Cast Iron Boilers, how long until there gone?

kevin_63

Hello Steamhead dont rule out the existing chimney as a potential chase for air intake and exhaust venting,if available.

Dr Pepper

Cast Iron Boilers, how long until they are gone...?

As much as I love the look and sound of a nice running cast iron boiler keeping a building toasty. Almost every project we have done in the last year has had a Mod/Con in it. We are lowering our Supply Temp. and squeezing more out of the design with each job. Snow melt systems use a wall mounted mod/con, etc. Is anyone watching the direction ASHRAE 90, and IECC (International Energy Conservation Code) is going? Rez-Chek and Com-Chek are a reality of code review. Fuel prices...:( !

So, the question is, how long until the cast iron non-condensing 85% efficient boiler is gone?

Mike East

The future is now!

Out west non-condensing boilers are all ready a thing of the past. In some areas (Aspen) local code even requires "high efficient" boilers... Too bad all they look at is the AFUE rating and not how the equiptment is actually applied. If they want to enforce a high efficient system they will need to address return water temps!

Steamhead (in transit)

It depends on the project

In new construction you can design around a sidewall-vented boiler and achieve the low water temps needed to make a mod-con work as designed.

But a lot of existing homes have no good place for sidewall venting, so unless the building is being modified to accommodate it, mod-cons are out. This is where a wet-base cast-iron boiler shines- it will fit the existing setup and can use either oil or gas, offering better thermal efficiency than the usual dry-base or atmospheric boiler.

There's no reason to prolong the production of atmospheric gas boilers or dry-base oil boilers any more.

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Steamhead (in transit)

Assuming

1- the chimney isn't tall enough that it exceeds the max piping length, and

2- that there's nothing else going into that chimney.

Never know what you'll find......

"Steamhead"

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