Replacing Newmac BCO-160

stewbert

New to the site. Our weekend home, a 12 year old 2100 sf modular ranch in the Hudson Valley, has an oil/coal/wood burning furnace that provides hot water for the baseboards, domestic hot water and radiant in basement and garage floor. It’s currently a weekender but we will be moving there full time in a few years on retirement. Thinking of replacing with propane fired furnace and a sep propane on demand hot water heater. Is this the most efficient plan and what efficiency level can I expect?

Jamie Hall

Check energy prices, but it is likely that a propane fired mod/con boiler for the heating will be the best be — and certainly the most fuel efficient. The domestic hot water, however, is another question, and you should very carefully analyse how much hot water you really do use. It is quite possible that an indirect hot water storage system, fired by the heating boiler, will be more practical.

One thing is a must: get an accurate estimate of how much heat you really do need, and size the new boiler to that.