Posted by Stuart on January 10, 2000 at 09:46:33:
I am trying to find out the age and efficiency of my boiler, and I am trying to determine whether I would be wise to replace it at this time even though it is still functioning. I have found the following information on a plate on the boiler:
Kewanee
Type R Boiler
Series 1X
No. 3RB
Heating Surface 177 (square inches?)
Net Rating Mech Fired 720,000 BTU
Hand Fired 600,000
I would be interested in any information that anyone can supply about this boiler. I do know that it was installed prior to 1980, but I do not know how much older it is. As you can imagine, the recent doubling of gas prices has gotten me more interested in the efficiency ratings of the newer boilers.
The boiler originally heated about 9,000 square feet of floor space through hot water radiators. Several of the rooms are now heated by hot air so that the boiler and radiators are now currently heating about 7,500 square feet of floor space.