Any HVAC specialists out there?

[widgeon13]

I have an old home in the NE and need to get a new furnace/boiler for steam radiator system. House is about 3000 sq ft and want to know what would be a good boiler that will last/ has good warranty and will give me some improved efficiency. Boiler will be oil fired. My current boiler is shot, guys that came yesterday would not service it as it was deemed unsafe. I'm in a remote area so don't have a lot of options on companies for installation and service.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

[snowman]

Just make sure you somehow take care of humidity. Steam radiators give off steam, that keeps the wood in the house from splitting. Any new system MUST somehow humidify, unless you don't care about your woodwork.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by snowman

Just make sure you somehow take care of humidity. Steam radiators give off steam, that keeps the wood in the house from splitting. Any new system MUST somehow humidify, unless you don't care about your woodwork.

Steam radiators are sealed units. If there is steam coming from your radiator(s), you better have it repaired! Radiators create a dry (radiated) heat, vs. forced air, which could better provide humidity (control). Nonetheless, wood trim in an older structure won't be affected by the lack of humidity as it has been "seasoned" a long time ago. Too much humidity may create swollen door jambs or window frames.

[Hugh R]

Can't offer advise on this, but one thing I remember as a kid was that my Dad would bleed the air and junk out of the tops of each radiator once a year at startup. It got the air out and some crud. Each radiator had a little valve on the top on the side. Don't know if you knew that or not. Good luck.

[widgeon13]

We run a humidifier in the winter as the moist air allows for more even distribution of the heat. I just committed today to a new Burnham and hope they can get it in soon as temps are dropping in the Adirondacks. Should be all set by Nov 10, I hope.

It's hard typing with gloves on.

[Danny_Ocean]

From the net: http://www.oilheatamerica.com/index.mv?screen=boilers

[snowman]

Old steam systems always includes a steam vent on every radiator. I know I own a 107 year old house that used them. When the system was updated to a modern, closed system, boiler about 8 years ago the vents no longer vented steam. One year later the 100 year old wood, was apparently not seasoned yet as it began splitting, big time. Solid oak doors with 1/2" gaps in the wood, Oak panels split everywhere. Must have been the low quality old growth oak without any knots or defects that did it.

If you replace radiators that vented steam, like all of them did at one time, you MUST introduce a humidifier or you will lose your wood work. The replacement value of the wood work that I lost is about 3 Million dollars. The relative humidity, in the winter, with dry heat is about 10% to 15%. Bloody nose, endless static electricity, and lost woodwork, and furniture result. Those old guys apparently knew what they were doing when they built those grand old houses. They included necessary humidity in the winter.

The following is an example of some of the woodwork. Unfortunately the resolution is insufficient to see the gaps in the door panels.

[Danny_Ocean]

107 year old house in SJC?!? 3 mil in woodwork? Steam-vented radiators?

squared...

Originally Posted by snowman

Old steam systems always includes a steam vent on every radiator. I know I own a 107 year old house that used them. When the system was updated to a modern, closed system, boiler about 8 years ago the vents no longer vented steam. One year later the 100 year old wood, was apparently not seasoned yet as it began splitting, big time. Solid oak doors with 1/2" gaps in the wood, Oak panels split everywhere. Must have been the low quality old growth oak without any knots or defects that did it.

If you replace radiators that vented steam, like all of them did at one time, you MUST introduce a humidifier or you will lose your wood work. The replacement value of the wood work that I lost is about 3 Million dollars. The relative humidity, in the winter, with dry heat is about 10% to 15%. Bloody nose, endless static electricity, and lost woodwork, and furniture result. Those old guys apparently knew what they were doing when they built those grand old houses. They included necessary humidity in the winter.

The following is an example of some of the woodwork. Unfortunately the resolution is insufficient to see the gaps in the door panels.

[snowman]

No not in SJC. Its one that I own in upstate NY

We don't have winter in SJC There are a couple of old houses here that have nice woodwork. They don't need to worry about heat here.

[Danny_Ocean]

There are homes in upstate NY with 3mil worth of woodwork (other than the Rockefeller estate)?

Originally Posted by snowman

No not in SJC. Its one that I own in upstate NY

We don't have winter in SJC

[snowman]

yep Start with LI and work your way west. For example the "Planting Fields", in LI, Eastman Kodak house in Rochester, Vanderbuilt house, NYC, and likely a 1000 others and thats just in NYC and thats just the OLD ones. Rochester NY probably has 50 such houses on east ave alone. All of the finger lakes have at least 2 houses like that, every major city has at least a couple, if not dozens. SO you don't know much about NY, do you?

[Danny_Ocean]

So, considering the elaborate woodwork in most Victorian-era homes is about 1/10'th of the structure, your home there is worth $30 mil?

[snowman]

I did say replacement value, didn't I? Most Victorian houses, the really nice ones cost about 1.5 million to build from scratch, IF you can find the labor. Note: a typical craftsman sears and robuck house of that era is not a really nice house. Some like the Planting Fields would cost 100 million today. The ones I am mentioning would cost about 10 to 20 million today. They cost about 200k to 1 million back in 1929.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by snowman

I did say replacement value, didn't I? Most Victorian houses, the really nice ones cost about 1.5 million to build from scratch, IF you can find the labor. Note: a typical sears and robuck house of that era is not a really nice house. Some like the Planting Fields would cost 100 million today. The ones I am mentioning would cost about 10 to 20 million today. They cost about 1 million back in 1929.

Hmm...sounds nice. Here's what a lousy $20mil gets you down here (Palm Beach FL): http://homes.realtor.com/search/listingdetail.aspx?ctid=2338&mnp=55&typ=1&sid=7c37ccd0e7e04e1ca56ac81e7c9a2f87&sdir=0&sby=2&pg=2&lid=1088981142&lsn=12&srcnt=43#Detail

[snowman]

How much is an old house worth that has a one of a kind Louis Tiffany hanging lamp in the entryway, not to mention a one of a kind Louis Tiffany designed glass inset in the peak of the house?

[snowman]

You pay a lot for waterfront property. Here in SJC you can pay that much and not even see the water.http://www.ziprealty.com/buy_a_home/search/results/sample.jsp?msg=&page=1&cKey=4h0jv6kq

Note: This is so exclusive that you can't even look at on the internet, without being qualified.

and then theres the starter homes here http://www.homesandland.com/Real_Estate/CA/City/San_Juan_Capistrano/ListingId/10462256.html

You gotta love SO CA!!!

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by snowman

You gotta love SO CA!!!

Umm, no I don't. That's why I left.

[RickM]

Many old estates here as well. One neighbor's 1800s era home (The Armour Estate) purportedly has the most elaborate wood/mill work of them all. I can't imagine what it would cost to replace.

The neighbor behind me owns a beautiful 1800s home as well. In the rear "receiving room" the walls and ceiling are completely covered with 1/2" crotch mahogany which is original to the home. I don't think you can even get that quality material any longer.

I can easily see replacement being in seven figure territory.

[snowman]

I visited an old home in Ohio where the walls were paneled in black walnut. The place had like 20' high ceilings. When the wood was cut the instructions were to only take trees that did not have any branches for a minimum of 40'. Just unbelievably nice. Cost now, impossible to reproduce.
In CA there are many very nice old houses as well. Hearst Castle is not one of them, its just gaudy and has old stuff. Redwood has been used to produce spectacular results in a number of old homes.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by RickM

I can easily see replacement being in seven figure territory.

I concur...but not in the home pictured above...