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gravity hw system

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jim_160
jim_160 Member Posts: 24
in THE MAIN WALL
i have a gravity hw system. the boiler is 35 yrs old. its a combo wood oil. it works ok, and the water does flow and heat the place but very costly on fuel.can i get a newer combo for this type of system with btu capacity of 258,000? should i leave it grvity or put a circulator on?

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  • Bruce M_2
    Bruce M_2 Member Posts: 123
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    Heat Loss

    Have you done a heat loss calculation yet? It may be that your boiler is oversized. What make is your present boiler?
  • zeke
    zeke Member Posts: 223
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    Gravity flow has NOTHING to do with inefficiency. Poor boiler performance and poor insulation are the culprits
  • Andy Stern
    Andy Stern Member Posts: 10
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    Gravity

    I did a conversion and was very happy with it. You need to ABSOLUTELY calculate heat loss to size system properly (slant-fin as some nice forms), verify rads can handle (calculate radiating equiv), drain system by bucket-fulls to size expansion tank, circ pump can be LOW flow, I set up bypass circuit for tempering return water, install balancing valves (I had two zones), insulate all heavy iron you can see in the basement and figure on designing a bunch of unions for down the road mods... If I were you (and had the room), I'd keep a parallel wood system for frugal reasons... Ceck out slant-fin literature for de-air bleed and plumbing arrangement... I set mine to pump from boiler. My system was original circa 1928
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