Changing out Mills to?

PuzzledPioneer

Hello,

We currently have Two Smith Mills 20 steam boilers with Carlin200 CRD oil burners. They power the heat for a larger home - one is steam to radiators(about 1500 sf heated) and the other to a coil and blower system(about 5500 sf) They were put in in 1975 and the blower/coil system in ???

We want out of the oil business and switch to gas immediately. We believe...or think..that gas is more efficient. True?

We have been guided to Infinity systems(because of ability to convert later to a Geo or heat pump) or to modulating gas - the Burnham Alpine, Munchkin and Buderus. I have been reading that Munchkin has issues and that the Alpine is a new application. Are there better options? ideas?

We are open to Geothermal ideas for the long term... but for short term do not want to buy any more oil.

Puzzled in the Pioneer Valley.

Tim McElwain

The efficiency of gas

is relative to it being able to have modulating/condensing technology. All the boilers you mention are in that capacity. I would also look a Viessmann as a possibility.



In all cases also have outdoor reset installed with the package and look to heating mass at lower temps to insure getting the condensing feature on the boiler you choose.

Steamhead

The Mills boiler

is one of the best designs ever. For the steam portion, you might want to simply have a pro put in a powered gas burner. This might also work well for the hydro-air portion if its boiler is not oversized.



But why do you think gas is inherently more efficient?



Most pros will tell you that the main factor in choosing fuel is its cost per BTU. Given boilers of roughly equal efficiency, if gas costs more per BTU than oil you'll pay more for gas-fired heat. There is also the competition issue- oil suppliers compete with each other but gas suppliers are generally monopolies. So if you burn gas, and the gas company CEO decides he isn't taking home enough money, he'll stick it to you.



Where are you located? Have you tried the Find a Professional page of this site?