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I need a new furnace/boiler in my 100 year old house!

ER
ER Member Posts: 27
in THE MAIN WALL
Lisa, Last year I bought a house down the road from you in Prov. It has two steam boilers recently installed by GEM. Never ever think about anything by GEM. Their tags are all over the basement and everything is screwed up. They couldn't even solder copper fitting judging by the solder drips everywhere.

The steam mostly works well. Got lucky I guess. The near boiler piping was replaced with copper without insulation! part of one wet return is angled up hill and the main vent was not reinstalled. The boiler is sized for 270 EDR but there is only 160 EDR worth of radiators.

It mostly works but could be so much more efficient. I've only recently figured much of this out and am currently getting a plan together to clean it up.

The one positive note I have for you is that 1" thick fiberglass insulation for the steam pipes is very hard to find. As far as I can tell the only place in Prov. with it is Packings and Insulations Corp. on Corliss St. near the main post office.

Did I mention don't ever think about GEM.

Eric

Comments

  • Lisa_3
    Lisa_3 Member Posts: 5
    Advise about new burner

    Hi, I am the owner of a three story Victorian house in Attleboro, MA. We were just told that the lack of heat was caused by a cracked something inside the furnace. I actually saw the water dripping into the chamber. So now we have a salesman scheduled to come out to give us an estimate on Monday, and it's CHILLY today! I hate to be sold a system with no idea of what would be ideal for our home. Since we have to spend the money anyway, this is the time to update and improve our heating situation. I would appreciate any advise on who is a trustworthy company in my area and would give me some advise and install what we need within our budget.

    At least its April, and not the dead of winter! Thanks, Lisa
  • Steamhead (in transit)
    Steamhead (in transit) Member Posts: 6,688
    Do you have

    a steam or hot-water system?

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
  • J.C.A._3
    J.C.A._3 Member Posts: 2,980
    Lisa,

    Any pictures?

    That will help lots. Chris
  • Mike E_2
    Mike E_2 Member Posts: 81


    Is is oil, natual gas, or propane?
  • ed wallace
    ed wallace Member Posts: 1,612
    new boiler needed

    to paraphraze an old tv series danger Lisa danger, salesman are not the best people to give you a qoute on a new heating system is your boiler gas, oil steam , or hot water if hot water they have to do a full heat loss on the building if steam they need to count and measure all the radiators and do count on the connected load do not let them just eyeball the house and give you a price go to the find a prodessional listing at the top left of this page and find a real heating pro

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
  • Lisa_3
    Lisa_3 Member Posts: 5
    Victorian Heat Advise again

    I forgot...we have 13 rooms on three stories. Its an oil fired steam system with large cast iron radiators...which I like a lot and want to keep. Having heat come out of the radiators on the third floor has always been an issue unless I am willing to have no heat on the first floor where the only thermostat is located.

    Thanks again,
    Lisa
  • Lisa_3
    Lisa_3 Member Posts: 5


    What would you need pictures of? the boiler? the pipes? the radiators? By the way, I love this website! I have never been able to find anyone...plumbers, oil companies who could give me advise on my steam system. I am actually learning a lot here. Thanks for all your help.

    Lisa
  • Ron Schroeder
    Ron Schroeder Member Posts: 995
    Yes to all pictures

    The more the better to see what you have
  • ed wallace
    ed wallace Member Posts: 1,612
    old victorian

    Lisa you have other problems other then needing a new boiler please find a good steam man to look at your system do not be fooled into going with a hot water system I can do a site visit and give you a quote on a new boiler

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
  • Brad White_54
    Brad White_54 Member Posts: 4
    Lisa

    I will give the most basic advice I can by strongly suggesting you try the "Find a Professional" tab above right on this site, type in your zip code and see who may best serve you. (EDIT: Ed Wallace himself comes highly recommended by the way. Well worth you two getting in touch.)

