Which boiler can turn off in summer, without condensation ?

Matt2

What can I get that’s not so wasteful by needing to turn on even in summer, won’t collect condensation, and can keep the house at 60-64f, with very little hot water needed? Can a new gas combo Lochinvar be turned off in summer like the rep said? Will it get condensation inside? ….My old oil boiler from 1985 still works but it has to turn on many times a day even in summer, to prevent condensation. The wasted fuel, money, and pollution is shocking, esp bc I keep the house as cold as possible and use little hot water. I did turn it off my first summer here (a year ago), but in fall the annual tech blew a cork, then showed me all the wet soot inside and said “never do that again!” So I haven’t. I’m in PA. Cast iron radiators, 1500 sq ft. …In MO we had a gas boiler from 1999, no pilot light, no condensation, it never was on in summer, moved out of that house 24 years later. I don’t know what brand. Please advise.

mattmia2

the soot was a combustion problemor possibly a mass of the connected system problem, it was not from it being off in the summer.

ethicalpaul

What he said ^^^^

Plus it seems like you are on the verge of realizing that using a boiler all summer to heat a little water for your dishes is not the best way to do things. Get a separate water heater.

EdTheHeaterMan

Your 1985 boiler does not need to stay on all summer. Your oil burner in the 1985 boiler is making soot because the burner is not adjusted properly. A modern oil burner can burn with no smoke, no soot and no odors inside the home. All the heat is extracted from the oil. Your wet soot won't be wet soot if there is no soot to get wet. Your oil burner tech needs to get you a modern oil burner that has a 3450 motor and a flame retention burner head. If you already have a high efficiency burner, then the technician needs to set it up properly.

Condensation of flue gas that is happening on that boiler is a result of a low operating water temperature and a low exhaust temperature. That can happen when someone tries to save you $$$ by using a smaller firing rate nozzle in your burner. Couple that with your 1985 boiler being way oversized and you get condensation of flue gas. Since you are considering converting to Natural Gas, you can look at using the correct size boiler for your home. you also need the near boiler piping properly configured for the type of radiators. Then you can use a lower cost cast iron boiler.

I would also use a separate tank type water heater. They are the lowest cost water heaters and you can vent them in the same chimney as the new boiler once you have the chimney properly lined for Gas burning appliances.