I have an oil fired dry box boiler that is about 20 years old. I am told it is builder grade and that this style usually lasts only 10-15 years max. The bottom inside fiberglass(?) is cracked and the unit is apparently hotter than normal on the exterior although it operates fine. Two people have quoted me new boiler setups, a third party who used to maintain it says I don't need to worry about replacing it until it fails. Thoughts? What would the failure entail?
we are steam boiler manufacturer since 1983 we installed 300 boiler in india
First, all other things being equal, an oil-fired residential boiler lasts about 30% less time than a gas-fired unit. And the average boiler life is something between 30 and 40 years for cast-iron units and as much as 20 years for all other types. So you are about-there-of-not-past. And, after that it depends on the type of failure. Usually the water-jacket fails and starts to leak. If you are making steam rather than hot water, this can be a pretty spectacular failure. If you are making hot water (for heat) just make sure your TPR valve and high-limit switches are functioning properly. The boiler should go out on high-limit with that kind of failure. Either could flood your boiler room or basement. Personally, I prefer to program my failures such that they do not occur on Christmas Eve with a houseful of people. So when confronted with a marginal-but-critical household item I will plan for its soonest-practical-replacement. You are at about that point.
