New Boiler Install December 2024

[JCM 10,686]

First week in December 2024 the Burnham Boiler SCG decided after 15 years to give up. In the last house I installed 2 Burnham 's both Natural Gas / Chimney vented. One in 1984 and the other in 2009 Both still in operation. That house has been transferred to another family member that my parents purchased in 1952. I would have hoped the one here in Maine would have lasted at least 20 years, no such luck. A '' newer technology type unit '' I should have known better , oh well. So the replacement boiler was ordered and delivered, all 435 lbs of it in 10 degree weather with a 12'' rise from ground level to the top of the basement entry threshold. Nothing I 'm not used to, seen it all at this stage of life in the trade, you guy's know what I;m talking about. It took 10 day's without heat and hot water to make this all happen because of the time of year, finding bodies to help etc, etc. Thank God for the 2 wood stoves CRANKED up for 1 full week keeping the house from freezing up and having a Cabin in the woods in the back of my mind as a last resort. Life is fun isn't it. I have shown the old boiler being disconnected and the new installed. There are other pics under the Plumbing & Heating thread, Non- Tractor Related. Check out the melted tape measure that an assembler must have forgot on top of the cast iron boiler, classic. The new boiler requires a slightly different near boiler piping. Jim , your not missing a tape measure are you ?  @WHX??  

[c-series don 11,272]

@JCM The first word that comes to mind is Artwork! Then look at those solder joints! My gosh Jim, you are a true Master of the Trade👍🏻 

 
 Now let’s talk about this. You know how you always wanted to see how beautiful Eastern Long Island is in the summer? And how much you’ve wanted to check out my Wheel Horse collection? I have two bedrooms no longer being used since my kids moved out, so you’d have a place to stay. Ohhh and by the way, my Burnham burner is 29 years old and starting to leak a little. It’s time to replace it. You can see it in this picture. A nice clear path to get it out and put the new one in. C’mon ole’ buddy ole’ pal, fishing, boating, golf if you’d like and a simple little boiler installation 😂😂 What a better way to spend a vacation? 🤣🤣 All the tools are here along with this great helper guy named Don! 

Edited 4 hours ago by c-series don

[WHX?? 54,594]

1 hour ago, JCM said:

Jim , your not missing a tape measure are you ?

Missing a bunch over the years! I used to tell the guys the next thing you do after kissing your wife goodbye for the day was put on your tape measure. 

 

10 minutes ago, c-series don said:

All the tools are here along with a steak & lobster dinner.

There fixed that for ya Plunger. 

 

I sold very few Burhams but sure did wrench on few. Mostly 40 year old ones that were made right and uncomplicated. Lasted forever. 

Was a Weil Mcclain dealer for a few years back in the early 80's. Got fed up with their seemingly non existent dealer support. Switched to Thermoflos and never looked back. 

10 minutes ago, c-series don said:

comes to mind is Artwork!

Edited 3 hours ago by WHX??

[Dan 312-8 428]

1 hour ago, JCM said:

First week in December 2024 the Burnham Boiler SCG decided after 15 years to give up. In the last house I installed 2 Burnham 's both Natural Gas / Chimney vented. One in 1984 and the other in 2009 Both still in operation. That house has been transferred to another family member that my parents purchased in 1952. I would have hoped the one here in Maine would have lasted at least 20 years, no such luck. A '' newer technology type unit '' I should have known better , oh well. So the replacement boiler was ordered and delivered, all 435 lbs of it in 10 degree weather with a 12'' rise from ground level to the top of the basement entry threshold. Nothing I 'm not used to, seen it all at this stage of life in the trade, you guy's know what I;m talking about. It took 10 day's without heat and hot water to make this all happen because of the time of year, finding bodies to help etc, etc. Thank God for the 2 wood stoves CRANKED up for 1 full week keeping the house from freezing up and having a Cabin in the woods in the back of my mind as a last resort. Life is fun isn't it. I have shown the old boiler being disconnected and the new installed. There are other pics under the Plumbing & Heating thread, Non- Tractor Related. Check out the melted tape measure that an assembler must have forgot on top of the cast iron boiler, classic. The new boiler requires a slightly different near boiler piping. Jim , your not missing a tape measure are you ?  @WHX??  

