ENERGY KINETICS REVIEW

JayL

I installed a System 2000 Resolute. AWESOME HIGH QUALITY BOILER! Energy Kinetics makes very high quality American made oil AND gas boilers - the most efficient around. Why are they commonly used in Maine and Alaska? Because they are great! (Check out Stew's Heating in Alaska on Facebook). USES ALMOST ALL COMMON AND EASY TO FIND PARTS, and the very few parts you cant get locally are shipped overnight. I replaced my 60 year old steel boiler- (don't let anyone tell you steel does not last long) Hands down Energy Kinetics are the most efficient systems out there- you just have to sift through all the installers and misinformation from those who dont want to bother getting trained to install them- or those who want you to just go with the old "antique" designs. The old boilers use old 1950's technology, just with an added outdoor reset. My Enrergy Kinetics boiler works incredibly well- I am saving close to 40% or more over my old boiler. Very quiet operation and very well built. You can tell its well designed. Highly recommended!

STEVEusaPA

You're preaching to the choir.
A lot of exclamation points.
The job looks very nice, I'm sure the free plug will get edited out.

Erin Holohan Haskell

@STEVEusaPA - He sounds like a happy customer, not someone looking for a free plug.

DanHolohan

That's the way I read it. We had our boiler replaced this summer. I chose the contractor. The contractor chose the equipment, which happened to be EK.

Marianne and I went away for a week to get out of his way. It was a big job in a very small space (no basement here). The contractor was finishing up when we got back. I asked him to turn on the boiler. He told me it was on. I've been impressed ever since.

Roger

Jay, Steve, Erin, and Dan,

Thank you for your very kind words! As a family owned company, it's especially nice to hear such warm comments. It's what we always strive for, and I truly appreciate you all going the extra mile to take the time to comment.

Jay, the boiler installation and room looks fantastic with the finishing touches where the pads and floor are painted, and you even captured the photo of the boiler in energy recovery (sorry, the engineering gene from my Dad never sleeps).

Looking forward to many more years of "happy heating" for all (and of course for The Lovely Marianne, too)!

Roger

DanHolohan

Thanks, Roger. We're looking forward to winter for the first time! ;-)

Erin Holohan Haskell

Thanks, Roger!

Roger

You're welcome!
And a special thanks to Moyer Indoor Outdoor of Souderton, Pennsylvania for an exceptional installation.
Roger

lchmb

really leaning towards one of those in my house......think I've installed 5 in the last month and everyone of them was a joy to install...

Robert O'Brien

Quiet,efficient and reliable.

SuperTech

That boiler is awesome. I believe it can reach AFUE's in the 90's.

hot_rod

Can a PHE be mounted like that?

SuperTech

It can be mounted vertically or horizontally. the EK1 comes with it horizontally. Just make sure you install a scale stopper! Very important to protect that plate heat exchanger.

SuperTech

A scale stopper and a wye strainer would be the best setup

billtwocase

Been putting them in, when possible, since the early 80's. Nice units and great support

SuperTech

Wow billtwocase that's a long time. I've only seen two from the 80's. I prefer the design of the newer ones much more. They aren't easier to work on.
Now that I think about it, both of those old boilers had the plate heat exchangers mounted vertically for what it's worth.

billtwocase

I have one of the early ones from 78/79 still doing it

billtwocase

I prefer the early models. They seem to be the most reliable units. The digital manager was an improvement in some cases, but the classic and all the controls/relays were pretty much bulletproof

SuperTech

Can you post a pic of your boiler? I'd love to see it.

How many hot water storage tanks have you been through?

Roger

Thank you all for your comments and discussion.

Regarding Bill's comment about reliability, Energy Kinetics is better than ever - largely due to feedback from our direct to dealer relationships. Our base spiral boiler design has an incredible track record and the digital manager has been greatly upgraded since it was introduced 20 years ago. This includes protection against electrical shorts in the field, on board diagnostics for the control and sensor, surge protection for line voltage and 24 VAC, and much more.

We've even gone further with emergency backup, so in the middle of the night during a winter storm that took out the household electronics, you can be up and running without a manager, relays, or service board. If you can get the burner running and the circulator running (usually service vehicles have parts), you can have emergency heat by moving 3 or 4 wires. If you want complete instructions, login to our dealer portal or give us a call if you're a heating professional to find out more or for credentials.

Regarding plate heat exchangers, after 37 years, the orientation we do not recommend is with the threads facing up. This creates a trap or sump for debris. We do not see air trapping issues in any of the other orientations under normal operating conditions.

