Boiler replacement, tankless

oldbrit

Hi All,

So my old Burnham V-15A-T oil fired boiler (30yrs) was giving problems over 3 years ago. The tankless coil had been acid cleaned previously but the limescale had returned. Given the price of oil at that time we switched to heating our 2000sqft home by pellet stove, wood and h/w by electric tank. This has worked just fine for us, however, for health reasons I need my wife to have the option of a no-hassle solution.

I believe the boiler is a lost cause now since it leaks, has severe corrosion and the tankless coil has gone.

My thinking is this:

* Replace the boiler with a direct equivalent i.e. tankless basic boiler

* In winter run the boiler to keep the house at, say, 60 deg

* Use pellets/wood to supplement the boiler in the evenings

* Let the tankless coil supply my existing high quality electric water tank

* Switch off the boiler during the summer months so that all h/w comes from the existing electric tank. This should overcome the inherent weakness of a tankless solution.



I used the Slant/Fin calculator to estimate my heat loss and it came out at 60,426 Btu/Hr. Not surprisingly this is much lower than the IBR=139 of my old boiler. Clearly I would need some allowance for heating my h/w but given that it would be supplemented by the electric I'm guessing that I would need a boiler of perhaps around IBR=100 i.e. Weil-McLain P-WTGO-3 or Burnham PV8H3.

As you can see I'm looking for a low cost solution that can provide backup heating when needed.

* Is my plan crazy?

* Should I stick with the boilers that the local contracters sell?

* Do I need a contracter that does installs or can I use a local boiler service guy?

heatpro02920

Contractor

I would get a contractor that installs boilers and is good with oil, make sure they perform a heat loss and efficiency test when the install is done... Someone familiar with the equipment and you are comfortable with...





OK, now onto the boiler, personally I would try to sell you a williamson OWT3 and fire it at the bottom, I have gotten 86.5% out of them when down fired.. Use the heatloss to calculate which nozzle to use...



I would also make sure the contractor uses a decent mixing valve and pipes the tankless exactly how the instructions state, make sure they pipe the return so the chamber door can open, and also I install outside combustion air and the afg cover on that boiler with very good results http://www.patriot-supply.com/products/showitem.cfm/BECKETT_5207301U .... I seal that cover up and install outside rite into cover with the T and regulator.



good luck, there are contractors on here that may be in your area where are you located?

oldbrit

So I'm not crazy?

Thanks heatpro. Since nobody shot down my plan I'm guessing its reasonable! I would prefer to tell the contracter what I'm looking for rather than give them an open book.

I have a shortlist of local cooling and heating specialists that work with oil burners; in fact that's why I mentioned Weil-McLain and Burnham because that's what they promote. I live in southern RI and my search for contracters within 50 miles on this site revealed nothing.

Interesting comment about the outside air. Pellet stove people make similar suggestions for what, I guess, are the same considerations; efficiency.

Given the heatloss are the boilers I mentioned appropriate?

If I request a quote from the contracter for a non-core product is this going to seriously cost me more money?

Would it be reasonable to use my existing Beckett AFG burner (Af-590786) with the new boiler?

Thanks for your time.

heatpro02920

LOL, your in luck my office is in coventry RI...

Small world, there are many good RI contractors around, I will be happy to help you...





As far as outside air goes, its better to take the air from outside for combustion than inside, since it will force your envelope to fail and that cfm has to come from outside regardless of how, so now you are taking cold uncontrolled air in from your windows, gaps, doors, ect and pushing it through your boiler....



The Weil Mclains and burnhams are nice boilers too, I install all brands, and the owt is actually similar/identical to a weil mclain design, I have good results with them...

oldbrit

Incredible coincidence!

What are the chances that you go on a forum and the person that offers you help lives 15 miles away!

 

Just wanted to say 'thanks'. We'll take this offline now for obvious reasons.

icesailor

New Cars, New Boilers:

If you bought a new 2014 Ford, would you have them replace the new engine with your old 1994 Ford Engine?

If you bought a new car, would you swap the old tires on your old car for the tires on your new car?



Put a new burner in the new boiler. Carlin or Riello. You won't be sorry.

pf999

I need a new oil burning furnace

I need a new oil burning furnace with a separate 30 - 40 Gal water tank. I want an energy star rated system. Does anyone know a good,reliable contractor new Uxbridge, MA?

Jack

One of the best

JV Mechanical (508) 943-3222