NO HEAT CALL FROM A OLD HOARDER merch = teespring.com/... / stevenlavimoniere lavimoniere productions llc subscribe to my channel / @stevenlavimoniere lavimoniereplum...
The fact that you told her she needed a new boiler 5 years ago and the thing is still running with no service since that time proves that she was right to hold off. Rock it till the wheels fall off.
Yes these are very well built oil tanks,but eventually it's going to become to unsafe and Steven is just going to have to say no..because you guys are right Steven has such a big heart it's hard for him to say no.
@@hanscraig1850 I'm just saying that things eventually get pretty old sometimes and an item you buy doesn't necessarily have to crack but the motor and the pump and other things will fail and yes as you as you can keep replacing them that's a good thing but eventually the orginal manufacturer will go out of business or even if they don't go out of business they may discontinue a certain part and if Steven can't find the replacement motor,pump,etc,etc it has to be replaced that's all I'm saying... Besides even Steven sometimes encourages his customers to get a new tank,AC unit,furnace,water heater etc..because he says I'm not going to service this anymore because it's just to old and to unsafe .
Looks like someone dumped a load of dirty fuel in her tank. Do you think a new boiler would burn that dirty fuel???? I don't. That fuel wasn't even getting through the filter, how is it going to light?
National Radiator Company. Quality Made in America. Every part on that burner is original. That boiler/burner will outlast a new one, no need to upgrade.
Based on the round green motor in the upper right of the first view, at least the fifties, maybe the forties. The motor cast iron end bells were gone by the sixties and replaced with stamped/formed steel.
Really is incredible. On one hand, I can completely see why she needs a new boiler - obviously. On the other hand, tell me any boiler, furnace, heat pump - anything that generates heat - that is made today that will stand the test of time like that dinosaur has? Not a one. It's like going into a house and seeing a 50+ year old USA made water heater that is still working. This boiler reflects a time in the USA when things were built with pride to last, designed with real engineering, and were sold with integrity. Makes me proud of my country, but also makes me weep for my country. Good job Steve.
NIce job Steve, I hope the lady appreciates your commitment to quality. Although, I must say it's your commitment to giving her good service is making her think "Hey, It's still working. I can let it be". I look forward to her next call in five years. I know you mutter and curse under your breath as you work with the "beast". But it's a good and simple beast, without all the goofy electronics that can be toast if if gets try dry. or the heat exchanger that cracks because it was designed to within the MINIMUM threshold of performance in the name of efficiency (AKA known as doing it as cheaply as possible)
@@johnphillipsplumbing7148 And also a time when greedy corporations didn't outsource our appliances to China..where they make everything shitty! Like my mom is 85 years old and a few years ago she bought a new 40 inch hd tv and within 2 years it wasn't working anymore,and also a few years she needed to buy a new washing machine but she didn't have the money so 2 of my sisters and my brother pitched in and got one for her..and then within 2 years that one had broken down..so she had to buy another one with her stimulus money..and she decided to get an extended warranty on it..because she just can't keep affording this. Now my washer and dryer were all bought in 2004 and are still running really good..(but I also don't have children so I guess that makes a difference..kid's are very hard on appliances)... Also the hd tv that I bought in 2010 a Panasonic is still running but gave it to a friend and opted for a 4k 65 inch tv which I love! And the reason why I mentioned these other appliances is because you can't buy anything new from a new furnace,water heater,tv,washing machine that isn't built in China and made dirt cheap and that's a fact!.. We just wished that Steven was our plumber because we have our own home and eventually we'll need to replace our furnace,and water heater. But unfortunately alot of the guys over here in the Pacific Northwest are crooks (the big companies I mean)...
@@SmittySmithsonite Yup! It's so true! But these greedy corporations also do it to save money on taxes,because the United States government will charge an arm and a leg on taxes for everything! The really unfortunate thing is that we're the one's getting stuck with a really crappy made in China appliance,that seems to break down every 5 minutes... And so some nice guy like Steven has to come and fix it for us. But you also gotta think where would be without someone like Steven to help us out in a jam right?
That boiler was made In my home town Johnstown pa , theres still a lot of those national around in this area efficiency s low but people dont want to change em out unless its a leaker
You know I like the gravy jobs too but you can’t turn your nose up to success. That boiler appears to be almost all original, and from what I can remember and research that is from the late 1940’s. they don’t make boilers and burners that good anymore, NRC was a 100% American company and High quality long lasting products was the result. That Burner and boiler will outlast most technicians. I actually really enjoy getting jobs working on older equipment like that.. My brother you got the wrong attitude working on this. I know you probably want to get a job to put in a new boiler for the person, but you can’t argue, it was five years ago since you touched that and it’s just trucking along.. so fix it right, have a bit of pride in your work and move on to the other jobs. I’ve worked on a lot newer equipment that was way shittier to work on, those old beasts are nice and simple and they do one thing, they burn oil and make heat. Exactly what they were designed to do
RCA when things go wrong with these ancient burners its normally multiple issues at considerable expense.I find clients that are to tight to upgrade in the first place tend to complain when they get the bill for the repairs because they want everything for nothing. The money they waste on vintage crap could make a nice dent in a new reliable eficient boiler.
