Scrapping Boilers [Answers]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by injunjoe

That coil is a heat exchanger. I would assume they are aluminum as it transfers heat much more efficiently then copper. So being the lowest value of metal,
according to you, it is a waste of time trying to get it out.

---

Joe,

Like I clearly stated the other day, in the other thread, that just because it is the LOWEST (for me) does not mean that I don't collect it, and cash it in. Heck, I even collect soda cans and cash them in too. I mainly do that because we drink a lot of code, mt dew, pepsi etc and it is all cans, so me as a recycler, recycle them.

In the post about that guys beer truck, what I was getting at, was depending on the price of aluminum of what it would be at the time, would be a factor if it is worth it or not.

It has been a while since I have turned in aluminum, because like copper, brass, wire, and batteries, I save it up.

Looks like my saw zall and grinder will be doing some more work now.

So George, what do you do with your ferrous material that you get?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KZBell

So George, what do you do with your ferrous material that you get?

---

I was waiting for you to chime in. I was missing your comments to everything I post.

I do the same thing, that everyone does. I break down everything of value, and pitch the rest and get paid per 100lb for it.

And does that (ferrous material) pay more or less then the aluminum you turn in?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GeorgeB

I am going to guess that there are some different variations of boilers. I say this, because I have gotten quite a few boilers in my time of scrapping, and the insides of the ones I have gotten, look nothing like the diagram. I didn't tear it all the way apart, but just by looking inside them, they have looked nothing like yours.

If, I am mistaken, and the have been the same, I don't even want to think of all the money I have lost, if the price your quoting has been like that forever. To me, it would have been over a $11,000 loss.

---

I suppose it does vary but all boilers my uncle services and replaces all look like this one. If they don't there is only slight changes.




For people confused. In my house I have 2 of these. They cost around £1800 to replace so you can imagine that is why the parts make up most of the pricing. Taken them in as they are is a sin in my books :D

Just open it up and take out parts with numbers/writing on them and a quick search will show you how much the price of that part is and what it actually is.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by injunjoe

That coil is a heat exchanger. I would assume they are aluminum as it transfers heat much more efficiently then copper. So being the lowest value of metal,
according to you, it is a waste of time trying to get it out.

---

The heat exchanger is made of either aluminium or stainless steel but not because they transfer heat more efficiently than copper. Only silver is better than copper for this, the reason copper isn't generally used is because at the high temperatures it is subjected to by the flue gases it tends to warp as its expansion rate is much greater than aluminum and steel. There are a number of different boiler types. The older direct immersion heaters using heating elements, with a back boiler and side mounted immersion heaters, then the indirect heat exchanging boilers using heat exchangers with an optional heating element and the newer much more efficient condensing boilers which can easily be recognised with a plastic flue pipe to release condensed gases. Newer boilers generally have 2 heat exchangers. One is a large block at the bottom made of eitehr stainless steel or aluminium and the secondary one is a brick shaped stainless steel finned block weighing around 2kg. Older boilers may have a lower grade of stainless steel used for their primary heat exchanger as these had the problem of corroding over time as water vapour condensed in them. They also had ones made of copper.

Thank you harrisvh for clearing that up.

But there was confusion the OP post a boiler and Geo added pictures of hot water heaters.

The original picture is of an indirect boiler, you might know of these as tankless heaters, multipoint heaters, geysers or ascots.

The second picture posted looks like it would be a direct boiler -these generally come with a back boiler and usually use heating elements, however I can see this particular one uses a heat exchanger.

They are both boilers however, just different types. The first picture is one that is generally used these days as they are more efficient because they only heat the water as needed. The second will heat the water from a back boiler or perhaps in this case directly from its own heat exchanger but these are generally being phased out in the UK as even the best insulated ones will still lose heat over time. Maybe you still have them over there because fuel is much cheaper???

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by harrisvh

The original picture is of an indirect boiler, you might know of these as tankless heaters, multipoint heaters, geysers or ascots.

The second picture posted looks like it would be a direct boiler -these generally come with a back boiler and usually use heating elements, however I can see this particular one uses a heat exchanger.

They are both boilers however, just different types. The first picture is one that is generally used these days as they are more efficient because they only heat the water as needed. The second will heat the water from a back boiler or perhaps in this case directly from its own heat exchanger but these are generally being phased out in the UK as even the best insulated ones will still lose heat over time. Maybe you still have them over there because fuel is much cheaper???

---

Thanks for posting your 2 informative posts to explain to other members!

A pleasure. Whilst leeching so much information from the rest of you it is good to occasionally feel like I can contribute.

Just re-read what i wrote, some of it might sound confusing so i'll get to the bit I suppose most of you want to know.

Older boilers were not subject to such high heat so: the primary heating element, if it has coiled pipes they are usually silvery coated copper. I have no idea what they coat it in or why they coat it. If it's a block its usually a large copper finned block at the bottom on the boiler.

New boilers: the primary heat exchanger which is either a block at the bottom or a cylindrical container by the side and quite large is either stainless steel or aluminium. The secondary heat exchanger is a stainless steel or aluminum block that looks like a brick, weighs around 2kg and is finned internally.

