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November 9, 2007
Video: Anatomy of a Boiler
With the heating season upon us, it's a good time to get to know your boiler a little better. Today, in the first of three segments, John Cataneo of Gateway Plumbing (whom Forum readers may recognize as Master Plumber) gets up close and personal with the boiler in our basement. Tune in next week for parts 2 and 3, when we'll get into specific procedures and maintenance issues.
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Comments
Wow, that's great. So nice to see Master Plumber in the flesh finally!
Posted by: guest at November 9, 2007 3:09 PM
This is SO USEFUL. thank you thank you thank you!
Posted by: pascalpp at November 9, 2007 3:14 PM
Thanks Brownstoner, this is great info.
Posted by: guest at November 9, 2007 3:29 PM
I just had Gateway out to do routine maint, cleaning, etc., for which they charged $165. They also replaced the safeguard shutoff control thing, which was badly corroded--for that, they charged $525. Anybody have an opinion on whether that's a fair price? I got a sense online that the control itself seems to run about $240, so it didn't seem insane or anything. Just wondering.
Great service, this video, Mr. B.
Posted by: Rehab at November 9, 2007 3:39 PM
Gotta say - as a new homeowner, that was extremely informative; and I'm looking forward to parts 2 & 3. Nicely done. We need more of this sort of tutoring sessions, Mr. B please.
Posted by: guest at November 9, 2007 3:48 PM
Very, very helpful. Thanks Master Plumber and Mr. B!
Posted by: guest at November 9, 2007 4:20 PM
This video is great. Master Plvmber, I'm hoping the pressure for a hot water boiler is supposed to be higher? (Mine's at 20 psi right now!?!) Rehab, they might not be the cheapest, but I swear by Gateway. I've payed less to other hacks who consistently let me down with quick fixes and poor workmanship. Gateway saved my house! Thanks, John.
Posted by: Drew at November 9, 2007 4:20 PM
Hot water boilers have higher pressure (will defer to MP re: actual numbers). Great series -- would be great to see for HW boilers as well.
Posted by: an architect in Brooklyn at November 9, 2007 4:23 PM
And he's cute.
Posted by: guest at November 9, 2007 4:24 PM
Now THAT is useful... Hurrah...
How about a video on boilers that use hot water as opposed to steam?
Posted by: CrownGardener at November 9, 2007 4:47 PM
you should see some of the other guys at gateway - they are really hot!
Posted by: guest at November 9, 2007 4:57 PM
Thanks for the kind words, all you nice people.
I'm guessing a video for hot water boilers will be coming soon.
A note on pressure:
It takes one pound of pressure per square inch (psi) to raise water 2.36 feet, or about 27 inches.
Hot water systems only work when they're full of water. So, the pressure required to bring water all the way to the highest radiator in a three or four story building will almost certainly be somewhere around 15-20 psi.
Posted by: Master Plvmber at November 9, 2007 5:00 PM
The What and others are talking about the end of the world on one of the other channels and you guys are talking about steam boilers!
Which analogy should I use: deck chairs on the Titanic or Nero while Rome burns?
Posted by: guest at November 9, 2007 5:04 PM
AWESOME!!!
Posted by: Greenpointer at November 9, 2007 5:24 PM
Very good, now I know the name of all the little thingies in the basement.
BTW, who know that Mr. Brownstoner was so cuuuuttteee!
Posted by: guest at November 9, 2007 6:22 PM
Wonderful and clear! Question: why would we get plenty of steam in all of the lines coming up from the cellar except one? The lines going to the back of the house are fine. Of the two that come to the front, only one gets steam. Why? The vents have been checked and there is no problem with them.
Posted by: guest at November 9, 2007 6:23 PM
Thank you Master Plumber for your participation in this most informative series, I look forward to Part 2 and 3.
Brownstoner, what a brilliant idea! :)
Posted by: bren at November 9, 2007 6:26 PM
Just had Gateway in today for a gas leak that keyspan shut the whole building down for. They were very good overall with the work i will see when keyspan comes tonight if they fixed the job perfectly? cross my fingers
Posted by: guest at November 9, 2007 7:44 PM
Right, so it takes much more pressure in a hot-water system than it does in a steam system, for obvious reasons. Gateway told me my steam boiler should only be at about 1 PSI. Which it is.
Thanks, Drew, for the vote of confidence in Gateway.
Posted by: Rehab at November 9, 2007 10:22 PM
Great info. I love reading/watching/learning about the cool stuff involved in keeping up these great old houses. Bought my place a year ago and this sort of thing (and the forum in general) is just what I need.
Posted by: guest at November 10, 2007 9:22 AM
Thanks, MP. Wish I'd seen this before we had our boiler inspected yesterday. (We would have gone with Gateway, but they were booked until Nov. 16.) Ours is hot water, but it was still useful.
Question about rates: the other boiler guys recommended replacing the expansion tank and quoted me $500-600 to replace the tank, fire up the heat, and check all the radiators in our 5-story brownstone. I checked online and #60 boilers are going for less than $100. Is this a legit quote?
Posted by: guest at November 10, 2007 12:22 PM
Can I get a tour of your boiler, Mr. B?
Posted by: guest at November 11, 2007 12:58 AM
that's great!! i just had a very similar boiler installed and it's nice to know what all those parts mean. thanks!
Posted by: guest at November 11, 2007 9:24 AM
Great information! Could the pressure be the reason why the some of the radiators are completely cold on the top floors of my 3 story brownstone?
Posted by: tnt at November 12, 2007 10:18 AM
Thanks so much for the video. We just bought a place in
park slope and have never been able to get such a clear explanation. Looking forward to the other 2 vids.
Posted by: remyching at November 12, 2007 2:25 PM
Thank you for taking time with the video. Very informative. I am an appraiser, so I will look at the boiler a little differently from now on.
Posted by: guest at November 15, 2007 3:03 PM
Why are the gas line and the electrical conduit insulated in your cellar?
Posted by: guest at November 15, 2007 11:11 PM
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