@@johncampbell6715 A new boiler that sounds like a plane raking off and gives trouble within a few years I would rather fix the old J pumps are far superior to any mini pump, a 1725 motor is quieter and lasts longer and a ignition transformer from the 1950s will still outlast anything new
We had that same boiler when growing up...my father replaced the pump burner assembly about 20 years ago. He was faithful about changing the filter and nozzle every heating season...never gave any trouble until his age prevented him from getting into basement...I had to learn fast how to change nozzles and filters. 😁
And here I am, just a homeowner, reading through the limitations and exclusions of my near worthless 12 month warranty. What a flippin' joke. Interesting video - makes one think about the slow demise of America, outsourcing and corporate greed.
I've got 2 Gilbaco burners of this vintage, personally I like these old burners, they have a character and quality that's lacking from the modern burners, and just look how long it's been in service, 60 or 70 years and still going!
It's the tank, not the boiler. A big prefilter would catch that crap. Kinda like comparing a Detroit 671 to a Fiat diesel. One can eat garbage and keep running...yeh other ... Not so much.
@@Thebowzer221 I guess apparently those rocket burners aren't much more efficient, but they burn cleaner. It get's more efficient, when you can reduce system temperatures or maybe upgrade to a high efficiency condensating boiler.
She's not a leaker. Just kick the can down the road like you always say and save her a buck. Just maintain it until you can't get parts, or it leaks. Oldie but a goodie. What a beautiful beast. Amazing
Why upgrade? It works, it doesn’t leak, and it will probably outlast any of that new junk that won’t make ten years. Thee old lady won’t live long enough for any efficiency gains to pay back either.
That resirc pump looked like it had an old GE SA type brushed induction motor on it. A museum piece for sure. That old boiler should also be at the Smithsonian. It probably weighs a Ton literally. Made in USA!!!
I’m surprised that you didn’t drain any of the sludge out from the tank, after blowing it with the air. It sure looked nasty. I would think that dirty fuel will simply reclog the filter and block off the supply again, no?
Seems to have run well the last 5 years till tank sludge got it. No fancy microprocessor controls to fail. Good, honest USA cast iron! Bet you will be servicing it again around 2026!
My furnace (installed by the previous people here, and not a cheapie) started giving me problems when it reached 9 years old, and it's been a headache ever since. Furnace itself had a 30-year warranty (excluding burner) but the manufacturer went out of business this year. Hopefully the combustion chamber liner I installed in 2019 will last a while yet...
I used to do tear outs 25-30 years ago when I worked for an oil company. I saved the badges off of some old boilers because I thought the logos were neat looking. Some of the metal badges I have are, NRC, Esso, Westinghouse and some others. Those old boilers were beasts. That old thing brings back some memories.
National Radiator Company has roots that go back to the late 1800s becoming NRC in 1902. They merged with United States Radiator Company in 1954 so that beast is at least 67 years old.
Never saw a gas boiler even last that long. Searching, on the internet, The National Radiator Company was prior to 1955. Still going. Someone might have told the owner they needed a new boiler 42 years ago. What's the oldest oil burner Steve has worked on? This has got to be on the top of the list. Outliving many that ever came to service it.
@@giddysmiles2901 he’s had a few pancake boilers from the 40’s he’s worked on. Almost none of the old stuff has the original burner. Most of it has been upgraded to a flame retention type burner over the decades.
It is nice to see people keeping old stuff running... even though it's a pain in the backside! So many modern appliances are simply *disposable* !!! Thanks for the videos!
@Buixote Well to me it's kind of a question would of would you rather have something old and possibly made in America made? Because then you know it will last,and because it's quality made? Or would you want to throw away your money away on some cheap China crap that may only last 2 years if you're lucky,right?
Looked like less of a pain than a new one. Five years since last service and only a dirty filter and a plugged oil line. Simple, robust and no electronics to fail.
Steve, I've never commented on your channel before - I think you're awesome, love everything ya post and you're one lucky dude to have Miss Molly at your side - yes, that burner sure was a relic, but I did admire it's "meant to last" construction - contrast it's gorgeous casted parts to the stuff we have these days, everything stamped metal etc. - - - even looked like there was a fair chance it still had the original pump on it, if that's the case, that's a miracle given the crap it's being given to pump all these years which speaks to it's ruggedness, filter or not - - - anyway, if a guy wanted to buy a burner like that battle ship in this day and age, my guess - - that person would be S _ _ t Ottha Luck !!
Don't see the problem here. Old boiler you were out to years back and said it needed replacing lasted another 5 years and only needed a few bits changing which are often 'consumables' anyway. My modern boiler albeit a few years old now needs something every other year at least. As long as you can get the parts, keep it running or at least until it needs a major repair.
