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Best Of

Re: To switch or not to propane

Thanks guys! All are leading me to put tank outside, tho the area is narrow. Will get quotes.

Fizz

Re: In imminent danger of house freezing (Minnesota) - solutions?

Where in MN is this located, and why is a rental home sitting vacant? Would getting the heat on allow you to fill the vacancy and bring income in to cover the cost of the new system? Winterization is going to be the best option financially if it'll be unoccupied all winter anyway, but a simple boiler swap isn't a crazy expense and perhaps a small personal or equity loan would get you back going quickly…

GroundUp

Re: DIY Boiler Monitor Project -- Useful?

@AlwaysLearning2024

Here is something that will surely increase your journey of learning hydronic heating.

Look up the book or booklet by Bell & Gossett titled "Zoning Made Easy."

This book, in my humble opinion, is the best explanation of hydronics. It covers pretty much all of the bases and was written by the founder of this website @DanHolohan long before websites or personal computers were a thing.

I used this book when I was a Vocational Education Instructor years ago, and it was very well received as an addition to the curriculum. I still use it today as a reference guide. So, check it out. I'm sure you will be as pleased as I am. The book is excellent. Not to mention the many books offered on this website.

Intplm.

Re: New jersey BFP required without feeder?

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1871770#Comment_1871770

it comes down to how the inspector classifies boiler water. If it is filled with potable water, no chemicals, that could be considered low hazard. The ASSE 1024 is for low hazard applications.

Mainly the inspector would be concerned about someone adding a cleaner or chemicals down the road.

Then a BFD with a higher hazard level might apply. Either a vented dual check, or an RPZ with test ports.

Lot of interpretation in accepting BFDs by AHJs. It is rare to see a code book site a specific BFD number.

hot_rod

Re: Heat exchanger between wood boiler and propane boiler?

Plate type HX are more efficient and less $$ compared to shell and tube.

Screenshot 2025-11-10 at 11.27.59 AM.png

https://www.csidesigns.com/blog/articles/shell-and-tube-heat-exchanger-why-purchase-plate-and-frame?srsltid=AfmBOopa0JkbSpxY8W0Mca1B3V_rTe3h6dqZxBt2UqYtykWqWYQvGu4G

More size availability also.

I could suggest some simple union fitting options to get to copper, pex or threaded pipe. Plate HX usually have nipples with a nice flat surface to take a fiber washer and union nut.

Screenshot 2025-11-10 at 11.26.37 AM.png

Screenshot 2025-11-10 at 11.27.19 AM.png

hot_rod

Re: A2W heat pump as primer for 4 bank hydrothermo ( 864,000 btu )

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1871752#Comment_1871752

Assumption is that COP of 4 would mean 50% cost of the BTU from heat pump.

Swapping 864,000 BTUs over to an a2w heat pump would require more land space, more money and more electricity than the building currently has available. Ideally we'd start with something and see how it goes before 100% committing. Too often projects are contemplated in an all or nothing scenario resulting in nothing.

We have our domestic preheating with 3 HPWTs before final heating with a gas hot water tank. The proterra units are each 4200 BTU. The gas hwt is 385,000 BTU. While the HPWTs aren't providing a huge portion of the hot water it did enable us to reduce from 2x 385,000 BTU tanks to one and leave the redundant one as backup. The setup likely was overkill to start with but the hybrid solution has saved ~10% off the overall gas bill with minimal impact on the electric side.

In order to justify the project I'd want to see making the money for the installation back in 10-15 years (ignoring interest). I can't see a full swap ever paying back so a full swap point could only happen once the current hydrotherm hits end of life. 1985 cast iron - it might be around for another 25 years? The heat pump tech is still in flux so it is nice to start small and realize the improvements in the technology rather than bleed out on the cutting edge.

The HPWTs are an easy win as they are used year round whereas the boiler is only used Oct-April and I think the heat pumps will generally have a hard time heating water at 127F a lot higher before the boiler while maintaining a high COP.

My sense is that given the project requirements a heat pump can't work for this application but I thought I'd post and get a sense from the experts. Can assume 46F+ as air temperature during the majority of the heating season.