Comments requested: What should I do with boiler/burner?

[Robert Ransom]

What to do with boiler/burner?
Homart tank-less boiler with Beckett burner installed 1952. New Becket burner installed 1970. Tank-less water heating coils failed, so capped off and installed electric water heater in1988. Early December, 2022, boiler cleaning. Mid December, oil leak drip (20 second interval) began a few days after cleaning. Call-back diagnosis - drain-back from boiler or pump seal failure.
Thoughts?

 

[John Gayewski]

Is oil fuel truly your only option?

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Fitter30]

Might want to consider a whole burner your old one is 53 years old or a complete new boiler. Its at least 72 years old. Look at the size of your old flue then google a new boiler see what size difference there is. Then look at the total efficiency and yours probably 65 - 70%. Change the pump the transformer or motor fails. Rebates
RI has a $500 and federal tax $150

 

[Robert Ransom]

Is oil fuel truly your only option?

yes

 

[Robert Ransom]

Might want to consider a whole burner your old one is 53 years old or a complete new boiler. Its at least 72 years old. Look at the size of your old flue then google a new boiler see what size difference there is. Then look at the total efficiency and yours probably 65 - 70%. Change the pump the transformer or motor fails. Rebates
RI has a $500 and federal tax $150

82% measured by the tech.

 

[Fitter30]

82% measured by the tech.

That's with the flue gas analyzer which is very good combustion efficiency. That's not the whole picture.
Boiler efficiency may be indicated by

• Combustion Efficiency - indicates a burners ability to burn fuel measured by unburned fuel and excess air in the exhaust
• Thermal Efficiency - indicates the heat exchangers effectiveness to transfer heat from the combustion process to the water or steam in the boiler, exclusive radiation and convection losses
• Fuel to Fluid Efficiency - indicates the overall efficiency of the boiler inclusive thermal efficiency of the heat exchanger, radiation and convection losses - output divided by input.

 

[Robert Ransom]

Update on the oil leak: Attached are photos of burner unit and area of leak (air intake?). When the pump spins, oil is thrown out of the air intake openings. Oil pump seals, flow-back through air tube??
Thoughts on cause(s)?

 

[Fitter30]

Seal in leaking replace the pump. Be nice to know what pressure it was setup for.

 

[Robert Ransom]

Seal in leaking replace the pump. Be nice to know what pressure it was setup for.

How do I find out? Us there a gauge?

 

[Robert Ransom]

How do I find out? Us there a gauge?

Just the oil pump?