Thank you and happy heating!
Roger

billtwocase

I like the digital manager Roger. The temp light troubleshoot assistance is great, and other features that I find useful. I have had a run of bad sensors in the past, and the service board doesn't work when the relay board behind the manager is fried, or has a solder connection issue. I have been there with that problem a few times. The circulator will not run until you replace it and the plug in relays. Fortunately I have all this and more on hand to keep them up and running. Other than that, they are great.

Roger

Thank you, Bill - you provide a great level of support for your customers, and fixing it right with the parts you need on the first visit is what keeps you ahead of your competition and helps your customers out when they need it most. We, and our mutual customers, all appreciate the support! Just to clarify, you can get emergency heat without a relay board or manager by moving 3 or 4 wires.
Best,
Roger

billtwocase

I must learn that trick Roger. Thank you for your kind words and continued support.

Roger

You're welcome, Bill! I'll be in touch.

billtwocase

Thanks for reaching out Roger. No doubt that Energy Kinetics has always gone the extra mile to improve product and support. It is appreciated

Roger

You're welcome again, Bill - glad we can help!

Ex Maine Doug

Can we get an update on how it worked over the last winter? I am reviewing boilers for our house project. Thanks
Doug

JayL

Doug, mine worked flawlessly last winter. Its definitely a miser on oil. I saved at least 30-40%, perhaps up to 50% compared to my old clunker. It runs very quietly and efficiently- and why heat up a lot of cast iron? My old steel boiler was running fine at 60 years, just inefficient.

DanHolohan

I'm still waiting to hear ours run. The house is cozy, so it must be running, but I can't hear it. And we don't have a basement. It's on the other side of the wall, right next to where I sit. Hello?

Roger

Thank you, Jay and Dan - it's always great to hear such positive comments and "not hear" the boiler itself!

DanHolohan

It's quieter than our toaster.

JayL

Roger it would be great to showcase on the website those customers using EK units in Maine and Alaska, as well as other cold climates .

Roger

Thank you, Jay, we should add some more showcases from the Arctic!

We've been installing boilers in Alaska for over 30 years and our cold weather testing is done with our Arctic testing lab in Fairbanks, Alaska. We have some information about hundreds of homes that were upgraded with the US Coast Guard in Kodiak, AK, and the Aleutian Housing Authority in the Aleutian Islands - both cut fuel bills in the range of 40% to 50%. There's a photo of our sidewall vent running flawlessly at -50F also.

Here's the link if you want to take a look:
http://energykinetics.com/buildingowners/#us-coast-guard-savings

STEVEusaPA

Crap! I was up in Fairbanks this spring. Besides the beauty, there's a whole lot of nuthin' up there. Wish I knew there was a lab. Do you do tours?

JayL

Thats great Roger!

Roger

Thanks, Jay! And Steve, you can contact us if you're back in Fairbanks and we can set up a tour. Most of the action is R&D related and in the winter, though!

HVACNUT

Nothing is so firmly believed as that which is least unknown- Montaigne.
That was me with EK. "They suck."
But now that I service and understand them, I'm impressed with their serviceability, reliability and efficiency.
@Roger. Question for you sir. The oil EK2 always came with the 99 Carlin.
I came across one just the other day with an EZ1. The Tech Manual says the EZ is not recommended. Is there something I don't know? Do I have an obsolete Tech Manual?
Thanks.

brnrman1

The EK2 was updated to the EZ 1 HP in last couple of years it is more user friendly than the 99. The boiler ships with the set up information and you can access it on our website or the Carlin OEM user guide. The yellow Tech manual was last updated in 2010 we are in the process of updating it now. If you have any questions or concerns call our Tech line and ask for Mitch I can get you what ever you need to make your job easier

Roger Mitchell
Technical Service Specialist
Energy Kinetics

Roger

HVACNUT, a big thank you for being open-minded and learning about our products, and especially for your kind words and change of heart.

It looks like Mitch beat me to the answer (thanks, Mitch!) - as an additional note, the manual should not have indicated "not recommended" for the EZ-1. It's a great burner and will perform very well with the correct nozzle, pump pressure, and specs.

For example, the 1.40 GPH firing rate should use:
1.25 GPH 60B Delevan Nozzle at 125 psi with a 1.10/1.25 Head Bar

Thank you for the opportunity to clear this up. I apologize for any confusion this may have caused.