July | 2015 | Rayesboiler

(CBS) – It’s been an incredible week of change for a group of Chicago-based nuns, who just days ago were freezing in a West Side church.As CBS 2’s Brad Edwards reports, things have improved, thanks to the kindness of strangers.

One week ago, the last boiler bit it, and temperatures plunged at Fraternite Notre Dame in the city’s Austin neighborhood. The holy water in the sanctuary literally froze.

Then, Sister Marie Valerie told CBS 2 she had faith that good people would come forward and help the nuns, who have fed the homeless and ministered to the sick here for 17 years. But a new boiler was expected to cost a whopping $200,000.

Among those who saw the story was Evanston teacher Mark Fratella. He started a “GoFundMe” page for the sisters, figuring he might raise a couple of hundred dollars.
As of Thursday, the page had generated nearly $76,000 in pledges, and another effort raised more than $150,000.

Meanwhile, several businesses and firms stepped forward to provide labor and equipment. They included Diligent Design Group, whose engineers offered their expertise; Sunbelt Rentals, which provided temporary heat; Falls Mechanical and Owens Corning, which will insulate the church; Rayes Boiler, which is providing a high-efficiency steam boiler, and Bornquist Inc., which will donate a system.

Sister Marie Valerie was a little skeptical when CBS 2 arrived last week. The nuns don’t even have a TV.

What the sisters got was a repayment in kind for their years of warmth. Another $15,000 has come in through the mail.

The church will need more work down the road. Any leftover donations will go toward the sisters’ charity work.

What makes the Rayes Boiler different:

The Rayes Boiler (US Patent # US 6,564,756 B1) is a revolutionary improvement in boiler design. With the Rayes Boiler, a three pass down-draft boiler, the fuel source and the burner are on the side of boiler near the top. Heated gas is forced across the boiler through a Morrison fire tube and continues down through two separate sets of fire tubes, with 42 tubes in each set. The heated gas makes three passes before exiting through the exhaust near the bottom of the boiler.

*The Rayes Boiler is much more energy efficient than other boilers. It delivers heat much faster. It uses much less fuel to generate the same amount hot water or steam. The fuel that it does use, it uses efficiently (Energy Star approved – listed under Boilers / Northshore Welding).

*The Rayes Boiler is much easier to maintain than other boilers. Doors at the front and back of the boiler can be opened by unbolting three bolts. The bottom of the boiler is concave – allowing maintenance personnel access to the bottom of the boiler. The Rayes Boiler uses a standard burner and controls and can be maintained by any qualified boiler technician.

*The Rayes Boiler is “greener” than other boilers. Combustion is more complete. Per evaluation by Engineering Company: Carbon Monoxide average emission is 9 parts per million. “CO is excellent, maximum allowable is 300 ppm, 9 is unbelievably low”

*The Rayes Boiler has a smaller foot print than other boilers. The smaller footprint allows optimal placement location for the boiler, and often gives the customer an option of keeping the old boiler in place and avoiding costly removal expenses. The Rayes Boiler can be delivered through standard basement doorways.

*The 1st Rayes Boilers have been installed for over five years. The Rayes Boiler is installed at a medium sized apartment building, continues to function perfectly and has never had so much as one tube replaced in over 5 years.

Monthly Archives: July 2015

Chicago Comes Through For Cold Nuns

Revolutionary green boiler runs on 1/2 the fuel of traditional models