The donation of a new Smith Series 8 Boiler was the result of a holiday-season contest that Wilkins Mechanical Services sponsored to identify the oldest working boiler in New Hampshire. The winner was Marc Palmondon of Nashua, who lives in a house that was built in the late 1800s. The original boiler, an old snowman-style steam boiler manufactured by the Richardson Boiler Co., was the only heating system the house ever had.

"We wanted to host a contest around the holiday season to provide someone with a new boiler," said Todd Lavery, general manager of Wilkins Mechanical Services. "We do lots of business with Smith, and they agreed to participate in the program and help with the donation."

The contest netted more than 30 entries, including several boilers that dated back to the early 1900s. The replaced boiler was originally designed for use with coal, and the system was converted in the early 1950s for use with oil.

For his winning submission, Palmondon has received a high-efficiency Smith Series 8 residential boiler. The new boiler has an efficiency rating of more than 85 percent, a long cry from the estimated 55 percent efficiency of the old boiler.

Publication date: 02/21/2005