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Posted by Eric on January 13, 2005 at 07:29:09:
In Reply to: Re: Dry Well Boilers posted by HeatPro on January 13, 2005 at 07:19:01:
: Actually, called dry-base boilers as opposed to wet-base where water surrounds the fire chamber at the bottom. If the base firebrick deteriorates, there is no protection of the metal and it burns out. Old-timey oil companies used to buy dry-base boilers because they were cheaper and push them. Then, in order to boost oil consumption, they would overfire the boilers. Of course, overfiring would overheat the base sooner as the unit got a few years, then they could come back and say that the boiler was junk and sell another brand or a wet-base. Newer dry-base boilers have solid planks of ceramic-fiber fire chambers so the old game doesn't do as much to that. But the combo of DUH and PROFIT, still goes on with the suicide management of left-over 'get-away-with-it despite customer losses' members of the "INCREDIBLE SHRINKING INDUSTRY" from 60% heating share in the 60's to 6% today.
** Thank you for the information, and yes, I did mean dry-base. It turns out that what you have described is exactly what happened to my boiler. The firing chamber was breached through the steel housing. The boiler was purchased by the previous owner of the home from his oil service provider approximately 10 years ago. When I purchased the home, I switched oil service providers. At the first inspection they determined that the nozzle installed on the burner was inappropriate and was leading to excessive fuel usage. Interesting.
If I am ask another question. What are the advantages/disadvantages of the wet base vs low mass boilers?
Thank you