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Wisdom of a Used Boiler?

bill_mcgonigle | Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on April 25, 2008 07:58am

I’m involved with a building project that’s going to be tearing down a dilapidated house which houses about 30 students and replacing it in one (or at the most two) year’s time. I’m also the guy the student house manager calls when he has a conundrum. 🙂

Last week the boiler started leaking. The oil man came out and diagnosed it as having a crack in the cast-iron tank. The unit is ancient, probably from the 50’s from what I can tell, so we don’t owe it anything, and the weather has turned nice, so we don’t need heat until the Fall (the domestic hot water is separate).

I need to figure out how to get them heat for next winter, and probably only next winter. The oil company is strictly interested in selling a new unit – this one is a steam unit rated for 334,000 BTU’s according to the side-plate. Not on the cheap side, and I’ve got a limited maintenance budget to work with. If the new house were going to have steam heat this would be a no-brainer, but it won’t.

I see on the web several companies advertising used boilers. On paper this sounds like the right solution. But then I wonder about the condition of the fittings, bimetallic corrosion, etc. I also see some references to re-manufactured boilers.

So, the question to the group is, “am I crazy for pursing this line of thought?” Am I asking for a world of hurt halfway through the winter or is this commonplace in a certain segment of the industry?

Also, any less-bad ideas are much appreciated!


Edited 4/25/2008 3:43 pm ET by bill_mcgonigle

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  1. Brooks | Apr 25, 2008 09:20pm | #1

    Heating boilers are very low pressure. Moving an old unit may cause
    cracks. My vote is for a re-manufactured unit with newer controls
    (for safety's sake). I'd certainly speak with the local inspection
    guys to get their thoughts.

    My 2 cents worth...

  2. bender2 | Apr 25, 2008 09:56pm | #2

    Have you tried calling the state regulating agency for boilers?  There may be other ways to solve this.  Where I live it is possible to repair a cast iron boiler.  It requires a welder with an "R" stamp,  inspections, etc.  It isn't cheap and probably not a good long-term fix in your case but you only need a year.  Middle size mechanical contractors would also either be able to do the work or know who could. 

    Repairing boilers is not uncommon,  just not common on small boilers where the repair is often a significant portion of replacement cost.  Large commercial/industrial boilers are often welded.  Just don't even think about it without the proper paperwork etc.

    If you go this route then have them also tune up the boiler, adjust the burner,  check all the controls and check the water treatment.  Cracks aren't caused by the calendar.

    1. User avater
      bill_mcgonigle | Apr 25, 2008 10:13pm | #3

      This would be a good option. I'll look into it, thanks!

      1. User avater
        ErnieK | Apr 25, 2008 10:34pm | #4

        I guess I am with Bender, probably easier and cheaper to repair if you are looking at just a year or slightly longer.  I have installed quite a few CI boilers, most were sectional making for a relatively easy repair.  Repair welding on boilers does require specific stamps so look for that.

        Not sure I would trust a used boiler without an absolutely positive warranty.  

        BTW..what brand boiler?

        Edited 4/25/2008 3:35 pm ET by ErnieK

        1. User avater
          bill_mcgonigle | Apr 25, 2008 10:41pm | #5

          BTW..what brand boiler?

          Peerless.

          I found a company just half an hour away with a R stamp, so I have a message out to them to see if they'll work on such a small rig.

          Edited 4/25/2008 3:41 pm ET by bill_mcgonigle

  3. User avater
    bill_mcgonigle | Apr 25, 2008 11:20pm | #6

    Update: the guy from the R-stamp'ed welder called me right back and said, yeah, they could do it, but the amount of paperwork and permitting the State puts them through to be able to start the job winds up costing a couple grand to just get started. ("Live Free or Die" - ha!) The weld is then relatively cheap, but for a boiler our size it's not going to be cost effective.

    He suggested that I might be able to get a replacement section for the boiler if the boiler is sectional, and that replacing the fire-side and water-side seals between all the sections, which isn't much more labor once you're in there, would stand a good chance of averting further problems for as long as I need this thing to work.

    I'm not yet sure if the oil company doesn't do this, it isn't an option for our boiler, or they thought they could just sell the kid a new boiler.

    1. rich1 | Apr 26, 2008 01:20am | #7

      Most steam boilers can be converted to water.  Talk to the manufacturers reps.

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