cast iron vs copper fin

Jeremy_10

my builder is putting in a boiler for my radiant floor heating in the basement. he is installing a lochinvar solution which i believe is a copper fin boiler. someone has told me to never use a copper fin as it leaks in a 10 years or so. he said to always use a cast iron boiler. any suggestions on which is better, copper fin or cast iron?

[Deleted User]

lochinvar

If you are going with a lochinvar and gas is available have yoiur contractor look at the Knight by Lochinvar. It is A high efficiency boiler that runs great with radiant heating. If you go with the other boiler it must be piped to the manufacturers specifications to operate properly. Primary and secondary piping is a must.

Unknown

Any CI or CF boiler

will only last IF they are protected from low return water temps. Neither are really designed for this, but can be adopted to do so, TV or the Solution`s Performance Loop.
As Mike suggests, why not look into a Knight, they ARE designed for it, and WILL provide even higher efficiency.
For the diff paid to properly protect the latter and still attain a possible 84%, a Knight will get you well into the 94%+ range.
Well worth considering IMO!

Dave

maria

thx for the inputs. as the builder has already had hvac company install the "solution", any ideas on how long it may last before i'll need to replace it. 10yrs? longer?

Unknown

maria

Impossible to answer that,, it depends on the original installers attention to details, and proper preventative maintenance you put into it!

Dave

maria

are typically cast iron boilers a superior boiler as compared to something like the copper fin "lochinvar solution"?

Unknown

maria

Oh I wouldn`t really say so, just a matter of personal preference, CF took a "bad rap" many years ago because of bad installations, so many old-school guys still tilt towards CI.

maria

thx you've been a great help

hot_rod

did they use barrier pex?

if not a cast iron boiler would need a HX to separate the radiant from the boiiler.

That Lochinvar could be connected to non barrier tube as it is all copper and enamaled headers.

That Lochinvar has a two stage gas valve which is a nice feature, as well as a DHW priority, I believe. It also has a bypass loop to help return protection, but return temperature protection is a must on low temperature radiant.

hot rod