Heating Help

only thing worse than a 68

@ March 2, 2013 12:55 PM in weil mclain oil boiler help please

was a Hydrotherm

too square

@ March 2, 2013 12:53 PM in Burnham V7

Ron, I'm thinking that the rep that told you that was also square. Even had V-8 leakers. Just poor and too thin of a casting. Like I said before, that was originally an American Standard boiler when Burnham bought them out and became Burnham-America. Never had a problem with the early "V" series boilers, and the design has remained the same right thu to top the 8, besides swing out burners, and improved clean-out access. Too bad a lot of them didn't show up until the blocks were into the 10th thru _ part of the warranty period. Sorry, can't help you. 

QB burners

@ March 2, 2013 9:51 AM in weil mclain oil boiler help please

I agree with Ice. Only problem with these burners, is that they disappeared , and parts are scarce. Your problem is evidently a fuel supply problem, and no burner in the world will run under those circumstances. If you do upgrade due to techs with little to no knowledge, I would go with a Carlin EZ-1 on that. They are the best match. My opinion is if the techs are just telling you it is "junk", they need to be more professional and explain to you why you need to spend $$$ to please them. Have they done vacuum tests? All fittings flare? As mentioned, stick the tank with water finding paste? Filters-brand/amount, and location? 1 or 2 pipe system? Underground tanks are taboo nowadays. I would install a 275 or 330 in the basement and be done with it. 

funny

@ February 28, 2013 1:37 PM in Burnham V7

thermal shock never was an issue with V-1, or even when they were American Standards

I guess it's 8 years

@ February 24, 2013 9:55 PM in Whining upon shutdown, Still, even with a new furnace>!

There is another link that will support that. We have had this Tigerloop thingy before. It is good for some, and they swear by them. In 30 years, I have never needed one. Just one more potential oil leak or spill. I have all the scenarios that you also have. Overhead, mile long runs, finished basements, etc. Also an oversized line is an air problem within itself where it is not warranted, and taking leaking 2 pipe systems out of operation will save oil.  I have removed leaking tigerloops, and ones that were actually moaning during operation. Strange but true. 

still for me

@ February 24, 2013 7:22 PM in favorite zone valve?

Honeywell

easy to find out

@ February 24, 2013 7:16 PM in No domestic hot water from oil fired on demand boiler

by holding all 3 buttons in at once, you will be in  the "I" mode of that control. By pressing the "I" button, it will scroll thru all the settings. The other 2 buttons have arrows to make adjustments. This needs to be set closer to 170 LO, and 190 HI limit. Also, the switching relay mounted to the side is could be another problem. Pull the cover off and take a pic. I'm sure the coil is also on it's way out giving it's age. May be time to spend some money. I would hire a pro to check it out

saving oil, and solves all problems

@ February 24, 2013 6:58 PM in Whining upon shutdown, Still, even with a new furnace>!

those  statements are new to me. I have never had the need to solve a problem with a tigerloop. Most people that install them also think they have no life expectancy, or never leak. They need to be replaced after I think 5-6 years? Two pipe is a thing of the past, mostly due to underground storage tanks becoming taboo. I prefer to see an OSV at the tank, positive shut off, fireomatic valves at both ends, and flare fittings with a protected supply line. Life don't get any better than that

are there

@ February 24, 2013 12:50 PM in Whining upon shutdown, Still, even with a new furnace>!

coils on both ends? I see it often where there is no coil of line at both ends of the supply line. Pumps make a slight gear noise when in operation. Send it back to the tank, and it is magnified to say the least. Can you provide some pics? Filter brand/model/location? The noise is not an air problem. What is the vacuum reading? Near boiler piping  close to line? If overhead, how is the line secured? Need more info. There are also anti-hum valves that can be installed, last resort ofcourse

only way

@ February 24, 2013 11:22 AM in Rattling sound

to successfully purge, is always one zone at a time, and if the zone is a split loop, only 1 half at a time

yes Mel

@ February 24, 2013 10:24 AM in Rattling sound

an external pump to recirc the existing water. I like to do it that way anyway, water or antifreeze. After 30 years, your back and lugging 5 gallon buckets don't go hand and hand anymore

tigerloop

@ February 24, 2013 9:58 AM in Whining upon shutdown, Still, even with a new furnace>!

will not stop a pump whine. These things are not a cure all. I would also say this has an overhead line

also

@ February 24, 2013 9:56 AM in Help!! Strong Oil Smell

he said  "from the very beginning, there was a strong oil smell in the entire house". Sounds like a leak somewhere. We need more info.

Mel

@ February 24, 2013 9:50 AM in Rattling sound

If they have ever worked with, or heard of antifreeze, have them purge the system by pump. They will not be introducing more fresh water in to the system, they will be using the existing water content to purge the air out. These guys are sounding more and more pathetic as I read your posts. I have yet to run into an EK that has an air-bound zone, or has an air problem

Erie

@ February 19, 2013 6:39 AM in erie zone valve issue

I would recommend that you start replacing them with Honeywell.They power open, and spring closed. I have had many problems with those thru the years with stuff like the plastic gears stripping ,the flat rubber washer coming unattached, and end switches on those. The 24 volt motor can be replaced though. Poor man's Honeywell

I like

@ February 18, 2013 6:27 PM in How many strand t-stat wire?

6 cord thermostat wire. Is there going to be a humidistat up in the house? A/C ?

I have gotten rid of them

@ February 18, 2013 6:22 PM in Spare Parts

They have turned to garbage. Poor quality, high price. 

also

@ February 18, 2013 6:20 PM in broken bleed valve on burner

someone may not know how to set that burner up right, but it is a flame retention burner. They have come a long way since it, but it can burn much better than what I am seeing. Also looks like the smoke pipe comes out of the chimney. That needs to be secured to stop that from happening

needs cleaning to start with

@ February 18, 2013 6:17 PM in broken bleed valve on burner

That needs some servicing. Have you landlord get that done. The "soot" that is in that boiler is costing you more to heat. It is a great form of insulation. You can still bleed this pump with a 7/16 box wrench. That is a "J" pump as I thought. The early pumps only had 1/8" plugs there, some you needed an allen wrench. If you are neat about it, you can loosen that plug with a pan under the pump, and bleed. Problem it that it will spray, so you also need a can or cup to try and catch it as well. A new burner would be a major plus here, along with a good cleaning.

never broken one off either

@ February 17, 2013 3:39 PM in broken bleed valve on burner

but changed a few because some gorilla kept over tightening and ruined the seat. 99% of the time, the tenant is responsible for the fuel. The landlord will not pay for a start due to a run out. Maybe it broke off trying to loosen it, and not when it was tightened after bleeding? The later J and H pumps had white metal bleeder, and not steel, and were not "beefy". Possibly one of those?  Either way, 10% is probably a low #. I would line that chamber, the brick is probably crumbling, install a Beckett AFG, and do some baffling. Maybe the run outs would not be as frequent. Anyone know if there is a gauge on the tank, where it is located?

those

@ February 17, 2013 1:48 PM in National Convectors

are 50's-early 60's. Although cast iron is the best, JMHO, these were damn close. 

Ice

@ February 17, 2013 1:43 PM in broken bleed valve on burner

you are preaching to the choir, but he is a tenant, and probably has a slumlord that he is feeding fuel to this thing with the drafty windows, no insulation, and so on. I'm sure the tenant would love new efficient heating equipment also, but he is not the owner. I see this all the time. Unfortunately the tenant will pay for the pump replacement. If he could afford a new boiler, he would be living and installing one in his own house, and not keeping a landlords house from freezing during the winter months