Crane 20 coal/gas converted boiler

[CarlV]

OLD boiler. Heats house well but over this winter I found it regularly losing water pressure. Getting it cleaned out to see if I can find any obvious cracks..

Primary question here is all the "material" in the bottom.. Should it remain in there or be cleaned out?

Will it make any difference in performance? Its a reddish copper color and has a ton of gold flakey stuff in it so it seems like some sort of intentional insulation media but I have no clue.

 

[Fitter30]

That loose fill behind that broken fire block is vermiculite it is asbestos. That cast fire block its asbestos. If you haven't seen any water on the floor the burner is vaporizing the leaking water. The boiler is made up of sections are put together with slip nipples short 2" piece of pipe that has a long taper on each side and each section is pulled together with long bolts to the next section. A nipple could have a leak. check the relief valve setting run the pressure up to 5 lbs less and see. That fire block needs to be repaired and your gravity boiler at best is 60% efficient. To find out what size the burner is the gas orfice should be measured if there isn't any numbers on it.