Comparing options

gyrfalcon

Good morning, and thank you to everyone who contributes and participates in this form. I have made a few posts in the past inquiring about replacement options and system upgrades and needs and I have learned a lot. I have recently been presented with another plan using a US boiler, X-PV and indirect tank. 

I currently have an atmospheric-draft/ boiler and separate Hot water heater that are common vented. No flu dampers Or other modern safeties or controls. Very basic.  

Can anyone comment on the XPV or its twin Crown Bali?  The plan would be to make it  direct vent/sealed combustion. I am concerned about noise from the inducer fan. Would it be any louder than say a Lochinvar knight inducer fan? My mechanical room is centrally located in my one-story house.

As to compare other options-

Lochinvar knight 

US boiler X-PV

Utica MGB-K

Each would be paired with An indirect tank. I feel either way I would gain in efficiencies and reduce standby losses.  

Thanks for any feedback. 

Ironman

That boiler is discontinued.

Why would you want a power vented cast iron boiler when you could use a natural draft model?

And yes, the inducer on that is louder than the combustion blower on a mod/con.

gyrfalcon

@Ironman, I had no idea the Burnham X-PV is discontinued.  Their website mentions no such thing.  As far a natural draft vs induced draft, I was just looking into an option for outside air being fed directly into the boiler and sealing the combustion chamber.  

Derheatmeister

I personally like the lochinvar Knight but any boiler is only as good as the support you get after the install..
The noise from the intake air can sometimes be a disturbing but there is a intake air muffler that will reduce that.
Things to consider when selecting a boiler are:
1. Proper sizing
2. Parts availability
3. Rep Support.
4. Factory Support
5. Original installer support/service by keeping the most common parts on hand and installing it as per Accepted industry standands and installation instructions.

Also keep in mind that it is not "One size fits all" and every situation is different from each other which can make a big difference on boiler selection.
For example: In some situations a condensing boiler may never condense due to the lack of large heat emmiters, this in turn will cause the boiler to operate at close to the same efficiencies than a atmospheric boiler and the Heatexchanger will not get it's "daily shower" to help keep the HX clean and therefore keep the effieciencies up in the 90% plus range.
IMO in the above mentioned situation a regular cast iron boiler operating in the mid 80 percent effieciencies is a better choice.

gyrfalcon

@Derheatmeister, I certainly understand your example given. 

Is it not a big  improvement for a home to have a direct vented boiler?  

As far as supply houses and contractors being supportive in service and parts , I have no idea what anybody stocks.  

Steamhead

gyrfalcon said:

@Is it not a big  improvement for a home to have a direct vented boiler?

I doubt it. Direct venting involves more moving parts that will break down, usually in the middle of winter. Chimney vent with stack damper gets my vote. Yes, the damper is a moving part, but is much easier and cheaper to fix than a direct-vent fan and proving switch.

What boiler do you have now?

gyrfalcon

@Steamhead, I have a 100k Btu slant fin galaxy. Standing pilot, no damper. Approximately 65 -85 ft of baseboard ( some piping or emitter, maybe 15-20 feet,  is hidden under a raised wooden floor in a bedroom. So I can’t see what’s underneath ) System is 2 zones . It’s had 2 gas valves replaced since we moved in. 

Ironman

gyrfalcon said:

@Ironman, I had no idea the Burnham X-PV is discontinued.  Their website mentions no such thing.  As far a natural draft vs induced draft, I was just looking into an option for outside air being fed directly into the boiler and sealing the combustion chamber.  

Then why don’t you consider a mod/con?

Erin Holohan Haskell

Ironman said:

That boiler is discontinued.

I just checked in with a friend at U.S. Boiler on this and he said that the X-PV is a current model and is still being manufactured. It has not been discontinued. Thanks.

Ironman

Erin Holohan Haskell said:

That boiler is discontinued.

I just checked in with a friend at U.S. Boiler on this and he said that the X-PV is a current model and is still being manufactured. It has not been discontinued. Thanks.

Interesting. One distributor had it as discontinued on their site.

gyrfalcon

Well, the plot thickens! Thank you , @Erin Holohan Haskell.  My contractor is yet to provide a formal quote.  

And yea, @Ironman, definitely thinking mod con boiler (Lochinvar) they seem best supported here.  But as we all know the installation and continued support from companies and suppliers is also a huge factor.   If things don’t jive , cast iron it is. The simplest one I can get.  

Erin Holohan Haskell

Ironman said:

Erin Holohan Haskell said:

Ironman said:

That boiler is discontinued.

I just checked in with a friend at U.S. Boiler on this and he said that the X-PV is a current model and is still being manufactured. It has not been discontinued. Thanks.

Interesting. One distributor had it as discontinued on their site.

Thanks for sharing, @Ironman. Can you please message me with the site link so we can help U.S. Boiler correct it?