I will post some pictures in the future when I have figured out how.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by harrisvh

Just re-read what i wrote, some of it might sound confusing so i'll get to the bit I suppose most of you want to know.

Older boilers were not subject to such high heat so: the primary heating element, if it has coiled pipes they are usually silvery coated copper. I have no idea what they coat it in or why they coat it. If it's a block its usually a large copper finned block at the bottom on the boiler.

New boilers: the primary heat exchanger which is either a block at the bottom or a cylindrical container by the side and quite large is either stainless steel or aluminium. The secondary heat exchanger is a stainless steel or aluminum block that looks like a brick, weighs around 2kg and is finned internally.

I will post some pictures in the future when I have figured out how.

---

Yes in the old I have got a couple of the copper finned block and get £25 scrap each for them :D

Yes much nicer ones for scrapping are the older ones, my dad doesn't tend to bother with the newer ones as he has no room to store any of the lower metals so just calls for a scrappy to just take them away. When I tell him he could take them down as is he just says he doesn't have time and the time it would take him to take it to a yard is money he's lost not working. I have even less space than he does so can't do much with them either although he is saving me the stainless steel blocks from now on that stack nicely. Also have around 2-300 immersion elements that I have to try to figure out how to get the metal coatings off to get at the nichrome elements inside.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by harrisvh

Yes much nicer ones for scrapping are the older ones, my dad doesn't tend to bother with the newer ones as he has no room to store any of the lower metals so just calls for a scrappy to just take them away. When I tell him he could take them down as is he just says he doesn't have time and the time it would take him to take it to a yard is money he's lost not working.

---

I am banking on the local HVAC guys having the same mind set. Saturday I was at my parents and I saw a repair truck at a neighbors, with a water heater out front. I whipped back around and asked what they were doing with it?

Guy asked if I wanted it. I said sure. Okay, but the bottom plug is out. I said that was fine and loaded it. Then he says do you want this, and this, and we have this too.

Ended up with the water heater, furnace, some coils, a central air unit and a decent amount of copper lines. I was so excited. I asked if he gets stuff like this often.

Oh yeah...at least once a day. I whipped out my card and said to call me when you get more and I will be more than happy to take it off your hands and save you the trouble of loading/hauling it away.

He didn't seem to care either way so who knows if I will get any calls from him.

Maybe I can contract with the company to have their techs call me. Anyone have any experience in doing this?

Seem to be a decent size company. 2 more tech trucks showed up shortly after I left.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper

I am banking on the local HVAC guys having the same mind set. Saturday I was at my parents and I saw a repair truck at a neighbors, with a water heater out front. I whipped back around and asked what they were doing with it?

Guy asked if I wanted it. I said sure. Okay, but the bottom plug is out. I said that was fine and loaded it. Then he says do you want this, and this, and we have this too.

Ended up with the water heater, furnace, some coils, a central air unit and a decent amount of copper lines. I was so excited. I asked if he gets stuff like this often.

Oh yeah...at least once a day. I whipped out my card and said to call me when you get more and I will be more than happy to take it off your hands and save you the trouble of loading/hauling it away.

He didn't seem to care either way so who knows if I will get any calls from him.

Maybe I can contract with the company to have their techs call me. Anyone have any experience in doing this?

Seem to be a decent size company. 2 more tech trucks showed up shortly after I left.

---

I do this. most will take it back to their shop and I pick up from there. however if they are on a job and don't have the room I go to the house or business and pick up from there.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GeorgeB

I do this. most will take it back to their shop and I pick up from there. however if they are on a job and don't have the room I go to the house or business and pick up from there.

---

That could work. I guess they have to haul it away regardless. I was trying to save them a step and haul from the job site. It's getting the techs trained to call me that I am trying to figure out. These trucks didn't look like they had much room to be hauling stuff away, yet they had to bring the new stuff somehow.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper

I am banking on the local HVAC guys having the same mind set. Saturday I was at my parents and I saw a repair truck at a neighbors, with a water heater out front. I whipped back around and asked what they were doing with it?

Guy asked if I wanted it. I said sure. Okay, but the bottom plug is out. I said that was fine and loaded it. Then he says do you want this, and this, and we have this too.

Ended up with the water heater, furnace, some coils, a central air unit and a decent amount of copper lines. I was so excited. I asked if he gets stuff like this often.

Oh yeah...at least once a day. I whipped out my card and said to call me when you get more and I will be more than happy to take it off your hands and save you the trouble of loading/hauling it away.

He didn't seem to care either way so who knows if I will get any calls from him.

Maybe I can contract with the company to have their techs call me. Anyone have any experience in doing this?

Seem to be a decent size company. 2 more tech trucks showed up shortly after I left.

---

Congratulations man! Sounds like something you got going there! :D

The estate agents that my dad contracts for each have their own separate waste guy and all their contractors use them along with the agencies. They do very well, If you can get on the contractors list for estate agencies you will get plenty of work.

great site 1st question, i have 2 of these stripped,the expansion vessel sticks to magnet, are these worth taking to scrap yard? as was gonna bin them

i stripped 2 same ones £61 total were do ya get ya fake prices from????