jabarnut
Light Years Away
Premium,MVM
join:2005-01-22
Galaxy M31
1 edit | Weil Mclain Boiler-Life expectancy?
Got some bad news today.
Was getting an annual cleaning of my Boiler (forced hot water Weil Mclain) and the tech showed me that it had a small leak. (This is on the outside, under some lid he lifted on top in order to clean out some 'fins' with a wire brush and vacuum).
(As you can tell already, I don't know much about them). 
The actual cast iron boiler itself has a very small water leak, where mineral deposits have been building up.
It's been going strong for 22 years now (Most of the time with a family of five..the 'kids' are finally grown up and moved out).
But not before years of WAY too long showers by my kids (The furnace heats the water too with a heating coil).
He told me that's a fairly typical life expectancy of that type boiler.
Guess I was under the false impression they lasted forever.  (Not really).
Is there any way to possibly fix the leak (like I said, it's a tiny leak), or did I get my moneys worth out of it?
I imagine if there's one leak, there may be other areas of the cast iron on the way out too?
He also said he really couldn't say how much longer it would last.....could get worse in a month, or could last a year, but recommended thinking about a new one really soon.
I'm in new England and the last thing I need is to have the thing go on me when it's 10 below zero out.
Time for a new one for sure, or is there any hope for it?
I'm thinking of having it replaced now in August, rather than risk a problem in the middle of Winter.
Sure don't need the expense, but I guess that's the way to go huh?
By the way...I'm not second guessing the Tech that cleaned it (I caught hell in the automotive forum once for second guessing my mechanic) 
And I suppose I should have asked him some more questions...I'm just thinking about it more now.
Guess I'm just venting a little, and wondering if the thing should have lasted longer.
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I had a life once.....now I have a Computer and a Modem. |
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DataDoc
My avatar looks like me, if I was 2D.
Premium
join:2000-05-14
Greenville, NC
 ·Suddenlink
| I'll relate this only FYI, not because it's a good solution.
We found a pinhole leak in a hot water tank, by walking by it and feeling the hot water. It was totally uninsulated, and this was in Alaska in the 60s and it took about 3 months to get a replacement. My father turned off the water, drilled out the hole and put in a self-tapping screw. Bingo, fixed. |
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Glenn
I'D Rather Be Skiing
Premium
join:2000-10-05
Wallingford, CT
| reply to jabarnut
Wow, we had the same issue happen to us about 3 years ago....6 months before our wedding too. (FUN!)
We had a WeilMcClain boiler that was probably about 20-25 years old. Whenever it would shut down, it would leak a little water. Well one day, it stared leaking even when the boiler was in use. The techs told us it could be fixed with a stop leak, but that's just a bandaid.
We went with a new Weil McClain "gold" and got rid of the domestic coil and went with an indirect fired tank. That combo works awesome. The new boiler really cranks out the heat from the baseboards and is much more efficient than the old one. Yeah, it's a good chunk of change, but a worthy upgrade IMHO.
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Legal ATVing in Connecticut? |
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cdru
Go Colts
Premium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN
| reply to jabarnut
I can't comment about the life expectancy. However with higher fuel costs and it's age, it may make sense to just go ahead and replace it now. There is also a tax credit of $150 if the new boiler has a AFUE >= 85. |
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jabarnut
Light Years Away
Premium,MVM
join:2005-01-22
Galaxy M31
| reply to jabarnut
Thanks for the replies guys.
After a little more research (and growing tired of agonizing over it)...thinking maybe, just maybe, I could 'get by' with it for another year or two, I've got a new system being installed next Thursday.
I figure it was just a matter of time before it died. (Especially after what it's been through for 22 years).
The thought of it going south for good during a New England Winter, when I'll need it the most, was the clincher.
Of course, I may have to sell a pet or two and one of the kids to pay for it, but hey...at least I know I'll be warm.
Thanks again.
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I had a life once.....now I have a Computer and a Modem. |
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Glenn
I'D Rather Be Skiing
Premium
join:2000-10-05
Wallingford, CT
| What kind of unit are you going with?
I really think you made the right choice. You'll be happy when that thing is pumping out the heat on a nice frosty January night.
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Legal ATVing in Connecticut? |
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jabarnut
Light Years Away
Premium,MVM
join:2005-01-22
Galaxy M31
| I went with an Energy Kinetics System 2000.
Being way out in the sticks, there are really only two Oil Companies within a reasonable distance. (One of them was horrible, but the guys I've had lately have been really good to me...so far).
Anyway, I only had a couple of choices that they used as far as Boilers, and after some research, went with the System 2000.
Two of the Service managers both have them in their homes and love them. (I had the opportunity to check one out in operation, and it was amazingly quiet and efficient).
