Buderus GB125BE/30

Robert O'Brien

SWEI

Did not see an IOM for this

and noticed that Buderus has it on their "Previous and Discontinued Models" page.  Any idea why they dropped what I believe was the only domestically available residential condensing oil boiler?  With our current (and probable future) oil prices...

Steamhead

Probably because it didn't sell

Three reasons I can think of:



Around here at least, most oil-fired boiler installations are done by oil suppliers, at rock-bottom prices (and quality) to keep the gas guys at bay- and they make it up on fuel sales. So any price increase at all means the customer goes gas.



Another thing is the burner- it's very well done but is quite unlike anything else out there. So it means you need to stock another set of parts in case one goes down on Saturday afternoon when it's 5 degrees outside, and you need to train your techs on it. The Riello people overcame this by making their burner available on many different boilers, but I don't see this happening with the Buderus burner. Weil-McLain went thru this with their QB burner series- and that one used at least some industry-standard parts.



Then there's the questionable fuel oil quality we've experienced in the past few years.



So oil-fired systems are really only viable where there is no natural gas- and even then, propane and (oh, the horror) heat-pump systems are displacing oil. Chalk that last one up to the typical lousy service oil customers get all too often.



Bob, I looked at the page and didn't see the ratings for that boiler- can you post them pleeeez?

SWEI

thanks

(sigh)



found ratings on p.4 of the G125 datasheet http://www.buderus.us/files/201111202223310.44499101-125BE_SellSheet.pdf



/30 = 30 kW = 102 MBH gross output.

Robert O'Brien

Poor sales

I've installed many G125 with no problems, so I assume poor sales led to the discontinuance of the GB125. Installed a few Peerless Pinnacle Oil with no problems yet that is going away as well. Firebird is the only oil condenser available and it needs a bypass to prevent condensation in upper part of boiler.