I have an old Weil-McLain oil/hot water furnace system that the repair man said was probably installed in the 40s or 50s. During recent maintenance on it, I was informed that the boiler was leaking internally causing the stack switch to short out and also preventing the burner from firing. The maintenance man also said I'd have to get a new furnace installed. I asked why he just couldn't fix the leak and he replied that in the old days he could just pack it with some asbestos and that would take care of it, but asbestos can't be used any more. I wanted another opinion as to why a leaking boiler necessitates purchasing and installing a whole new furnace and why just the leak can't be repaired. Where is the boiler? I though it was the large cylinder over the furnace, but the maintenance man said that was just the expansion tank. Is it inside the furnace?
Yep a boiler will outlast any furnace all day long if properly maintained. Ive seen and worked on 50 year old boilers. While they were gas guzzlers to say the least they were still plugging away As the other poster stated above me if ANY asbestos is on that old puppy, bend over on the removal costs. I would just replace it and update it a more modern boiler. You save a TON of money in fuel savings. You possible could have it repaired, but at the cost of the repair and the age its not worth it. You have to be a licensed welder and certified for boilers. Then after the repair the stat is suppose to inspect it, as it classified as a pressure vessel. At least thats how they do it where Im at. So in short your going to pay a TON of money to repair this thing and whos to say its not going to leak somewhere else, you'll be back in the same boat. And you out to call a HVAC company if going back with a boiler that specializes in boilers installs. Or you will have nothing but problems down the road
if your boiler is 60 or 70 years old, a new one will pay for itself in fuel savings within a couple years. Weil-McLain are good units - it served well. A new, efficient boiler will take-up much less space - and unfortunately, probably not last as long: but I disagree with William - boilers tend to last much longer than furnaces . . . there are many 100 year old boilers still going strong. We had a new Weil-McLaon unit put in a small apartment building a few years ago. . . . much larger than needed in a typical home. . . . it was about $5000 installed. More expensive was getting the old one out: it and surrounding pipes were covered in asbestos so it had to be a full EPA containment operation: $10,000.
OK lets stop here a min. Have you talked to a Heating Company or just the maintenance man? Call a professional HVAC company. Is it a furnace or a boiler? expansion tank.is not in the furnace, It most likely hanging up on the ceiling or connected to the pipes somewhere near the boiler The LEAK is of carbon monoxide and other gases the stuff can kill ya. Boiler is on the floor with pipes connected to it.
u got 60 years out of the heating system???thats at least twice what u should have gotten,,b happy and get a new efficient system
yep boilers are junk get a forced air system and it will out last a junkie boiler system
