Greetings,

I have a 20 year old Burnham steel boiler (model RS110). I recently found
that the inspection port/hole has a gret deal of soot around it. Mostly on
the top. Upon futher inspection, it appears that the firebox material inside
the combustion chamber has "slid" downward, partially obsscuring the port.

I am relatively familiar with the burner aspect of the furnace, the primary
and secondary controls, cleaning & maintaining them as well as cleaning the
boiler flue tubes annually. I have not ever been into or done anything with
the combustion chamber or boiler itself other than take the sides off for
access to clean it or take the bruner assembly out for cleaning, replacing
the nozzl;e and adjusting the electrodes.

I checked the Burnham web site, and they do have a replacement combustion
chamber available. I don't even know if I need one, but I suspect I do. Is
it worth (with the boiler at this ripe age of 20 years) to replace the
chamber, or would I be better off investing in a new boiler? Is this
something that I can do my self or are special tools/procedures necessary?
I have installed a new boilers before (2 times) so I am familiar with the
units in general.

What is entailed in replacing the chamber? Big job? little job? Time?
Should I save myself the time and aggravation and just have someone else
replace the chamber?

Any help or advice is much appreciated. Thanks.

Paul.../NH

"PW" wrote in message
news:YoXBc.70521$2i5.57314@attbi_s52...
Greetings,

I have a 20 year old Burnham steel boiler (model RS110). I recently found
that the inspection port/hole has a gret deal of soot around it. Mostly on
the top. Upon futher inspection, it appears that the firebox material
inside
the combustion chamber has "slid" downward, partially obsscuring the port.

I am relatively familiar with the burner aspect of the furnace, the
primary
and secondary controls, cleaning & maintaining them as well as cleaning
the
boiler flue tubes annually. I have not ever been into or done anything
with
the combustion chamber or boiler itself other than take the sides off for
access to clean it or take the bruner assembly out for cleaning, replacing
the nozzl;e and adjusting the electrodes.

I checked the Burnham web site, and they do have a replacement combustion
chamber available. I don't even know if I need one, but I suspect I do.
Is
it worth (with the boiler at this ripe age of 20 years) to replace the
chamber, or would I be better off investing in a new boiler? Is this
something that I can do my self or are special tools/procedures necessary?
I have installed a new boilers before (2 times) so I am familiar with the
units in general.

What is entailed in replacing the chamber? Big job? little job? Time?
Should I save myself the time and aggravation and just have someone else
replace the chamber?

Any help or advice is much appreciated. Thanks.

Paul.../NH


I think replacement would be doable and have done so with a 20 yer old
Weil-McClain boiler.
Admittedly, that's a cast iron unit. Despite claims to the contrary, I've
seen steel boilers last 40 years. Their life depends on many things, such as
how oxygen free the water has been. The more the boiler water has been
changed out, the more oxygen there has been to aid corrosion of the steel.

While the original Burnham combustion chamber might be ideal, many heating
supply houses offer a "wet pack" generic replacement. They can be molded to
fit and harden rapidly.

BTW, if you look into the chamber, how bad is the combustion chamber wall,
the "target wall", directly opposite the flame front? That's the area that
is most critical.

Doug

"sparks065" wrote in message hlink.net...
"PW" wrote in message
news:YoXBc.70521$2i5.57314@attbi_s52...
Greetings,

I have a 20 year old Burnham steel boiler (model RS110). I recently found
that the inspection port/hole has a gret deal of soot around it. Mostly on
the top. Upon futher inspection, it appears that the firebox material
inside
the combustion chamber has "slid" downward, partially obsscuring the port.

I am relatively familiar with the burner aspect of the furnace, the
primary
and secondary controls, cleaning & maintaining them as well as cleaning
the
boiler flue tubes annually. I have not ever been into or done anything
with
the combustion chamber or boiler itself other than take the sides off for
access to clean it or take the bruner assembly out for cleaning, replacing
the nozzl;e and adjusting the electrodes.

I checked the Burnham web site, and they do have a replacement combustion
chamber available. I don't even know if I need one, but I suspect I do.
Is
it worth (with the boiler at this ripe age of 20 years) to replace the
chamber, or would I be better off investing in a new boiler? Is this
something that I can do my self or are special tools/procedures necessary?
I have installed a new boilers before (2 times) so I am familiar with the
units in general.

What is entailed in replacing the chamber? Big job? little job? Time?
Should I save myself the time and aggravation and just have someone else
replace the chamber?

Any help or advice is much appreciated. Thanks.

Paul.../NH


I think replacement would be doable and have done so with a 20 yer old
Weil-McClain boiler.
Admittedly, that's a cast iron unit. Despite claims to the contrary, I've
seen steel boilers last 40 years. Their life depends on many things, such as
how oxygen free the water has been. The more the boiler water has been
changed out, the more oxygen there has been to aid corrosion of the steel.

While the original Burnham combustion chamber might be ideal, many heating
supply houses offer a "wet pack" generic replacement. They can be molded to
fit and harden rapidly.

BTW, if you look into the chamber, how bad is the combustion chamber wall,
the "target wall", directly opposite the flame front? That's the area that
is most critical.

Doug

Based on my experience with steel boilers, I'd replace it. I have two
steel boilers in my apartment building, each slightly more than 20
years old. Every company I've had come in look at them has said
they're "junk" and should be replaced.

I know these guys are not unbiased -- t hey want to sell me a boiler
-- but based on what I've seen of these boilers (they're rusting
badly), I'd say they may be right.

Of course a chamber replacement is relatively inexpensive -- I had one
done on an older boiler and it only cost me $75.

John