When my old oil heat boiler needed replacement

Xringer · 08-23-11, 11:17 AM

The cost to remove the old (1980) HS Tarm was $1,000! and a new unit would likely cost about $2,000...
So, I found a pro welder and got it repaired..
I had to find a skinny guy, since the boiler is only about 18" from the wall.. He had to squeeze in..

The leak was bad.. Caused by poor installation, or thin welds.?.

Cut it out the cancer!

Make a new pump port!

Install it!

Pressure test it! (Yes, it leaked on the first test. Re-welding fixed it right up).

Paint it!

Finish it up!

It was some time ago, I think the welding was about $400,
and the new parts were about $150 (replaced one pump).

That was 8/1/2001 and a decade later, my old 1980 boiler is still ticking
after about 3 decades of pretty good heating..

S-F · 08-23-11, 06:52 PM

So are you going to sell that thing for its weight in scrap metal and repurpose you other ASHP?

Xringer · 08-23-11, 07:03 PM

Haha! Didn't you see the cost for removing it? They wanted $1,000 to cut it up and haul it away..

It's way cheaper to repair it, when it goes on the blink..

Plus, in case TSHTF, it can burn solid fuels, like wood, coal, junk mail and religious protest signs! ..

Ryland · 08-24-11, 08:47 AM

How many radiators are you running off that boiler and do you have a natural gas line going to your house?
My new AO Smith, Vertex water heater has output and input connections for space heating, mine is the smaller 76,000BTU burner and is only 90% efficient but the larger burner 100,000BTU is 96% efficient and can be set up for running off natural gas or propane.

You wouldn't be able to burn trash in it, but trash burning could be done by a small wood stove in the living space, giving nice instant heat when you want to take a chill off.

Xringer · 08-24-11, 01:07 PM

The baseboards run around the perimeter of the outside walls.
There is a short run of baseboard in the bathroom and a 16' run in basement,
but that one is on it's own circulator pump. (We don't heat down there).

There is no natural gas in this part of town. (Just the big pipe line nearby).
My OT-35 HS Tarm is a multi-fuel and can use just about any thing that burns.

www.woodboilers.com/admin/uploads/public/Type%20OTManual(1).pdf

I keep a wood pile, just in case we ever need it. So far, we've been lucky.
They weren't so lucky up in NH a while back, when and Ice storm took
people off the grid for a month..

Well a hurricane is moving in this direction, so I filled up on backup gasoline
for the 5KW generator. It smoked a little, but still works just fine.
It's been sitting idle since I checked it last summer.

The Solar back-up system is fully charged, we've got provisions and water..

So, I'm guessing Irene, is going to miss us..

I also picked up a new snow thrower recently, (The old one went to my kid)
so we might not see much snow for the next 6 or 8 years around here..

Edit:
We do have a wood stove in the living room. But, since we have the HS Tarm, we really
have not needed to use it for many years.

Behind the glass are three large candles. The light is like a fire simulator.

08-23-11, 11:17 AM	#1
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	When my old oil heat boiler needed replacement The cost to remove the old (1980) HS Tarm was $1,000! and a new unit would likely cost about $2,000... So, I found a pro welder and got it repaired.. I had to find a skinny guy, since the boiler is only about 18" from the wall.. He had to squeeze in.. The leak was bad.. Caused by poor installation, or thin welds.?. Cut it out the cancer! Make a new pump port! Install it! Pressure test it! (Yes, it leaked on the first test. Re-welding fixed it right up). Paint it! Finish it up! It was some time ago, I think the welding was about $400, and the new parts were about $150 (replaced one pump). That was 8/1/2001 and a decade later, my old 1980 boiler is still ticking after about 3 decades of pretty good heating..

08-24-11, 01:07 PM	#5
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	The baseboards run around the perimeter of the outside walls. There is a short run of baseboard in the bathroom and a 16' run in basement, but that one is on it's own circulator pump. (We don't heat down there). There is no natural gas in this part of town. (Just the big pipe line nearby). My OT-35 HS Tarm is a multi-fuel and can use just about any thing that burns. www.woodboilers.com/admin/uploads/public/Type%20OTManual(1).pdf I keep a wood pile, just in case we ever need it. So far, we've been lucky. They weren't so lucky up in NH a while back, when and Ice storm took people off the grid for a month.. Well a hurricane is moving in this direction, so I filled up on backup gasoline for the 5KW generator. It smoked a little, but still works just fine. It's been sitting idle since I checked it last summer. The Solar back-up system is fully charged, we've got provisions and water.. So, I'm guessing Irene, is going to miss us.. I also picked up a new snow thrower recently, (The old one went to my kid) so we might not see much snow for the next 6 or 8 years around here.. Edit: We do have a wood stove in the living room. But, since we have the HS Tarm, we really have not needed to use it for many years. Behind the glass are three large candles. The light is like a fire simulator. Last edited by Xringer; 08-24-11 at 01:14 PM.. Reason: wood stove

08-23-11, 06:52 PM	#2
S-F You Ain't Me Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northampton MA Posts: 662 Thanks: 6 Thanked 71 Times in 58 Posts	So are you going to sell that thing for its weight in scrap metal and repurpose you other ASHP?

08-23-11, 07:03 PM	#3
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Haha! Didn't you see the cost for removing it? They wanted $1,000 to cut it up and haul it away.. It's way cheaper to repair it, when it goes on the blink.. Plus, in case TSHTF, it can burn solid fuels, like wood, coal, junk mail and religious protest signs! ..

08-24-11, 08:47 AM	#4
Ryland Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Western Wisconsin. Posts: 913 Thanks: 127 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	How many radiators are you running off that boiler and do you have a natural gas line going to your house? My new AO Smith, Vertex water heater has output and input connections for space heating, mine is the smaller 76,000BTU burner and is only 90% efficient but the larger burner 100,000BTU is 96% efficient and can be set up for running off natural gas or propane. You wouldn't be able to burn trash in it, but trash burning could be done by a small wood stove in the living space, giving nice instant heat when you want to take a chill off.