Old Leaking Boiler

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fizban
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Location: SW Virginia
Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Combustioneer 77B
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Coal Size/Type: Bit various sizes
Other Heating: Oil furnace

Post by fizban » Tue. Jan. 17, 2023 3:04 pm

Hi Everybody,
I have a property with an old, probably 1940’s, coal sectional boiler gravity to water boiler. Doesn’t look to have been used in decades. I put some water in the system and with only about 2 lbs of pressure it has multiple dripping leaks. I assume this unit likely isn’t reasonably repairable. It has a jacket and also looks to have a quite a bit of that white stuff under, some of which is in poor shape.

I imagine it is either remove it or replace it with another unit if I want to use the system.

 
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tsb
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Post by tsb » Tue. Jan. 17, 2023 4:22 pm

Put some heat to it and see if it stops leaking.

 
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Idlorah
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Stoker Coal Boiler: Allen 700 stoker
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Other Heating: None, maybe some wood in the MCC in the shoulder season

Post by Idlorah » Tue. Jan. 17, 2023 4:22 pm

The unit could be fixed. You would have to pull the jackets and see where the leaks are coming from. Depending on where the leaks are at that is.


 
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Tue. Jan. 17, 2023 5:14 pm

It may have rotted thru. Hard to say if it's repairable.

 
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davidmcbeth3
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Post by davidmcbeth3 » Tue. Jan. 17, 2023 5:36 pm

Capture chek.JPG
.JPG | 53.5KB | Capture chek.JPG
What ? No Pics ? Russians invented pics.

 
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carlherrnstein
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Post by carlherrnstein » Tue. Jan. 17, 2023 10:50 pm

Pictures help a lot. As stated by others maybe it's repairable maybe not. Asbestos is usually but not always grey/brown. It possibly could have been replaced with a non-asbestos material.

Before deciding on repairing or replacing look at the whole thing not just the leaks. If it's just a leaky drawbolt but the grates are used up it might not be worth it.

Regarding leaks there was a product that worked like automotive "block sealer" that can seal largish leaks. Don't just light a fire in it that could be bad depending on the situation.

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