New system Question

John Penwarden_3

Anyone have any opinions on these boilers? I am considering one...

John Penwarden_3

New System Question

Wow, I have not been on this site in years! Glad to see that it is still going strong. I have moved from Norther PA to Northern NY (QC,VT border).

We currently have an oil-fired hot air system that is the original unit to the house (1959). We have to move (remove) the oil tanks so that we can repair a leaky basement wall. This is causing us to seriously think about going with a new gas system, since we already have the gas at the house for the hot water heaters....

We are looking at two scenarios:
#1. New gas-fired hot air furnace in a direct replacement of the existing unit.
#2. New air handler with hot water coil, New gas-fired boiler, to provide heating hot water to the AH, New in-direct hot water heater.

I like #1 for the simplicity, but #2 makes better sence since the two water heaters we have currently are about 20 years old (we had an apartment in the back, but I have plumbed the heaters in parallel) and will need to replaced soon. Additionally, with #2, we would only have one gas-fired appliance instead of 3.

I have had a few manufacturers thrown at me (Peerless, Munchkin, Ducane) just to name a few.

Thoughts, Comments?

Brad White_189

Put Hot Water into the Mix

John, with one furnace you have one positive zone and need a secondary means to heat your domestic water.

With a hydronic back-bone (hydro-air is where you seem to be leaning), as you note you can get an indirect for domestic hot water from a single source.

BUT- with hydronics the following options, now or in the future, become possible:

1. Sub-zoning: Not micro-zoning so much as allowing different temperatures upstairs/downstairs and maybe the basement by use of in-duct coils and control valves.

2. Spot radiant for a bathroom or mud room (Roth Mini-Shunt comes to mind here.) Maybe you can use radiant for entire floors?

3. Spot heat in vestibules and entryways; towel warmers in baths...


At the system level, some insulated storage tanks will allow you to leverage along with your fossil-fuel-fired boiler, maybe some ground-source water to water heat pump energy, wood-fired boiler energy or solar, even at the 45th parallel...

Hydronics is a great way to go, multiple sources as the market or opportunity may dictate..

Or you can have one zone, one temperature. Your call.

For boilers, my first three choices are the Viessmann Vitodense 200 or 100, Triangle Tube Prestige Solo and the Lochimvar Knight. All stainless steel HEX offerings. I stay away from aluminum myself, just my preference.

My $0.02

Brad

John Penwarden_3

Thanks

Brad, thanks for your input.

Yes I am leaning towards the hydronics side, mostly due to my experience with HW systems in the last three houses I have owned. Granted, all of those were oil-fired, baseboard system. That being said, my house could be a prime candidate for a "staple-up" renovation (go figure, after we have redone all the room with fresh paint, I want to remove the grills, etc...)

My only hesitation, and it is a small one, is the up-front investment, but I am positive that I can get it back w/in a few years.

Lastly, I would not consider the aluminum systems. The stainless would be new to me, as I have always used the cast iron oil-fired units. My father-in-law is a heating contractor and he is sending some literature based on his reccommendatins, as well as pricing (his cost), so time will tell.

I will update as this progresses. Now if I could just find somebody to move my oil tanks......

Unknown

Too bad,,,

your just a tad too far, ok a couple tads, cause I'd wrassle them oil tanks for you if you were just a couple hours closer. I'm feeling energetic for some reason.

I'd suggest The Robur gas absorption heat pumps but I'm thinking you'd need to supplement them. Definitely the air source, I'm not sure about the ground source. Not cheap, very efficient though.

Did someone say towel warmers?

Greg_41

new system

i'm a fan of the buderus gb142, with indirect domestic tank, i like hudro air especially if you want central air, but i like to supplement the air with other radiation. pannel radiators or baseboard are great. i also agree with spot radiant if you want it. i think a mix is the best, water for heat and air for a/c, humidification, and air quality.

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tim smith

I second the Prestige solo vote

Still I feel the best value for the money.

John Penwarden_3

System Change Update

Well, due to higher up-front costs, etc. Our new plan is the possibly the following:
-Install new Gas-fired furnace, replacing existing 50 yr old oi-fired unit.
-Install new Rinnai tankless WH, replacing (2) 15-20 yr old 40 gal gas-fired water heaters.

Regarding the WH. Our current needs seem minimal. There are 2 of us, with baby on the way. Laundry (2-4 loads) on the weekend. 2 showers daily (hers 15-20 minutes, mine 5-10 minutes). Was originally thinking of just replacing the existing 2 WH's with one larger unit (50-60 gal range).

Added info. Moved into the house 19 months ago. 2nd wh was for a back apt. Found that we would run out of HW with her long showers (20 minutes +). So, I plumbed the 2 WH's in parallel. Now have plenty of HW, but have 2 ignition sources, 2 gas bills, 2 maintenance items, etc.