I need a new boiler

I thought I could wring a few more years out of my 42 year-old Weil-McLain steam boiler but two plumbers have told me that repairing the currently unworking low water cutoff/autofeed device isn’t worth the investment.
Question #1: I’ve received diverse quotes… from $7600 down to as low at $5800 for the same job.  All  are from reputable plumbing companies.  I’m interested in more quotes.  Two plumbers said that it’s a straight-ahead, one-day job, FWIW.  Any recommendations?
Question #2: it occurred to me today that if I ever wanted to convert the house to hot water heat, this is the time to do it.  Is Pex tubing legal for hot water heating in NYC?   This would save a lot of destruction to the house that would be necessary with rigid copper.

rowhouse

in Heating 13 years and 7 months ago

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ellenlourie | 13 years and 7 months ago

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Difference betweem complete m/miller 67 LWCO ( common on small residencial steam boilers) and its head mechanism is $50 in cost, replacement takes half of time nessesary  to rebuild it, and when it gets rebuilt, it is still old crap. Where is savings? In the electronic probe type low water cut offs, there is nothing to rebuild at all.Low water cut off is a very important safery device, and it is better get a new one than repair it.

denton | 13 years and 7 months ago

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Pex legal in NYC and new iterations certainly don’t have the problems you mention. Like most energy efficient things, been used in Eurpoe long before here.

callalily | 13 years and 7 months ago

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We have a possum.

Master Plvmber | 13 years and 7 months ago

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Pex tubing has been legal for use in residential heating for about 20 years. We rebuild float-type low water cut offs often and carry the parts on our service vans. As for your thought about converting the house from steam to hot water, be prepared for a big 5-digit number. Keep in mind that you can always convert a steam boiler to a hot water boiler, so don’t feel like you’re committed to *not* converting if you decide to purchase a steam boiler for now.   That may be a good way to spread out costs over two or more seasons.

eman134 | 13 years and 7 months ago

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Yes pex is legal for hydronic heating systems in NYC. Look upon this as an opportunity to design an upgraded and more efficient systems broken into zones as per use, not just the cheapest option. my contact info is in my profile, ,would love to bid the job. In the interim, open the drain valve on the low water cutoff..if no water comes out, it is a stuck float..whack it with the wooden handle of a hammer to see if that loosens the float, If not.you can try to shove something in the drain to dislodge the float.Also realize that it may be a fused float switch, a $130 part, much cheaper than a replacement lwco

rowhouse | 13 years and 7 months ago

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Random answers: The quotes in question were from established plumbing and heating companies, like Sessa and Gas Approved.  They’re not just plumbers.  The system is currently gas so no conversion needed. I know Pex works well but the question is, **is it legal in NYC** now?  I searched the old Brownstoner forum and there was a message from four years ago saying that a new plumbing code was coming online that might permit Pex tubing for residential, single-family heating.  Does anyone know if it does? My friend’s brother in law is a heating guy in Long Island who rebuilds old McDonnell-whatever low-water-cutoffs.  He’s going to look at it next week.  He said it might be just a clogged screen or a stuck float.  If it is, then I can possibly push this boiler change until next spring so I can think about changing to hot water heat. No rats here.  Too many cats.  And possums.

daveinbedstuy | 13 years and 7 months ago

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Also, convert to gas.  It’ll be MUCH cheaper.

daveinbedstuy | 13 years and 7 months ago

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Only old school plumbers won’t do Pex.  I’ve had it in a house for 12 years.  It’s fine, and yes, much easier to install which is why the old school union guys don’t like it!!!!

callalily | 13 years and 7 months ago

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We paid $5,500 (or was it $4,500?) for a new oil boiler for a hot water system from Nu-Lite of Maspeth in November of 2009\. They specialize in heating and black pipe; they have three master’s plumbing licenses. It is a small operation and they also sell oil. They really fast with boiler replacement, it is their speciality.

ellenlourie | 13 years and 7 months ago

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Noody repairs low water cut off. It has to be replaced. Get help from heating/boiler specialist. Plumbers in general do not know boilers. For hot water heating copper is the best. Pex when heated becomes soft, if it was exposed to sunlight, it gets damaged. And when rats around, they love to have it for dinner.