Recommendation for small house boiler/DHW

kimmc

We just purchased a 940sqf cottage in the Catskills in NY. It currently has a American Standard boiler that runs on an outside oil tank that they used for both heat (baseboard hot water) and DHW. The previous owners weren't there frequently and winterized the heating system with anti-freeze which is common here, and drained all of the water pipes each fall.

We are planning on using the house as a vacation rental, so we want something reliable and easy to use - for both heat and hot water. There is only one bathroom with a tub, and no dishwasher and no washing machine (though we might add one if people start asking for one). We can't get gas, but can use propane. The boiler is in a mud room off the side of the house that would be much nicer if it wasn't dominated by a big, noisy, smelly boiler. Our gas/oil supplier came today to give us a quote on changing the oil burner for a Buderus propane boiler for the heat and a Rennai tankless hot water heater, which almost seems overkill and may end up being more expensive than what we need.

The house is not well insulated (it was built in the 40's and moved to it's current location in the 50's) but has LOTS of baseboard heaters, and a line of heating pipe in the crawl space next to the plumbing to keep the plumbing from freezing. We're planning on putting in a woodstove, and are open to just closing it up during the cold winter months and only renting it when the weather isn't like it is right now - at -4 tonight.

Our contractor works with a plumber who is recommending a Navien combi unit - which in theory seems great, but seems to get mixed reviews. If we can get the giant, noisy old boiler out of the mud room and replace it with a simple unit, and vent it out of the side rather than the chimney, it would be great. But everything I've read about the combi units is for bigger homes with more water/heat needs than we may have.

So does anyone have any recommendations on units for smaller houses with less intense water needs, but potentially big heat needs? It's in a good south facing location, so we might eventually consider adding a solar component, but for now, it's all fossil fuels.

Thanks!

Bob Bona_4

One bath? A combi fits the bill. Check your heat loss just make sure.. I've used the Navien Ncb240 and the Triangle Tube Excellence for home like this. Two appliances would be overkill IMO.

Rich_49

Whatever you use perform a heat loss yourself or have someone do it . The house is small , should not be very expensive . The problem she may find Bob is that anything she uses in such a small place may short cycle . Here is a combi that will combat that .
http://www.htproducts.com/versaflame.html .
Boiler with a FPHX for DHW . mass will keep it from cycling like mad and just fine for one bath , kitchen .

Snowmelt

Navien Ncb or the utica cub.

Rich_49

Sorry I missed the part about a possible future solar component . the units others are mentioning will require extensive additional work should you actually decide to add solar later . If your house had a 40 btu/ft/h requirement which is very large both the mentioned units of the tankless variety WILL short cycle throughout a large part of the heating season . The unit I mentioned above will not due to it's construction . Now that I read your post and saw the solar thought I would change recommendation to HTP Versa Hydro with Solar heat exchanger (PHE130-55S or 199-55S) . This additional heat exchanger makes that unit ready to accept everything solar at a later date . This additional heat exchanger also comes with a less than 4 figure additional price . Hook up the solar piping to the HX , reprogram the 925/6 controller and you're done .

http://www.htproducts.com/versahydro-solar.html

Good luck . If this really interests you maybe you can find someone willing to install it in the Find a Contractor section here on this site .