I also went to an HVAC forum loaded with professionals and did some searching.
Some raved about the system, while some of the others said they didn't like them for various reasons. (I found that true of just about any Boiler over there though..some liked a particular Unit, others didn't).
Anyway, regardless of whether people think I made the right choice or not, yeah, I'm glad I won't have to worry about heat this winter. (Well, at least I *hope* I won't have to worry about it).
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I had a life once.....now I have a Computer and a Modem. |
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Glenn
I'D Rather Be Skiing
Premium
join:2000-10-05
Wallingford, CT
| Interesting! Let us know how you like that set up. I looked into that set up as well. The problem was, not many service companies around here services those units.
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Legal ATVing in Connecticut? |
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jabarnut
Light Years Away
Premium,MVM
join:2005-01-22
Galaxy M31
| My Company deals with them almost exclusively (They did have one Cast iron Boiler...a "Utica" I think it was).
But my choices were limited without going through a lot of hassle and traveling further, so in the end I picked this one.
Anyway, their Techs are *apparently* well trained for these System 2000 units.
They've actually been around longer than I thought.
Guess I'll see *how* well trained they are at some point!
Heh...the Service Manager who has one in his home though did say it's been excellent with no problems whatsoever....and super quiet.
(Of course, I suppose a service manager who sells them would tell you that no matter what type of unit it was). lol.
Anyway, I'll try to remember to let you know how it goes. 
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I had a life once.....now I have a Computer and a Modem. |
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jabarnut
Light Years Away
Premium,MVM
join:2005-01-22
Galaxy M31
4 edits | reply to Glenn
Sorry guys...I know this thread is coming up on two weeks old, but I told Glenn  I'd let him know how it went.
So far, I'm loving this thing!
The installation went very well, and it was obvious they knew what they were doing.
Of course, winter will tell for sure, but the thing is really very cool.
The electronic panel tells the status of everything with LED's...when a thermostat calls for heat, when the Boiler is running, when a particular Zone valve opens, when it closes, when the circulator is running, boiler temp, etc.
(And they're all labeled, so I know exactly what's going on where and when).
The best part is the large Hot Water Tank (which is just considered another 'zone').
It's amazing...once the system was up and running, and 'stabilized' (with our very cold well water), we took two showers and ran a load of Laundry, and dishes, before the thing ever had to turn on.
And even when it did, it ran for a very short time before it shut off again.
All heat from the boiler is returned back to the hot water heater (or in the case of the baseboard heat), is used in the house.
My old Boiler with a heating coil ran all the time (even if it was 100 degrees out), since it had to keep the boiler at a fairly constant temp.
This thing remains ice cold until something calls for heat, and then it uses that heat very efficiently even after it's shut down.
And it's incredibly quiet compared to my old cast Iron Boiler.
As far as I can tell (like I said, it's so quiet), the Boiler has only fired up 2 or 3 times since I had it installed. (I know winter will be a different story).
Still, I can already see where this unit will probably be saving me a LOT of oil.
I know electronics can be zapped by surges and lightning, but the guys I've talked to who have them have had zero problems.
I suppose the biggest drawback (beside the initial cost), is you want to be sure there are qualified Techs who know the system.
In my case, I'm very lucky...they've all had specialized schooling to work on these units, and they love them for ease of servicing.
So, that's the report.
If it dies in the middle of the winter, you won't have to suffer through another post.....where I live, my hands will be permanently frozen to the keyboard.  
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I had a life once.....now I have a Computer and a Modem. |
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garys_2k
join:2004-05-07
Farmington, MI | You might want to invest in a decent power conditioner for this, too. |
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SandShark
So it goes
Premium,MVM
join:2000-05-23
Santa Fe, TX
clubs: | reply to jabarnut
That's great. Thanks for the update. |
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r u still happy
@verizon.net | reply to jabarnut
considering a buderus but estimater mentioned sys2000, don't know much about them said 7900 would get it installed, too much? |
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Glenn
I'D Rather Be Skiing
Premium
join:2000-10-05
Wallingford, CT
| reply to jabarnut
Good deal on the update! I actually had to turn DOWN the t-stat setting on the top of our indirect hot water tank. It's somewhere down lower than the halfway mark.
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Legal ATVing in Connecticut? |
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Langning
Premium
join:2003-04-28
Marlborough, MA
 ·Verizon FIOS
| reply to r u still happy
said by r u still happy :
considering a buderus but estimater mentioned sys2000, don't know much about them said 7900 would get it installed, too much?
$7,900 for replacing a boiler? My inlaw (hot air) & sister (forced hot water) both with oil heat and they were converted to gas, I think they paid $3-$4,000 (done by gas utility company). |
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