@JCM, that's quite impressive! Meets my anal retentive behaviors! As @c-series don stated, artwork! The key to a sound solder joint is cleanliness, the proper amount of heat and flux! And yes, I would have thought a Burnham boiler would have lasted more than 15 years. Don't get me started on the life cycle of today's dehumidifiers...

[JCM 10,686]

Just getting the boiler in the basement was a HUGE issue with the threshold height and 10 stairs to go down. BRUTAL It just doesn't want to slide well on 2 staging planks. Part of the Trade.

[ri702bill 11,163]

I am a huge fan of 1/4 turn ball valves, one installed on either side of a Circulator.... and ProPress fittings.

Funny? how buying a whole new Circulator is more cost effective than buying the pump rebuild kit... Taco Circulators are made in the next city over from me, they seem to have a strangle hold on the N.E. market. Their pricing strategy??

Excellent spacing layout and craftsmanship.

Edited 2 hours ago by ri702bill

[WHX?? 54,594]

5 minutes ago, ri702bill said:

1/4 turn ball valves, one installed on either side of a Circulator.... and ProPress fittings.

Funny? how buying a whole new Circulator is more cost effective than buying the pump rebuild kit... Taco Circulators are made in the next city over from me, they seem to have a strangle hold on the N.E. market.

Webstone isolation flanges Bill. Now they have them in umteen different styles.  I wouldn't say Taco has the market cornered but they are popular. Grundfos, Bell & Gosset & others make a nice one. 

[Darb1964 1,135]

What a nice job, our Weil-McLain we had installed in 1986. I've had my fingers x for years now. We have a contract with a local oil company that cleans it once a year. We had some work done to it over the years and it's performed very well this year with the terrible cold we have had in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. We do have a pellet stove also and for years when I was able to I burned wood. We had to replace the water heater a few years ago and luckily the small company my wife works for did it. My home was built in1830 and over the years I've insulated it up good, that has made a big difference in fuel use. I'm hoping to get enough time out of the old girl so I only have to do one more replacement. My wife keeps reminding me that the new stuff doesn't last and the mini splits we put in for air conditioning also have heat but in the cold we have had this winter aren't very effective or efficient. Keeping our fingers crossed and saving for the inevitable.

[Darb1964 1,135]

44 minutes ago, JCM said:

Just getting the boiler in the basement was a HUGE issue with the threshold height and 10 stairs to go down. BRUTAL It just doesn't want to slide well on 2 staging planks. Part of the Trade.

That is a major problem in our old home also, very steep stairs and little head room. I had to remove a one hundred gallon stone lined hot water heater that the previous owner rented from the electric company, before I could have the new system installed back in 87. The contractor put on the contract, owner responsible for removal of hot water heater. I was 23 and a few friends and a few cases of beer, that bad boy was out of the basement and in the bed of my truck. I don't think some beers would get the same results in 2026.

[JCM 10,686]

14 minutes ago, Darb1964 said:

That is a major problem in our old home also, very steep stairs and little head room. I had to remove a one hundred gallon stone lined hot water heater that the previous owner rented from the electric company, before I could have the new system installed back in 87. The contractor put on the contract, owner responsible for removal of hot water heater. I was 23 and a few friends and a few cases of beer, that bad boy was out of the basement and in the bed of my truck. I don't think some beers would get the same results in 2026.

Those Stone Lined Electric were extremely heavy. Those were made in Salisbury Mass and lasted a long, long time. MFG by Vaughn I believe. Done a few of those way back. Better of nowadays to pay to get it removed. Hope you are well Darb, good to hear from you. Take Care   

[Darb1964 1,135]

13 minutes ago, JCM said:

Those Stone Lined Electric were extremely heavy. Those were made in Salisbury Mass and lasted a long, long time. MFG by Vaughn I believe. Done a few of those way back. Better of nowadays to pay to get it removed. Hope you are well Darb, good to hear from you. Take Care   

I've had a hibernation type of a winter with the terrible cold and feet of snow. I decided not to take the ice fishing trip to Burlington Maine this year, although I did go up in November for deer season. We saw more deer this year than ever but didn't get any. The trip with good friends was well worth it.

[JCM 10,686]

We are only 20 minutes off the Maine Turnpike at exit 19 if you ever need anything , anytime while traveling the Turnpike should the need arise.  @Darb1964

[ri702bill 11,163]

1 hour ago, Darb1964 said:

a few friends and a few cases of beer

Yup - cold beer is the "motivational fluid" of the younger generation. Now at my age, prune juice is.