Burnham boiler/company problems
 

I live in NJ and just had a a Burnham boiler (model =
204BCL-TEi2)installed. After 4 visits, the contractor still cannot get
the well to exceed 180 deg. He replaced the Honeywell? aquastat 4 times
to no avail. He "fixed" it by mouting a honeywell strap-on aquastat
about 40" above the boiler, on the outbound pipe. Not only does
contractor believe he fixed it, Burnham wrote me a letter accepting
this.

Can ANYONE endorse this jury-rig. I am living in aquastat hell and
cannot believe Burnham would support this. There is no logical reason
that the operating specs, efficiency etc. would be the same with a
remote aquastat.

Thoughts?

Thanx, Tom.

"Tom" wrote in message
ups.com...
I live in NJ and just had a a Burnham boiler (model =
204BCL-TEi2)installed. After 4 visits, the contractor still cannot get
the well to exceed 180 deg. He replaced the Honeywell? aquastat 4 times
to no avail. He "fixed" it by mouting a honeywell strap-on aquastat
about 40" above the boiler, on the outbound pipe. Not only does
contractor believe he fixed it, Burnham wrote me a letter accepting
this.

Can ANYONE endorse this jury-rig. I am living in aquastat hell and
cannot believe Burnham would support this. There is no logical reason
that the operating specs, efficiency etc. would be the same with a
remote aquastat.

Thoughts?

1) I can't believe the original aquastat would not do the job. Are you/they
sure the temp/pressor guage is correct? I've had brand new ones (on
Burnhams) be incorrect right out of the crate.

2) See #1.

The big question is: Is it working?

The first 5 aquastats would not work. The contractor plugged in a
handheld temp. guage & thermocouple setup and confirmed the boiler
temp. guage is accurate. He installed a 13psi pressure regulator on
incoming line and the pressure gauge is reading 13 +/- a degree. SO, we
are both at the same conclusion. The contractor cannot figure out why
the boiler will not work with the factory installed thermostat, or any
thermostat in the designed location. YES, he replaced the well; but
thats of no use since there is no finger in there now.

Is it working? YES, my issue is not related to basic functionality. My
primary concern is related to original specs of efficiency and
operational characteristics. I cannot believe the unit will be anywhere
near efficiently run with a remote aquastat. I kinda think of the new
aquastat location as another thermostat as they might be doing the same
thing. ie. neither is monitoring the boiler temp with any accuracy.

HELP !!

Why would it matter where it is mounted for efficiency, 180 is 180 a few
feet away won`t matter. I hope you dont need 180 now if you do at -10
you will be cold .

"Dr. Hardcrab" wrote in message
news:ZCB2e.25756$wL6.16128@trnddc03...

"Tom" wrote in message
ups.com...
I live in NJ and just had a a Burnham boiler (model =
204BCL-TEi2)installed. After 4 visits, the contractor still cannot get
the well to exceed 180 deg. He replaced the Honeywell? aquastat 4 times
to no avail. He "fixed" it by mouting a honeywell strap-on aquastat
about 40" above the boiler, on the outbound pipe. Not only does
contractor believe he fixed it, Burnham wrote me a letter accepting
this.

Can ANYONE endorse this jury-rig. I am living in aquastat hell and
cannot believe Burnham would support this. There is no logical reason
that the operating specs, efficiency etc. would be the same with a
remote aquastat.

Thoughts?

1) I can't believe the original aquastat would not do the job. Are
you/they sure the temp/pressor guage is correct? I've had brand new ones
(on Burnhams) be incorrect right out of the crate.

2) See #1.

The big question is: Is it working?


Not working as in not coming up to temp? Is the boiler undersized? Gas
pressure to low?
What type of boiler is this. The model number is not familiar.
Greg

When contractor installed, the boiler was spec'd around 25% over my
needs to accomodate a home expansion we plan. So no, the boiler should
be sized ok. The "not working" simply means: I set the aquastat to
ANYTHING above 180deg and the gas is turned off when the boiler temp
guage hits 180deg. I set the aquastat to 220 (max it would go) and the
boiler shuts off at 180deg. The contractor used remote temp guage to
confirm boiler guage is accurate. I am not sure how to tell of pressure
of gas, but my fireplace (40k btu) worked fine when I tested it last
week. Since they share the same gas source, this confirms I have ample
supply of gas. For past 11 years, with old boiler, I ran fireplace and
boiler, stove, hw heater, dryer etc. all together without ever having
this problem. It would really help me sleep to understand why the
aquastat will not function correctly, but moreso- why would Burnham
authorize a letter indicating the jury-rig is an approved setup?

Still looking..... Thanx, Tom.

And the pump turns off also? Well it should fire till it reaches
aquastat temp and I don`t see gas as an issue a one stage valve won`t
use a different amount of gas at any time in its operation and either
way should not turn it off. It sounds like there is a temp control limit
turning it off. What did Burnam say. What are your outside temps now
and is this baseboard heat becace my boiler never reaches 180 till
around zero, I have cast iron , for the boiler to get to 180 now at 40f
outside the inside ould heat to 74-76. Try www.heatinghelp.com click
on "The Wall"

