I love to see old equipment like this still in service...it may be time to upgrade, but you can almost guarantee whatever goes in it's place will not last as long as this one did!
This old boiler is leaking slightly, and so it is slated for replacement. True, they are making the boilers with less metal, and therefore not as likely to last as long, but there are things that can be done to increase the life of modern steam boilers. The best thing is to tighten up the system to reduce water loss. Other things are to increase the pH of the boiler's water to above 7 (that is a discussion for others).
Indeed, but it was almost is too simple. What I mean to say is there were only a few safeties and limits, at best. The notorious LWCO #67 with its sticking float. The Hg pressure limit with its rusted shut steel pigtail (hope to show that on another video). The pilot that is directly connected to the gas line with only a manual shut off. A thermostat. A safety relief valve designed to spray steam directly into your face if it pops. A gas control valve with a manual over-ride that bypass ALL the limits. Sorry not sorry to see that boiler go.
NO WAY ! My exact boiler! Same BTU same everything. Exact model. Put in in 1962 and still works great. Gas valve I updated myself 8 years ago, Low Water cut off about 15 years ago, new pressuretrol about 5 years ago. This year new drain valve and pressure relief valve. I still had the same pressure relief valve like this boiler but didn't trust it. Gas valve was the old old type that had a sperate small gas line for the pilot. If the plot went out, the gas would still come out ! Updated it all. Had to learn myself from great videos like these all about Steam Heat. I live in Chicago, and you would be shocked if you knew how many heating and cooling places don't know about Steam Heat and won't touch it. Long story about my boiler, but interesting read to prove "Proffesionals" don't always know what they are doing ...... 5 years ago I was sick and bed bound. Couldn't do anything. It was very cold in the winter and my boiler started banging. I mean loud bangs like an explosion. I was able to take off a Radiator vent and that thing blew like it had 15 lbs. of pressure. I had this old type Pressuretrol like this one. I knew it was bad since at the time it was the only thing I never replaced. I called an "Expert" to come out and replace it. I made my way down to the basement. He said it's not the Pressuretrol, it's a clogged Radiator Vent. I told him it's not. The Pressuretrol shuts off the burner at 1 P.S.I. since that's what I had it set to and the boiler is building pressure to 13 PSI. My gauge was replaced so it worked. He said he had to order the Presuretrol and would be back the next day. The owner of the Heating and Cooling place that's been there 35 years told me "He don't want his guy changing the pressuretrol because thats not the problem, and his guy knows what he is doing, I'm not the Professional". I GOT SMOKING HOT ! I told him "You don't know your rear from a hole in the ground. It's not a vent. If I close every radiator, block every pipe, or every vent was blocked that boiler should shut off at 1 P.S.I." Presuretrol controls boiler pressure, has nothing to do with any Radiator". He hung up on me. Had my friend get the new Pressuretrol, was able to go down and show him how to change it. I'm back healthy again and ...... Boiler works perfect and still looks new. It's 2 years older than me, and the other owner took care of it very well just like I'm doing with it. Oh and my Radiators..... All original from the time house was built in 1908. They don't have the "Cross Tube" going across the top. I think in 1916 they stopped making the "No Tube across the top" radiators. They can only be used for Steam, all Radiators made after 1916 had the tube across the top so they could be used for Steam or Hot Water.
How did you know you needed the change the gas valve? How did you know you needed to change the low water cut off? So, pressure was going to 13 on the gauge, and you knew you needed a new pressuretrol. But, why was the pressure going that high in the first place?
@@ManGo-l2n4f The Gas Valve that was original to the boiler was just a "Regulator". It was not a "Combination Gas Valve". The Main Gas Shut off Valve had a small gas tube on the side for the Pilot Light. So even if the pilot blew out, gas still went to the pilot. There was no Thermocouple to shut the gas off to the pilot. It looked exactly like the valve at 18 seconds in this video. That's the old "Diaphragm Valve". If the pilot went out the valve would not open for the main gas but I can't exactly remember how it worked without the Thermocouple. But no matter what, gas would still come from the "Pilot Valve" on the main gas valve. The "Low Water Cut Off" I replaced because I would open the valve to "Blow it Down" and nothing would happen unless I banged on it with a screwdriver. So, I knew it was old and corroded and the float was "Sticking".
@@ManGo-l2n4f And for the Pressuretrol it was when we had some days below 0. I have a frame house uninsulated with 10 foot ceilings. Every radiator was smoking hot. Temperature in the house was 67 degrees and I had the Thermostat set for 72. I have ceiling fans in all my rooms to dissipate all the heat from the ceilings down. If I don't turn them on to help circulate the heat when it's below 0, the boiler will keep trying to keep up. The ceilings can be 84 degrees when the room in 67 degrees. So even though all the radiators were full to capacity, thermostat never reached Temperature, and boiler should have shut off when it reached pressure instead of continuing to run after it reached full pressure.
@@dannyg402012 What is your stance on replacing it? Do people tell you to update it? Inefficient and outdated, etc? What makes you keep watching these steam heat channels?
I love to see old equipment like this still in service...it may be time to upgrade, but you can almost guarantee whatever goes in it's place will not last as long as this one did!
This old boiler is leaking slightly, and so it is slated for replacement.
True, they are making the boilers with less metal, and therefore not as likely to last as long, but there are things that can be done to increase the life of modern steam boilers.
The best thing is to tighten up the system to reduce water loss.
Other things are to increase the pH of the boiler's water to above 7 (that is a discussion for others).
Amazing how simple it is.
