Viessmann, Burnham or Munchkin?

Dale B. Strickling

If you are going to have 180 degree water, and a 20 degree delta T, you don't need the Munchkin or any other condensing boiler. The 90+ boilers don't acheive their high efficiency when they are not condensing, so your money is wasted buying the higher efficiency equipment. Look at using something like a Baxi that is 84% efficient and fully modulation. They can be used in multiples.

Russ_5

New boiler.

I am going to have a new boiler installed in my 5500 Sq foot home to replace the original early 1900's (converted to gas) boiler. Looking for insight on which brand (Viessmann, Burnham or Munchkin) is the most reliable and efficient over time? Thx for your thoughts.

Constantin

Depends a bit on the emitters...

... for example, you won't find Viessmann selling a steamer in this country. Is this a hot-water radiator system, as I suspect? Also, are you going to fire it with oil or gas? I presume gas given that your old boiler was converted to gas...

As with all installations, IMHO the biggest determinant for longevity and reliability is the installer and maintenance crew. If they do their job right, most boilers will easily outlive your stay in your home. Thus, the brand may be a bit less important than the familiarity of your installer with the actual installation features of a particular condensing boiler brand.

I like Viessmann a lot and have gotten excellent support from them with my boiler, solar system, etc. However, we have also witnessed great things being done for HTP and Burnham owners here. Thus, I'd say that all three companies stand firmly behind their product. So, instead of shopping brands, I'd be shopping features...

... come to an understanding what differentiates the different boilers and why they are bing sold at different price points. Some is brand-specific, some of it is due to the differences in construction. For example, the Stainless HX in a Viessmann Vitodens is a joy to behold, but not everyone decides they want to pay for that feature.

... the NTI Trinity 400 offers an un-matched modulation range of 16:1, offering everything from 400-25kBTU/hr output.

... the TT Prestige has a HX that is likely to be quite clog-resistant

... the HTP is sold at a very attractive price point.

Also look into Triangle-Tube Prestige, NTI Trinity, and WM Ultra if condensing boilers are in your future.

Joe Brix

That's a big house

and you'll probably need a big boiler. Burnham's only condensing boiler is not modulating and only puts out 110K BTU or so. If you need 300K BTU, you might want to look at the Weil-Mclain Ultra.

Garritt Struiksma

Depending on your heat demand, the Muchkin Boiler goes from 50,000 btu to 399,000 btu. The Munchkin with the vision 1 system by far exceeds my expectations with most of my installations. With the condensating feature, the outdoor reset, and the modulating gas valve, I would'nt install anything else than a Munchkin.

jerry scharf_3

the reasons this is wrong

are being discussed in another thread active now.

jerry

Constantin

As usual, I agree with Jerry

It is highly unlikely that the entire heating season will require a supply of 180°F hot water. In fact, if the emitters are properly sized, even baseboard will only require 180°F hot water maybe 5% of the heating season. The rest of the time, colder supply temperatures do the job nicely and hence allow condensing boilers to achieve efficiencies that are simply out of reach for the Baxi.

"Oversize" the emitters and the boiler condenses all year. Besides, condensing boilers make for a great water heater via an indirect tank as well.

Don't get me wrong, the BAXI has its uses, but space heating doesn't strike me as the forte of these near-but-not-quite condensing water heaters. The efficiency isn't very high and the modulation range is narrow (35-105kBTU output). Besides, hard water could plug the flat plate heat exchangers they use rather quickly.

Steve Ebels_3

I might sound a little biased...but

Go Viessmann. You will never be sorry. Nothing else like the Vitodens on the market.