I have a Burnham Boiler and had the luxury of disecting a bad aquastat.
There is no mercury bulb in it. The probe which sits in the boiler tank is
responsible for temp feedback. You have a low limit and a high limit. The
aquastat I disected was faulty because of the high limit switch. There are
some springs incorporated in the switch and it had popped off.
Basically, if it keeps shutting off at 180 even when set higher, you too
have a problem with the high limit switch or circuitry attached to it.
I'm curious though, why would you need it set higher than 180?
"Tom" wrote in message
oups.com...
When contractor installed, the boiler was spec'd around 25% over my
needs to accomodate a home expansion we plan. So no, the boiler should
be sized ok. The "not working" simply means: I set the aquastat to
ANYTHING above 180deg and the gas is turned off when the boiler temp
guage hits 180deg. I set the aquastat to 220 (max it would go) and the
boiler shuts off at 180deg. The contractor used remote temp guage to
confirm boiler guage is accurate. I am not sure how to tell of pressure
of gas, but my fireplace (40k btu) worked fine when I tested it last
week. Since they share the same gas source, this confirms I have ample
supply of gas. For past 11 years, with old boiler, I ran fireplace and
boiler, stove, hw heater, dryer etc. all together without ever having
this problem. It would really help me sleep to understand why the
aquastat will not function correctly, but moreso- why would Burnham
authorize a letter indicating the jury-rig is an approved setup?

Still looking..... Thanx, Tom.

"m Ransley" wrote in message
...
And the pump turns off also? Well it should fire till it reaches
aquastat temp and I don`t see gas as an issue a one stage valve won`t
use a different amount of gas at any time in its operation and either
way should not turn it off. It sounds like there is a temp control limit
turning it off. What did Burnam say. What are your outside temps now
and is this baseboard heat becace my boiler never reaches 180 till
around zero, I have cast iron , for the boiler to get to 180 now at 40f
outside the inside ould heat to 74-76. Try www.heatinghelp.com click
on "The Wall"



That is my thought too, there probably is a 180 high limit somewhere that
the installer is not finding.
Greg

Thanx for inputs, yet I remain confused. There is indeed a limit
switch, but Burnham shows this switch attached to the finger that goes
into well. I consider this the aquastat. For my home to be comfortable,
in colder temps, we need around 190deg at boiler. Burnham wrote a
letter, that I spoke with Customer Service Manager (Annette) about and
confirmed validity, that the strap does not compromise the 1 year
warranty.
Also, after closer inspection, the Model # listed in prior post does
contain an error. It was copied from installation receipt. The actual
model number is: 204NCL-TEi2. I am writing a letter to Burnham to
insist on an inspection by company reps. I truly feel they are bullying
me, and I cannot accept this.

Any other things to check ?



Greg O wrote:
"m Ransley" wrote in message
...
And the pump turns off also? Well it should fire till it reaches
aquastat temp and I don`t see gas as an issue a one stage valve
won`t
use a different amount of gas at any time in its operation and
either
way should not turn it off. It sounds like there is a temp control
limit
turning it off. What did Burnam say. What are your outside temps
now
and is this baseboard heat becace my boiler never reaches 180 till
around zero, I have cast iron , for the boiler to get to 180 now at
40f
outside the inside ould heat to 74-76. Try www.heatinghelp.com
click
on "The Wall"



That is my thought too, there probably is a 180 high limit somewhere
that
the installer is not finding.
Greg

You should go to www.heatinghelp.com "The Wall", good pros there
will give you the correct answer in no time.

Im no pro but you say you are oversized 25% for a future addition and
need 190 now when it is cold, did he put in the same size pump, do you
have old large cast iron radiators or baseboard, If you have large CI
you may have a sizing issue for the addition .

It sounds like your installer doesn`t know how to test your boiler to
see what is wrong. Im sure you could do it with direction and a meter.
Id guess it is the aquatsat first. Go to The Wall.

"Tom" wrote in message
oups.com...
Thanx for inputs, yet I remain confused. There is indeed a limit
switch, but Burnham shows this switch attached to the finger that goes
into well. I consider this the aquastat. For my home to be comfortable,
in colder temps, we need around 190deg at boiler. Burnham wrote a
letter, that I spoke with Customer Service Manager (Annette) about and
confirmed validity, that the strap does not compromise the 1 year
warranty.

And it wont. Its called field wiring of an approved device.

Also, after closer inspection, the Model # listed in prior post does
contain an error. It was copied from installation receipt. The actual
model number is: 204NCL-TEi2. I am writing a letter to Burnham to
insist on an inspection by company reps. I truly feel they are bullying
me, and I cannot accept this.

That might be a good idea, and while you are at it, insure that the
installer was licenced, and insured, and a dealer for the company, since I
found the wiring diagram for your unit....



Any other things to check ?

The other limit hes failed to locate.
There are two.





Greg O wrote:
"m Ransley" wrote in message
...
And the pump turns off also? Well it should fire till it reaches
aquastat temp and I don`t see gas as an issue a one stage valve
won`t
use a different amount of gas at any time in its operation and
either
way should not turn it off. It sounds like there is a temp control
limit
turning it off. What did Burnam say. What are your outside temps
now
and is this baseboard heat becace my boiler never reaches 180 till
around zero, I have cast iron , for the boiler to get to 180 now at
40f
outside the inside ould heat to 74-76. Try www.heatinghelp.com
click
on "The Wall"



That is my thought too, there probably is a 180 high limit somewhere
that
the installer is not finding.
Greg

If CB says you have 2 then you are proven to have a hack. Just curious,
you say he upsized you 25%. What size unit did you have , what did he
install, what was the old units efficiency and what is the new units
efficiency. I will bet the numbers don`t work. Now im no pro but when I
see one thing go wrong on my jobs I look and usualy find the trend
continues. Burnham would be interested also and will help.