Most compact clean looking mod/con installation in living space

Rodney Summers

Although, I am aware this depends to a large extent upon the way the boiler is installed, which mod/cons lend themselves to the most compact installations? We do not have a real basement or boiler room and want to install in a bathroom or adjacent to one. Our entire home is a 1500 sq ft. townhouse so space is limited. Since, the boiler will be in living space, we would like an installation that does not have too many components outside the boiler itself (e.g, pumps and expansion tanks, Bx wire, switches, excessive piping, etc. ). Is there a reliable mod/con, in your opinions, that could be installed to meet these requirements? Any pictures would be wonderful.

Ken_40

A wall hung

HPI "Munchkin" comes to mind...

The W/M AHE is not mod-con, but a decent alternate.

ALH_4

6-24C

The Viessmann Vitodens 6-24 Combi sounds like a nice match.

Uni R_3

Can you describe the system?

Can you describe the rest of the heating system? What kind of heat emitters, piping, zoning etc do you have?

What's the heatloss?

What are you doing for domestic hot water?

Rodney Summers

Current system is gas-fired Slantfin 100 series cast iron boiler with cast iron radiators connected by iron pipe, forced circulation (converted gravity). Two zones, one for the 1st floor and another for 2nd and third floors with separate Taco pump for each. I would like to have those zones replaced with TRVs on the radiators, if possible. DHW would be best if it did not require a separate tank for storage (currently gas water heater is separate). Three story, brick rowhouse, so it is attached on both sides, no insulation, mixed windows. No heat loss calc done yet, but current 93,000 BTU boiler barely comes on except during recovery periods, even with 20 degrees outside. Thanks!

Rodney Summers

Can the Munchkin (Contender?) provide DHW without a storage tank (like the Vitodens)?

ALH_4

baxi

There is also the Baxi

hr

Laars Mascot

is available with a HX for domestic water, under the hood. Very clean looking, and quiet.

hot rod

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Cosmo_3

this may sound stupid

You obviously have some kind of mechanical room now right?

My only caution to installing any type of boiler in a finished space is to consider what it will be like for the person who will service the system afterwards.

I had done a Ron Jr special once (unbelievably tight boiler install in kitchen), and the customer was balking at my yearly maintenance service cost.

Well if I could just walk into an open basement through a Bilco door, and not have to protect beautiful natural marble quarry tile, and white painted cabinets and flat white wall paint, etc with canvas and luan plywood and plastic I would spend less time preparing and more time working!

The compromise he made would be that he would get everything ready himself, to save my time. This year we tried it and it was great! He even had a table set up for me with a fresh cup of coffee!

Cosmo

Rodney Summers

Mechanical room? You must be joking!

> You obviously have some kind of mechanical room

> now right?

>

> My only caution to installing any

> type of boiler in a finished space is to consider

> what it will be like for the person who will

> service the system afterwards.

>

> I had done a

> Ron Jr special once (unbelievably tight boiler

> install in kitchen), and the customer was balking

> at my yearly maintenance service cost.

>

> Well

> if I could just walk into an open basement

> through a Bilco door, and not have to protect

> beautiful natural marble quarry tile, and white

> painted cabinets and flat white wall paint, etc

> with canvas and luan plywood and plastic I would

> spend less time preparing and more time working!

> The compromise he made would be that he would get

> everything ready himself, to save my time. This

> year we tried it and it was great! He even had a

> table set up for me with a fresh cup of

> coffee!

>

> Cosmo

Rodney Summers

Mechanical room? You must be joking!

Right now the system sits inside a plywood hut-like structure in my dining room area. I open the door of the hut when I feel particularly cold to get some of the shed off heat. It partially blocks one of the windows too. That's one of the main reasons I would like to convert to wall hung and compact, so that I can reclaim our dining space when I renovate. You see, this is a mid-19th century rowhouse. These houses have no basements or cellars, rather, the 1st floor is called the Englsih basement and is half below street level with windows and all. The old coal boiler proabably sat in front of the same chimney that my boiler now sits in front of. But, your point is well taken. I will make sure there is adequate space for servicing. Marble and flat paint, not in this house. More like old plaster and dust.

Ken_40

Almost forgot the best one...

Monitor Products MZ with built in tankless coil.

Nicer than anything in its class. So small, it doesn't need to modulate.

Cosmo_3

Just though I would put the fact of future maintenance in your mind.

My Recommendation to you is that if you are planning to stay in your home, you can't go wrong with the Vitodens. They are not the only player in town, and I would definitely look into other Brands as well but like I say if this will be your home for the long term, and you have the bucks the Vitodens is the best.

As far as covering other piping/controls you may want to look into a panel that incorporates the equipment not included in the boiler you select, so that everything is kept behind a panel. Or maybe install a decorative panel over everything that can be easily removed for access when service is required.

Cosmo

Yeshwant

Did a heat loss calc

with the SlantFin software over the weekend.
46,000 BTU/ hr with outside temp of 5 degrees (rarely ever gets that cold here).
Thanks for all the boiler recommendations guys. Vitodens looks good. How much more does it generally run cost-wise to install it over the others?
And does the Munchkin Contender provide DHW even without a storage tank?