Sizing Question???

Dan_40

I currently have a Burnham steam boiler rated for 271 Square feet of steam. The total radiation in my housed is at 213.9 square feet. Do you think there are enough BTU's left over to add a 40 gallon Superstore to this current boiler. Existing boiler is only 2-3 years old.
Thanks
Dan

Dan_40

Sizing Question??

I currently have a Burnham steam boiler rated for 271 Square feet of steam. The total radiation in my housed is at 213.9 square feet. Do you think there are enough BTU's left over to add a 40 gallon Superstore to this current boiler. Existing boiler is only 2-3 years old.
Thanks
Dan

Glenn Sossin_2

Congradulations

First, let me compliment you for doing some homework. Not many homeowners do. Without any other information, I would say probably yes. Assuming the indirect would be prioritzed properly, I would think your fine. When you prioritize an indirect, its not a question of left over btu's. All the heat energy of the boiler is used to make hot water. It doesn't matter how much radiation you have connected because it is prevented from transferring the heat energy anyway.

Make sure there is some form of limit control to sense boiler temperature to turn off the burner before it creates steam on a hot water demand call.

Keep in mind, just because you have the radiation, doesn't mean you needed it. For example, maybe each room has 35% more radiation in it than necessary. Following that logic, your boiler would be 35% larger than necessary if it were sized close to the radiation load you have.

Prioritize your indirect properly, you'll be fine.

Steamhead (in transit)

I agree

it should be fine. Is this the small Independence IN4 gas boiler? If so, make sure the indirect is piped as shown in the I&O manual.

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Dan_40

It is the small independence. We were possibly looking at a Rinnai but the plumber may have some issues with gas demand and venting issues. He seems to think that the Superstore SSU45 might be our best directive. What do you all think??

Steamhead (in transit)

That would depend

on how big your gas supply piping is, and whether the chimney could handle it. Some of these instantaneous heaters need a pretty large gas supply and chimney. If the SuperStor is approved for use with a steam boiler, that would probably be the way to go. Many of Burnham's Alliance indirects are also approved for use with a steamer- not sure if this applies to the new stone-lined ones or not.

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