Seton 300 overheated big time

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Scotty2

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Hearth Supporter
Mar 14, 2008
85
West Coast
So hot that it melted all the wiring and burned out the 4x4 posts that it was sitting on. The guess is that a recently installed draft motor (Neptronic) stuck open on a full load and got out of control.
So hot that a sheet of plywood laying alongside caught fire.
I'm guessing I'll need to take this apart to check the water tubes, insulation...replace all electric devices. (sounds like a major project).
Am I on track here?
Anyone know of a repair person in Oregon/SW Washington? (we're in the Willamette Valley
I can't get the appraiser to agree to anything without an estimate of costs.
Where do I start?
Regards, Scotty
Sheridan Oregon
 
Fred's (Seton) response to my query is as follows...best to start over. boilers are built today with a 30# pressure relief and also a temperature/pressure relief, at 210 degrees the temperature relief opens and if the supply water is connected in the right place (return), the boiler will be cooled by the return water, also a check valve in the supply keeps cold water from short cycling out the relief with out going through the boiler.
That sounds like he feels it's not worth rebuilding?
 
Pretty hard for someone to tell over the net, and you might be hard pressed to find someone local that would be familiar with that boiler & the insurance company would consider a knowledgable expert. But from what you described, I would be hard pressed to put that unit back in operation in my house & sleep comfy. I think I would replace it - sounds like it nearly burned your house down, and also suffered some pretty serious stress.

I also seem to be thinking from past reading that this isn't the first episode like this with a Seton.
 
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maple1 said:
Pretty hard for someone to tell over the net, and you might be hard pressed to find someone local that would be familiar with that boiler & the insurance company would consider a knowledgable expert. But from what you described, I would be hard pressed to put that unit back in operation in my house & sleep comfy. I think I would replace it - sounds like it nearly burned your house down, and also suffered some pretty serious stress.

I also seem to be thinking from past reading that this isn't the first episode like this with a Seton.
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I'm new to boilers and this seems like the response I would say based on the fact alone that it truly does sound like your house could have burned down.

I know I couldn't have any piece of mind having it running even after a proper rebuild. Sucks to say but, I would replace it as well.
 
I think I'd tell the insurance man.. Sorry.. I can't find a reputable person who has any interest in fixing it at all. Here's 3 quotes to replace it with a similar unit. I'd make sure to include a froling, and two other expensive boilers, all installed. Then, you'll end up with a check that will get you a new boiler of your choice.

JP
 
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Also make sure that whatever you end up doing (assuming it will still involve a wood boiler), the appropriate over heat prevention & protection measures/configurations are in place. This shouldn't have happened in the first place even with a stuck damper, or at least not this bad.
 
Interested to see what happens, and how this is an insurance issue.

I have an old truck that needs a lot of work, new engine maybe, but not something insurance will cover, or provide with a new one.
 
Not saying the OP's 'tinkering' didn't cause the 'meltdown'

I bet most insurance companies adjusters wouldn't be savvy enough to detect it. You'd just stand there and shrug and say.. Don't know what happened.. it melted!

buy a lambda controlled boiler with the insurance check, have it professionally installed would be my recommendation.

JP
 
The more homework I do the more confused I get.
Anyone from Oregon or Washington (or is it now Countrywide?), know what sort of wood fired hydronic furnace can be used.
I've heard that if we had sold the farm with the Seton in place, we would of been required to remove and dispose upon closing...and supposedly keeping or reselling aren't options.
Who knows the true scoop?
Regards, Scotty
 
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