Posted by Harold Kestenholz - Hydronic Network on September 13, 2000 at 08:39:34:
In Reply to: H. B. Smith residential boiler capute. posted by Dan Leonard on September 11, 2000 at 06:10:26:
The most destruction can be caused by the automatic fill device. If there is a leak in the heating system, the automatic fill adds fresh water. As cast iron rusts in the presence of oxygen, fresh water introduced to make up a loss of just one drip per minute will eat a hole in the boiler in about the time you describe. Given a choice of having the low water cutoff tell me that there has been a leak to be repaired, or an automatic feed, I will prevent water from being added by keeping the valve to the automatic feed closed (this is the instruction on the tag) until the plumber arrives to fix a leak.
Your Burnham manufacturer probably does have a pro-rated plan for the replacement of the boiler casting, since it is under 10 years. Call Burnham to find out if you have some warrantee allowance.