Ancient Boiler Issues

[Jeremy Pace]

General Question:
Several of my rentals have boilers across the spectrum of quality and age.  My oldest boiler is in a 5 BR 2 BA house.  It's been producing a LOT of carbon monoxide, so much that I feel like it's a hazard to go into the basement to work on it.

Does anyone have any ideas about how I can 1) reduce the amount of carbon monoxide produced or 2) better mitigate?

[Stephen S.]

I love steam - and it loves me. <g>  Steam systems purr like happy kittens for me.  Most people these days are ignorant of steam and so always condemn it.  But steam heating is wonderful, simple, quiet, and reliable.  And no circulator pumps.

Someone earlier mentioned 15 years as when a boiler might need to be replaced.  This is nonsense.

What is a "bonnet" ?  I have been working on boilers for 40 years and I have never heard of a boiler or heating system part with that name.  Maybe it is a regional expression?

stephen
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Originally posted by @Jeremy Pace:

Diagnosis: bonnet are some other components are badly corroded and need replaced.