    Take what Ed Wallace said to the bank. It is essential to know with certainty for any steam system boiler replacement how much radiation is connected to the system.

    The building heat loss has little to do with sizing a steam system when a direct replacement is about to happen. (Sure if you insulated your house and improved it in many ways that is one thing, but you would have to reduce your radiators to match the heat loss. No need to go there now.)

    Other critical aspects of the installation have to do with the "near boiler piping" with certain critical pipe sizes and dimensions that a professional will know about.

    If your scheduled contractor does not measure the radiation, suggests using copper piping (ostensibly to keep costs down), or takes other short-cuts, show them the door. Look elsewhere.

    Things to look for in the proposal are the brand of boiler; each you will see mentioned on this site (Burnham, H.B. Smith, Weil-McLain, Utica, Peerless, etc. plus others) each has their own following. Key to selection is service; does the installing contractor have a relationship with the manufacturer such that they can support the equipment in service?

    Materials: All steam piping should be Schedule 40 steel (ASTM B-53 in case you want to be a show-off! :) and Schedule 80 for the return piping is preferred for longevity. Not copper except for feedwater piping.

    You have a couple of phases of this, the first being to get you back on your "heating feet", the next being, if necessary, to refine the operation with pipe insulation, fine pressure controls (vapor-stat versus pressurtrol), better building-wide controls, TRV vent valves in "too warm" rooms and appropriate vents in any event, to name a few things. Your lack of heat on the third floor may well be related to venting.

    Many of us, even those who favor hot water heat, I am sure applaud you for wanting to keep the old radiators. Restoring a steam system to operation is a noble thing and with refinements can be remarkably efficient and fast to respond.

    Let's just get you set up with a properly sized quality boiler and work on the details shortly thereafter.

    Hope this helps-

    Brad
  • Jim Bennett
    Jim Bennett Member Posts: 607
    You have come to the right place!

    Any you have said the words we LOVE to hear!

    "Its an oil fired steam system with large cast iron radiators...which I like a lot and want to keep."

    We LOVE you Lisa :)

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

  • Jerry_15
    Jerry_15 Member Posts: 379


    Lisa, you couldn't do better than the advice you will get here, although there is occasional debate on the finer points. Brad's advice about the building heat loss on a direct replacement is right on mark. Don't get sucked in to exotic solutions to a simple problem. Experience sometimes trumps knowledge. Having a little of both don't hurt. Track down Ed!! Sorry Brad, couldn't help myself.
  • Brad White_9
    Brad White_9 Member Posts: 2,440
    It's tough love, Jerry

    That's how I take it! :)

    It's all good. Thanks!

    Brad

    p.s: I have an idea- let's surprise Lisa and get her a "Save the Radiators" T-shirt. Shhh. Don't tell....
  • Jerry_15
    Jerry_15 Member Posts: 379


    No problemo, I thrive on abuse.
  • Dave Palmer_3
    Dave Palmer_3 Member Posts: 388
    .

    Hi Lisa, Call Dupuis Oil in Pawtucket. We have been in business over a 100 years installing systems and fuel oil.If it's a oil unit we could come out to look at it and give you a quote if you need a new one. 722-0080 is our main number,ask for Wayne or Marc,good luck Dave
    www.dupuisoil.com
  • Lisa_3
    Lisa_3 Member Posts: 5


    Thanks so much for all the advise. I am still here reading as I shiver! No rush though, the wool sweaters are still out.

    I am going to get a couple of estimates and see who wows me with their expertise, as verified here on this website.

    I can not imagine getting rid of my fabulous and HUGE radiators. There's not a baseboard unit in the world that could possibly heat my house with 9 foot ceilings and no insulation. And what would I do with all that wall space?

    I am anxiously awaiting my t shirt, although its chilly enough in this house that I may not be able to try it on for months!

    Lisa
  • Jerry_15
    Jerry_15 Member Posts: 379


    Yikes! You must have a lawyer in the family.
This discussion has been closed.

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