I like how that pump cover is bolted on 19:45 like the access door on the front of a Railroad Steam Locomotive. Most of the steel on that beast is forged steel. Better than the krap sheet metal they use now.
we are both fuckin antiques steve. cross your fingers and hope some doctor doesnt think you are too old to repair because that boiler was made better than both of us and you cant make that shit up
While I've never seen an "NRC" oil burner, I have seen Stewart Warner - Winkler "Automatic Heating Furnaces" - which were built like brick shyte-houses, (Father Ted-ism) the last two that I changed out were old "Sunbeam" coal conversion - gravity convection heaters, with Honeywell stack controllers. The reason they were both swapped out, was because I couldn't locate transformers for them. One, was in a home which was still owned by the family who had the conversion from coal done under some type of "Veteran's Administration" safety program, started because of CO problems around 1954. This was in Pennsylvania, near Philly. I'm told that at least 70% of the oil heating systems of that era, had received federal funds to convert from coal, or wood/coal, and there were also something called "Bucket-a-Day" systems (under the same mandate). I'm in my '60s, and for me, this is "ancient information", if someone can add to this, please do, as I'm sure that there is interest in this type of history.
What she may really need is just a new burner (Beckett) with an adapter to fit the old boiler. As long as the boiler is clean inside and outside of soot and not leaking water, keep her. The old boiler would most likely out last a new boiler anyway as the junk cost cuts in design and manufacturing boilers these days. Used Beckett burners on line are cheep too. She has got to keep up with bi yearly PM !!
Wait until all these flimsy heat pumps people are installing start failing. They'd wish they had a rock solid boiler like this. Doesn't run off a coal fired power plant either
NRC... National Radiator Company, Johnstown Pa. Plenty of old NRC coal & oil boilers as well as radiators still in operation in this part of western Pa and judging from this video other parts of the USA as well.
He told her 5 years ago to get a new one and the one she has is still running. lol. Sounds like the "Horder" knows better. Plus, Maybe se doesn't have the money to get a new furnace. And calling your customers "Horders" is what an A$$ whole would do. lmao. Let her fill her house with what she wants. Don't like it, don't take the job.
Hey Steve, I've worked on many of those old 1725 rpm burners with the 8 bolt pump strainer covers over the years. fun Huh? LoL! NRC = National Radiator Company
Those old burners really stand the test of time, we did a change out for a lady and the burner was just like this one I saved it, through it in my garage it was still running The only problem was the filters were plugged she qualified for a new system with the energy assistance program, if it was maintained and the filters were changed it would probably still be running today.
Another built to last and probably has enough thermal mass to keep the house warm during an extended power outage just sitting there... Take forever to get hot but stay fairly warm a day later lol
Thing was in service before I was born, and probably outlast me. Thing burn dirt. Bet the tank stoppage was what killed it. I see your notes. Hard to see. She must be old. Brass pipes? Has to cost $$$$ to run.
Great work Steve! Good to great tech out there doing the right thing for the elderly. I know I would appreciate this greatly if she were my mom or grandmother. Happy New Year Steve!
Thanks for showing us the name plate on the boiler. Any idea of the manufacturing date of that old beast? You're a good man to help her out. I'd have been scared shit less every time I twisted a bolt or screw on that thing it would ring off and I'd have a new career trying to fix it and find parts. You were very smart about your approach to this job.
I'm guessing thats the 10th oil tank that Crusty old Boilers had back when Standard Oil Co started lol.Even been in the Freddy Kruger Movies and the shining lol.
coming at you as a diesel engine guy the looks of that filter and the snotty shit that came out the tank has a bad case of algae in it and needs a bottle of treatment put in it for algae
when i lived in town i had a Crusade atherm oil fired boiler the burner was as big as the tec. and they exchanged it out with a carlon burner and they had too use boiler cement the door that the burner mounts was cracked
I used to rent an old house with a bunch of friends and it had a very old NRC boiler just like that one, I think it was from the 40’s. Sounded just like that when it ran, had the stack temp sensor and everything just like that one. It even had the same problem with the blocked discharge at the oil tank, every once in a while the sludge would build up and it would starve out. It never leaked water but I swear at least 3/4 of the heat from the firebox was going up the chimney!
That old burner is doing pretty good if that is the first time it has been serviced in five years... my modern boiler can only go a year without service.
Yep, the house I rented in Princeton had an NRC boiler just like that one, had the NRC radiators to go with it too! One thing I’ll say is that it never leaked any water, only problems we had were with the old sludged up oil tank.
That looks just like an old burner I worked on that had a Delco plate on it by General Motors. I ended up replacing the burner with a brand new AFG. It was an American Standard steam boiler and it heated beautifully.
I was going to say the same thing, between that thing and the oil tank they were both pretty clean looking for how old the stuff was. All the stuff was neatly stacked and covered in the basement not just everywhere like most hoarders.
