Boiler Replacement

Bobby888

I'm gathering quotes for a boiler replacement as the boiler that came w/ our house, which is roughly 2700 sqft. is over 30 years old. I'm trying to choose between a weil mclain GCA-4 and a Lennox GWB84-120E. The quote for the lennox came in $ above the quote for the weil mclain (all installed with new control values, etc..) but the different in cost isn't for the boiler itself as the same lennox installer also recommanded weil mclain gca-4 at the same price as the lennox (so both $ above another vendor). But all that aside I'm more interested it understanding which is the better boiler? I understand there's an o-ring vs nipple debate? The lennox seems to have a better warranty but I understand parts are more custom and expensive? Which would you choose and why?

Jamie Hall

Step 1. What type of heating system is this? Steam or hot water? Step 2. What is the heating load the boiler is expected to supply? There are two different ways to determine this, depending on whether it is steam or hot water.

Until you can answer those questions, there is absolutely no point in wondering what boiler to install.

Then, once you or your contractor decide what size boiler you need, based on the answers to the two questions, you can begin to think about what brand -- but a caution: the knowledge of the installer and the quality of the installation are at least as important as the brand, if not more so. There are a number of good boilers being made. Any of them can be a disaster of the installation is poor or full of shortcuts.

EBEBRATT-Ed

@Bobby888

I am assuming this is hot water heat.

You need to have your contractors, or you do a heat loss of the house. No guessing. And they can't size the boiler based on the old boiler. Not in this day and age.

You should download the Slant Fin app and do your own heat loss. It's easy. Then you will have something to match up against what the contractors come up with. If they even do a heat loss.

Be careful accepting the lowest bid, you get what you pay for with an honest contractor.

Weil McLain, Peerless are good boilers. Lennox doesn't make boilers. They re-brand someone else's boiler.


If you like Weil McLain you could use a Williamson boiler which is a rebranded Weil McLain and is a little cheaper usually

Steamhead

From the looks of the Lennox boiler, I'd guess it's a re-branded Utica:

https://www.lennoxpros.com/lennox-gas-fired-water-boiler-gwb84-120e/p/20U60?clear=true

Bobby888

Hi, sorry,  its a baseboard/water heating system with a gas boiler.   The weil McLain boiler matches the same specs as the current boiler.  The lennox model seems slightly larger in terms of its output.  I had serval contractors come but not one of them has done a heat loss test -- they just look at the old boiler (don't even walk around the rest of the house).  I will however say our windows are really good and our heating bills in this house which is 4x larger than our last house are act less money.  However our last house was a forced air system in a badly built condo.  This new house was remodeled a few years ago and it seems they did great with insulation and windows. 

Steamhead

@Bobby888 , you really need the heat-loss calculation. Where are you located?

Hot_water_fan

How much gas did you use last year?

markdelzell

navian firetube boiler. vented with cpvc sidewall or dedicated chimney lined with cpvc. primary secondary with multiple zones. unless it's a 1600 square ft house, then single zone.