend the labor to take it apart and put it back together then a section rust out and you have to do it again or replace the boiler anyhow.

Stardance · 9:03PM

Thank you, everyone.
@KC_Jones, @EBEBRATT-Ed: I will go measure the radiators and post them tonight. Thank you!

Steamhead · 10:05PM

@Stardance where in the Midwest are you located? We might know someone……………….

Replace or Rebuild or Convert

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