Indeed, but it was almost is too simple.
What I mean to say is there were only a few safeties and limits, at best.
The notorious LWCO #67 with its sticking float.
The Hg pressure limit with its rusted shut steel pigtail (hope to show that on another video).
The pilot that is directly connected to the gas line with only a manual shut off.
A thermostat.
A safety relief valve designed to spray steam directly into your face if it pops.
A gas control valve with a manual over-ride that bypass ALL the limits.
Sorry not sorry to see that boiler go.
NO WAY !
My exact boiler! Same BTU same everything. Exact model. Put in in 1962 and still works great. Gas valve I updated myself 8 years ago, Low Water cut off about 15 years ago, new pressuretrol about 5 years ago. This year new drain valve and pressure relief valve. I still had the same pressure relief valve like this boiler but didn't trust it.
Gas valve was the old old type that had a sperate small gas line for the pilot. If the plot went out, the gas would still come out !
Updated it all.
Had to learn myself from great videos like these all about Steam Heat.
I live in Chicago, and you would be shocked if you knew how many heating and cooling places don't know about Steam Heat and won't touch it.
Long story about my boiler, but interesting read to prove "Proffesionals" don't always know what they are doing ......
5 years ago I was sick and bed bound. Couldn't do anything. It was very cold in the winter and my boiler started banging. I mean loud bangs like an explosion.
I was able to take off a Radiator vent and that thing blew like it had 15 lbs. of pressure.
I had this old type Pressuretrol like this one. I knew it was bad since at the time it was the only thing I never replaced.
I called an "Expert" to come out and replace it. I made my way down to the basement. He said it's not the Pressuretrol, it's a clogged Radiator Vent. I told him it's not. The Pressuretrol shuts off the burner at 1 P.S.I. since that's what I had it set to and the boiler is building pressure to 13 PSI. My gauge was replaced so it worked.
He said he had to order the Presuretrol and would be back the next day.
The owner of the Heating and Cooling place that's been there 35 years told me "He don't want his guy changing the pressuretrol because thats not the problem, and his guy knows what he is doing, I'm not the Professional".
I GOT SMOKING HOT !
I told him
"You don't know your rear from a hole in the ground. It's not a vent. If I close every radiator, block every pipe, or every vent was blocked that boiler should shut off at 1 P.S.I."
Presuretrol controls boiler pressure, has nothing to do with any Radiator". He hung up on me.
Had my friend get the new Pressuretrol, was able to go down and show him how to change it.
I'm back healthy again and ......
Boiler works perfect and still looks new. It's 2 years older than me, and the other owner took care of it very well just like I'm doing with it.
Oh and my Radiators.....
All original from the time house was built in 1908.
They don't have the "Cross Tube" going across the top. I think in 1916 they stopped making the "No Tube across the top" radiators. They can only be used for Steam, all Radiators made after 1916 had the tube across the top so they could be used for Steam or Hot Water.
How did you know you needed the change the gas valve?
How did you know you needed to change the low water cut off?
So, pressure was going to 13 on the gauge, and you knew you needed a new pressuretrol. But, why was the pressure going that high in the first place?
Thank you so much for sharing your story and experiences about your steam boiler.
I appreciate it.
Stay safe!
@@ManGo-l2n4f The Gas Valve that was original to the boiler was just a "Regulator". It was not a "Combination Gas Valve". The Main Gas Shut off Valve had a small gas tube on the side for the Pilot Light. So even if the pilot blew out, gas still went to the pilot. There was no Thermocouple to shut the gas off to the pilot. It looked exactly like the valve at 18 seconds in this video. That's the old "Diaphragm Valve". If the pilot went out the valve would not open for the main gas but I can't exactly remember how it worked without the Thermocouple. But no matter what, gas would still come from the "Pilot Valve" on the main gas valve.
The "Low Water Cut Off" I replaced because I would open the valve to "Blow it Down" and nothing would happen unless I banged on it with a screwdriver.
So, I knew it was old and corroded and the float was "Sticking".
@@ManGo-l2n4f And for the Pressuretrol it was when we had some days below 0. I have a frame house uninsulated with 10 foot ceilings. Every radiator was smoking hot. Temperature in the house was 67 degrees and I had the Thermostat set for 72. I have ceiling fans in all my rooms to dissipate all the heat from the ceilings down. If I don't turn them on to help circulate the heat when it's below 0, the boiler will keep trying to keep up. The ceilings can be 84 degrees when the room in 67 degrees.
So even though all the radiators were full to capacity, thermostat never reached Temperature, and boiler should have shut off when it reached pressure instead of continuing to run after it reached full pressure.
Will be interesting to see your work from start to finish once again!
Thank you!
A new video will be posted soon on the new boiler install.
so simple. Got a lot of use out of that. all original.
How old? Thanks Gordon.
Over 60 at least.
You are welcome!
What year or decade was that boiler made?
I still have the exact same one. Couldn't believe it when I seen this video.
Mine was put in in 1962. 2 years older than me.
@@dannyg402012 What is your stance on replacing it? Do people tell you to update it? Inefficient and outdated, etc? What makes you keep watching these steam heat channels?
The early 1960s, to the best of my knowledge.
Another AB gas valve!
Indeed! It is gone now.
Hate steam. Hot water anytime¡!!!!!!!
Steam I love. Smaller radiators, no pumps, less to go wrong.
Steam done right is just as good.
@TheGhettoLobster water treatment blow down. Took care of a steam boiler for 40 years it's gone ,hot water now!!!!!