Gas fired boiler instalation location

ricking

Have any of you experts installed a boiler outside of the house? It would be out of the weather under the soffits in a dry area but not enclosed. Any comments? Thanks in advance.

delta T

I have seen boilers installed outside a few times......usually when I'm removing them and installing a new boiler inside.

I wouldn't do it, there are too many issues that it can cause between humidity affecting controls and wind affecting the combustion, and I am positive that it would void most manufacturer's warranties unless they specifically say they can be installed outside. Why not build a little room around where you are planning to install it outside and keep the boiler protected.

Be sure to have it well insulated, and have some kind of backup heat (electric baseboard run off a generator is usually fine) to keep the room above freezing when the power goes out or there is a problem with the boiler on a frigid day.

They do make boilers that are designed to be installed outside but they don't typically have the best warranties and usually are made for pool heaters rather than as space heating plants.

ricking

I was thinking the same thing. I was just thinking of the noise level from the boiler.

Jamie Hall

I am not an expert except maybe in a few areas -- and one of them is electrics. None. Repeat, NONE of the electrics furnished with and attached to a boiler are qualified to be installed outside. Nor is the burner, whatever fuel you are contemplating. "Out of the weather under the soffits" does not qualify.

Everything electrical would have to be within a NEMA 4X enclosure -- all your controls, all the electrics associated with the burner... no. Don't even think of going there.

Your only solution, if noise is an issue (and I would be surprised if anything but a pretty large boiler was noisy enough to really be an issue, except possibly in a recording studio) is to either install it in the structure, in a sound isolated space (this isn't really that hard to do) with it's own outside air intake, or to install it in a weathertight building outside. The building outside would have to be provided with auxiliary heat, as @delta T said. The lines -- whether for hot water or steam -- would also have to be heavily insulated.

delta T

ricking said:

I was just thinking of the noise level from the boiler.

A properly installed hydronic system should be virtually silent unless you are standing next to it, even then, it should be whisper quiet.

ricking

Thank you all for your comments. Much appreciated.

Zman

Outside boilers were the rage in the '90's. Teledyne and Raypack still make outdoor models.
Between the heat loss, service issues and general beatings they took, they are not very popular any more.