Need a New Boiler
This morning we smelled smoke in our basement and opened the basement door. Clouds of black smoke immediately gushed out and filled our entire house. We turned off the boiler and called someone to come clean it (since smoke had been an indication of it needing cleaning before) but $225 later, there were still issues…
This morning we smelled smoke in our basement and opened the basement door. Clouds of black smoke immediately gushed out and filled our entire house. We turned off the boiler and called someone to come clean it (since smoke had been an indication of it needing cleaning before) but $225 later, there were still issues (the boiler wouldn’t fill with water). We then called a plumber who came and looked at it and said that on Friday night, the boiler had apparently run out of water and instead of shutting off, had kept going and was now cracked and needs to be replaced.
My questions are as follows:
1. Where do I go to buy a new boiler? Our current (broken) boiler is a Weill-McLain P-568-S (discontinued), about 10 years old. I think I need to buy one that comes in sections, because the only access is under the stoop. I guess that means Peerless, because I’m not buying a Weil-McLain again.
2. How much does it cost to replace an oil-fired steam boiler? I’m just going to do a straight replacement, I am not going to think about conversion.
3. What is the best way to stay warm while we are waiting for the new boiler? The house is pretty well insulated, and we have plenty of sweaters and long underwear and insulating curtains and wool socks and down comforters (what can I say, I grew up in a Connecticut farmhouse heated by woodstoves and my husband is from England) but we had to open the windows to get the smoke out and and there’s very little residual heat. I borrowed one space heater and my husband, apparently inspired by memories of his mom’s Aga or whatever they are called, is keen on using the oven. Being an effete American, I am sure that this is filthy and dangerous.
Thoughts?
I have always wondered about the New York practice of cooking with no vent except a window. But whatever!
So sorry to hear about this dramatic boiler mishap. So happy nothing exploded. Hope you get it all sorted out quickly. Good luck to you.
Got a new Peerless oil hot water boiler installed and the old one removed for $6,500 through Nu-Lite in Maspeth. It is working great and we have been very happy with the service. They really know what they are doing and are nice guys besides.
“DO NOT USE YOUR GAS COOKING EQUIPMENT”…for cooking either, or you’ll die!! Happens every day, particularly around Thanksgiving with all that turkey use. Don’t COOK!
Here’s a more nuanced statement: it’s perfectly safe to use your oven to heat your space for, say an hour at a time, especially if you have an outside fan vent on low, and then turn if off for a few. If you’re worried, get a carbon-monoxide detector and plug it in near the stove.
To OP: if you’re worried about your stove being ‘filthy’ you have quite another problem on your hands.
Sorry to hear about your boiler problem. I had a similar one about a week ago and paid $7,000 for a new Peerless boiler (oil/steam).
Two things are different about my situation:
1. I am a member of HEATUSA – A fuel buyer coop. Repairs and parts are free with membership. This has saved me literally hundreds of dollars and endless headaches;
2. I insured my 40 yo P.O.S. boiler, so when mine died, I got a replacement for free. Granted, I pay a small fortune for general insurance (I also have a 3-family, so I get the importance of good insurance) but the mechanical insurance was only about $140. The guy who set me up with it is Paul Vinci, who can be reached by e-mail: paulvinci@gmail.com.
Might want to look into the coop and the insurance for the future. BTW – Looking back, I wish I took the opportunity to switch to gas. I got caught up in the anxiety and didn’t shop around. You might want to look into making the switch.
Good luck!
Doesn’t your oil company have someone they can recommend? That’s usually how it works. I’ve had a cast iron one put in by A & P Oil, small company but easy to work with, Sam 1195 Coney Island Ave, 718 252 6000. Used Empire/Hess a few years back to install a steel tube one a few years ago. Both were the oil suppliers to these buildings.
I’m not a great big fan of Weil-McLain for cast iron boilers, either, but you shouldn’t discount them as an option. Most boilers fail prematurely because of installation deficiencies, not because of the product itself, though of course there are exceptions. I prefer Burnham for steam, but get an installers opinion on which boiler would best suit your application and why.
The best way to warm your home temporarily is with small electric heaters in the necessary rooms.
DO NOT USE YOUR GAS COOKING EQUIPMENT. You’re going to fill your home with low levels of carbon monoxide, which is not cool.