Any comments on the Utica Boilers TriFire?

Sam_B

Hi folks, I am looking at replacing a 20 year old Weil McClain tankless coil boiler with a Utica Boilers TriFire and Super Stor Ultra indirect tank,

I am only a couple of weeks into reading up on boiler options but the TriFire looks good to me...

All things being equal though, if you have any strong opinions on this unit or company I would love to hear about it...

Any comments?

Thanks.

SB

EddieG

Can't......

say that I have heard any bad things about the TriFire, however I have not installed them personally. I am a Buderus and Viessmann fan myself. Going 3 pass and adding IDWH, you will see some savings. Add a Outdoor Reset Control and you will see even more savings. Also check out Energy Kinetics, good American made boiler.

Steamhead

I think

it's based on the Biasi design, like the Trio, Solaia and others. These are nice little boilers- we've installed quite a few and like them a lot.



Three-pass boilers are generally very easy to service. By now they should have made pin-type boilers obsolete.

Charlie from wmass

people just look at the numbers

Frank when Smith can reach 86 with pins it is hard to sell three pass to a cunsumer for 86.5. The guys who have to clean them and install them know that the three pass is better.

Steamhead

I'd rather

carry a Solaia into a basement than a Smith 8!

Charlie from wmass

I agree.

When Smith was made just down the road I was much more loyal though. Smith must get a good deal on cast iron since their boiler has enough for 2 boilers in each one. Every boiler to its proper place.  Some to the basement and some to the scrap yard. I am glad I do not install the Smith on the second floor for sure. I can see the tri fire out pace the star fire in the Utica line for sure though. The star fire's predecessor I just got done working on is still in excellent shape 20 years later. She is firing 84% with oil for a steam system.

Steamhead

Was that

an OU-series boiler, which looks like a knockoff of the old American-Standard A-3 series? 

Charlie from wmass

No a bit newer than that one Frank.

It is the one just before they added the swing door. Too bad the old boiler did not hold out a couple years longer it would have made cleanings much easier. It took longer cleaning that one Utica in the old style than it did to clean her 2 smith 8's next door. all three boilers were about the same condition to start with.