Annuel Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) Rating for New Boiler

Jeff_H

I am thinking of converting from oil to gas heating. A Burnham IN6 gas boiler with a BTU rating of 175,000 and and AFUE rating of 82% was recommended. Does 82% seem too low? Does anyone have thouhts on the Burnham IN6 (assuming that it is corectly sized)?

Thanks!

Bob Bona_4

Steam or hot water heat?

SWEI

How was the sizing determined? What are your fuel costs like?

nicholas bonham-carter

Remember that the most efficient boiler, when sized, and piped improperly, will waste fuel, and deliver discomfort.
Why not send us some pictures of your present boiler, so we can see if a gas burner could be installed.--NBC

Jason_13

It must be steam as that is the only way an IN6 is sold. Since it is steam you are very limited in your efficiency as you do not have the option of high efficiency the water boilers offer.

Steamhead

You can do better than that Burnham. A wet-base power-burner steam boiler can reach 84% or 85% on gas. Look at the Slant/Fin Intrepid, for example- normally sold with an oil burner, but is approve for use with power gas burners.

Robert O'Brien

If he is in Nat Grid service area,the Burnham/Nat Grid deal makes it cost prohibitive to use anything but a Burnham,at least for steam.

ChrisJ

Steamhead said:

You can do better than that Burnham. A wet-base power-burner steam boiler can reach 84% or 85% on gas. Look at the Slant/Fin Intrepid, for example- normally sold with an oil burner, but is approve for use with power gas burners.

@Steamhead, have you measured how much electric a power burner consumes? We brought this up in another discussion but I don't think you were part of it, not sure.

I'm curious on the total cost to run a 85% boiler plus powerburner vs an 82% or 83% natural draft.

Also, is it possible to pipe a barometric damper to pull air from outside rather than the area around the boiler and if so, would it be beneficial?


@Jeff_H
As others have said, sizing that boiler properly is extremely important. You can either have a practically silent and very efficiency and comfortable steam system with a properly sized boiler, or have it sound like you're in a factory with an oversized one. Once you confirm the size is correct the next step will be to make sure it gets piped properly, this is just as important.

Jeff_H

Thank you all. I currently have a steam system. I've attached some pictures of my current boiler (a Burnham V75). The person who recommended this did measure each radiator in my house. I did not ask what EDR rating he came up with.

Bob Bona_4

The IN6 should serve you well. Surprised the V7 has lasted this long. 

Jeff_H

Thnak you. I ead a lot about over-sized and undersized-boilers, as well as AFUE ratings. Also, part of the rationale behind converting to gas is that my boiler is very old (I believe that it had not been made in over 20 years) and this would be a good time to start anew (before my boiler goes)

Marz

A Burnham Megasteam by oil would look perfect in there.

Fred

Marz said:

A Burnham Megasteam by oil would look perfect in there.

Megasteam is a great boiler but not going to be as economical to operate as a Natural Gas boiler.

Marz

Some will always disagree with that statement Fred.

BobC

Some have converted the megasteam to gas with good resulys but there are issues with warranties and insurance because Burnham does not want to certify the boiler for use with gas.

Bob

Fred

Marz said:

Some will always disagree with that statement Fred.

As has been demonstrated, repeatedly, some will always disagree with every statement. Shouldn't stop anyone from expressing their viewpoint though. Unless they are doing so just to hear themselves.

vaporvac

I'm thinking @fred isn't saying the MST isn't the most efficient (and probably best) boiler out there, just with NG so much cheaper than oil, the cost to run even an atmospheric is probably less.
The electricity needed to run a power burner on the Slantfin Intrepid is marginal. I'm extremely happy with my choice and for once, I could be warm this winter without breaking the bank.

Fred

vaporvac said:

I'm thinking @fred isn't saying the MST isn't the most efficient (and probably best) boiler out there, just with NG so much cheaper than oil, the cost to run even an atmospheric is probably less.

Yes, Sorry if I wasn't clear.

Marz

I got it. But i will say i would rather clean up a mess, than lose my house and possibly worse. As is demonstrated time and time again.

vaporvac

I think we all were typing at the same time! What are you saying, @Marz?

Fred

vaporvac said:

I think we all were typing at the same time! What are you saying, @Marz?

It sounds like @Marz is saying he feels oil is safer than natural gas, maybe based on the number of gas explosions we've seen on the news lately??? IMO gas is as safe as any other fuel if properly installed and maintained. Any heating appliance requires the property owner to be vigilant about checking the system and safety devices and proper maintainence.

ChrisJ

Natural gas has been used in homes for well over 100 years with very few problems.

Compare the amount of explosions from natural gas to electrical fires over the past 100 years.

If you're afraid of gas I hope you don't have electrical service in your home.

JStar

We send a lot of Burnham IN's to the junkyard with leaking/rotting sections. Until Burham addresses their casting issues, I would not use them.

Jeff_H

JStar - What boilers have you had good experience with?

Charlie from wmass

I think the in gets a bad rap because every knuckle head who gets on the utility companies installer list uses them. I have had good luck with Burnham warranty on the boilers. Just notice most leaking blocks could be on the wall of shame.