Broken boiler - need advice

Last week’s cold temperatures seemed to have killed our boiler. After having numerous people come and check it, everyone is saying that we must replace it with a new boiler. I should mention that we use a steam-heat OIL boiler. Our plan was always to convert to gas once our oil system broke. Now that we’re getting estimates (for both scenarios: replacing with oil or converting to gas) we don’t know what to do. Converting to gas would require more money (and time with no heat) to fix/line our chimney. We also heard of a duel-fuel option from one company. Did anybody out there do a slow conversion by getting a duel-fuel? What should we do?? In case it helps…we live in a typical 3 story brownstone.

kachuri999

in General Discussion 8 years and 2 months ago

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kimthorn10 | 8 years and 2 months ago

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yes, he probably saved the lives of my friends who used him, because their system was venting fumes into their home!! also, he resolved the most complicated old steam heat system in my friends BIG SoHo cast iron building, it took over and year but he stuck with it, went to condo meetings! dealt w. “personalities” and now? that building runs like a charm! I am in there all the time, used to be so noisey and inefficient? now you can’t hear a whisper and each space is perfectly heated.

eman134 | 8 years and 2 months ago

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Gennady of absolute mechanical is the gold standard of boiler installation

Master Plvmber | 8 years and 2 months ago

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Ah. “Absolute Mechanical” is Gennady. He posts here often. He’s very good and knows what he’s doing. Even when we disagree, I know he’s speaking from solid ground.
All good.

kimthorn10 | 8 years and 2 months ago

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attached only on one side….so alley and then the neighbors backyards so very open: its not near any windows. I am quite confident I am legal because it was inspected after it was installed! my installer? was knowledgeable and very legit, I interviewed and got prices from 3 installers and his estimate was the most expensive, but mostly I was super impressed by his knowledge and the fact that he presented me with the most current technology in terms of the boiler itself. He know more about the city regulations than the city guys themselves. Here is his website. http://www.absolutemechanicalcoinc.com/ . Every time some plumber or contractor came into my basement and saw his work? they were like, wow, I have never seen such a good installation job and the connectors he used also seemed like something no one had ever seen. I do think perhaps that fact I got mine in in 2010, the regulations might have been different. Anyway, I highly recommend this firm.

Master Plvmber | 8 years and 2 months ago

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Murri67, is your home attached on two sides? Like a row house? What’s going on with that “alley”? It’s not legal to vent a high efficiency boiler over a walkway. It’s also not legal to terminate a vent pipe within 4 feet of a window/door or any other building opening. $10K was probably too cheap even in 2010 so I’m willing to bet a lot of money you’ve got an illegal installation there, done when the city was still allowing plumbers to self-certify their own gas installations.

kimthorn10 | 8 years and 2 months ago

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I converted from oil to a gas hi energy efficient boiler and the cost saving was tremendous. The cost in 2010 was 10K. The installation was excellent and they used all copper inside…this type does not have to be in its own “room” in the basement. The vent goes into my alley and it was fat PVC pipes and i have never had any issues with that with the city or otherwise. My installor was very knowledgeable: it did NOT have to have any vent to the roof..it vents up about 10 feet and that’s it. Not sure if that is helpful…now I am about to add an HVAC system for cooling and added heating needs. My place is a typical 3F brick.

Master Plvmber | 8 years and 2 months ago

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It was legal until sometime in 2015 I believe. And it’s still legal to use on combustion air INTAKE piping only.

workisfun | 8 years and 2 months ago

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Why am i still surprised when multiple contractors insist they’re doing all to code, always, who boast decades of experience, and claim black belts in field, still install pvc venting on a bk home?

eman134 | 8 years and 2 months ago

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For venting boilers use stainless steel or for HE boilers stainless z-vent or polypro

BKALLDAY | 8 years and 2 months ago

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No PVC is allowed anywhere in the 5 boroughs. That is a violation and they will make you rip it all out or fine you if they see it’s been installed.

Master Plvmber | 8 years and 2 months ago

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Yes it is.

workisfun | 8 years and 2 months ago

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Is pvc venting totally unconditionally illegal in the city?

BKALLDAY | 8 years and 2 months ago

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If it is definitely kaput then I would move into gas. It will cost extra but it is worth it. I also agree with Schelliehagan. If a talented professional can get your existing boiler through to Spring then you have time to do the research and go the direction you had planned on anyway. Good luck and stay warm.

ellenlourie | 8 years and 2 months ago

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If cast iron sections are not leaking badly, then boiler can be fixed, at least temporarily to buy some time. PVC venting is illegal in NY. High efficiency condensing boilers work only on hot water systems , not steam ones. Lining chimney with stainless steel insert is a must for oil to gas conversion. Oil to gas conversion takes long time, and can get complicated,
Efficiency of properly done steam system and hydronic one are comparable and converting steam to hot water does not make any financial sense.

RobertGMarvin

in General Discussion 8 years and 2 months ago

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IMO that’s EXCELLENT advise from “schelliehagan”
!

schelliehagan | 8 years and 2 months ago

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What part of your boiler broke? If the cast iron water container is intact, a good plumber should be able to put the exterior rigging back together to get you through this winter. After this rough winter, you can take your time weighing your heating choices going forward.

Guest User | 8 years and 2 months ago

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We just used Aladdin plumbing here in Brooklyn. Call Erik, the owner. Our oil tank was leaking & our furnace was antique. Erik fixed us up with a high efficiency gas steam furnace which is amazing, cheap and replaced old pipes. Erik helped us get $1400 in rebates which helped with the $14,500 cost to convert. We also needed a new chimney liner because the old one from 1899 wasn’t code – $3500. Just got our first bill from National Grid for December- $340. Aladdin plumbing are great and professional, highly recommend them. We are extremely toasty!

slopefarm | 8 years and 2 months ago

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If you switch to gas and reline, you will have savings going forward, I would imagine. Gas is relatively inexpensive, new boilers efficient, and they leave very little soot in the chimney. We have a pretty old gas boiler, but we re-lined the chimney when we renovated about 12 years ago (oy, can’t believe it was that long ago). Ignoring years of pestering calls by aggressive chimney companies,, we did not sweep the chimney until last year and it was quite clean. Definitely use the moment (and a few short days of warm weather) to modernize and upgrade if you can.

daveinbedstuy | 8 years and 2 months ago

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For one thing, you should get a high efficiency boiler that vents through PVC and not the conventional way through a chimney, eliminating the relining of the chimney.