Seeking Oil Boiler Recommendations

K_Pilch

Our 37 year old oil boiler is running at 64% efficiency with multiple cracks in the cast iron pan. We have a 1,500 sq. ft. home northwest of Philadelphia with about 12 hot water radiators and extremely hard water. We use a wood burning stove to heat the house on very cold days when we're home. The house is one zone with two stories and no garage. The 250 gallon oil tank is relatively new and we want to stay with oil.

I've been reading about the Energy Kinetics System 2000 boiler, but I'm not sure what else we should be considering. Any recommendations on boilers and installers would be appreciated.

jesmed1

The first thing you should do is find out what your actual heat loss is so you can size the new boiler correctly. Don't assume the existing boiler is properly sized, because most times they aren't.

You can do the heat loss calculation yourself if you have oil consumption records from a previous winter.

https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/replacing-a-furnace-or-boiler

You don't say when the house was built or construction type, but typical heat loss numbers range in the 20-30 BTU/hr/sq ft, so based on your 1500 sq ft, you'll probably end up in the 30,000-45,000 BTU/hr range unless the house is underinsulated and/or drafty.

Given your probably modest heat load, you might want to consider a Biasi B10/3, a Buderus G115WS/3, or a Weil-McLain WGO-2, though the last 2 might be a bit overkill for you depending on how your heat load calculation works out.

I'm a homeowner, not a pro, but have looked at these three as replacements for when we need a new boiler, and they all have good reputations. We currently have Weil-McLain WGO-5's, and the WGO-2 I mentioned is the same boiler with fewer sections. Our WGO-5's are 25+ yrs old and still in good condition. The WGO's are good reliable cast iron boilers that have been around for a long time and have a good track record.

K_Pilch

Appreciate your suggestions. I’ll look into these as well. 

The house was built in 1938 with a stone basement and front facade. The windows are relatively new and high quality. The previous one car garage was renovated into a second, not well insulated, living space with baseboard heat over ten years ago. 

This will be our third winter in the house so I’ll dig up the info do the calculation like you suggested. Thanks.

EdTheHeaterMan

Wish I were there to install your new boiler... I miss Dalessandro's Cheese Steaks. Best in the City! South Carolina has nothing like it.

My brother still works in Philadelphia. Call him for a price.https://www.ftyoung.com/about-us. He knows almost as much as me.

K_Pilch

Ed, I’ll definitely reach out to your brother. We used to live near Dalessandros! Thanks.

SuperTech

I find the Energy Kinetics boilers to be best option.  You can't go wrong with a System 2000 EK-1F just as long as it's installed correctly.  

EzzyT

I’m a huge fan of Energy Kinetics and that’s the approach I would go with. 

Roger

Thank you for everyone's great comments and for your interest in Energy Kinetics, @K_Pilch !
It's best to have a heating pro review your application, although I'm sure the EK1 Frontier would be the right sized boiler for your 1500 sq ft home as the low mass - thermal purge design has virtually no oversizing penalty. For hot water, the plate heat exchanger has our Sealix coating to prevent mineral build up, but it should also be installed with a scale stopper to make sure the hard water performance is the best possible (short of installing a full water treatment system).
Please let us know if we can recommend a heating pro or provide additional information to help you make the right decision for your needs. Our territory manager in your area is Brian Kiernan, and he can be reached at (570) 872-6997. Or give our customer service team a call at (908) 735-2066.
Best,
Roger

K_Pilch

Thanks, Roger. I left Brian a voicemail.

K_Pilch

@Roger , we're going with the smallest Ascent model with install by the number one company recommended to us by two of your employees. Brian was quick to call me back and answer my questions. Really impressed with Energy Kinetics from both a business and product standpoint. Looking forward to using less oil this season and saving some money in the long run.

Roger

Thank you for such nice comments about our team and products and for placing your confidence in Energy Kinetics, @K_Pilch - I’m sure you’ll have many years of “happy heating”!
Best,
Roger