Tecmar 256 and shoulder season heating

djackman

"Inhertited" the maintenance responsibilities for my parent's boiler. Original 1953 Weil-McClain 3-pass boiler updated with an AFG burner. 1400sq/ft split ranch with updated insulation, air sealing, windows, and (over) zoned in-wall hydronic convectors - K of 7.5 last winter and barely a trace of soot after a full season.

Has a Tecmar 256 for ODR with occupied WWSD set at 65dF. Winter DHW was from thankless coil with kluged together nat gas WH as storage tank, that's gone, now a new IBC gas on-demand for all seasons.

Works great in the heart of winter but shoulder seasons when a little heat is needed in the mornings or a cooler day they were using space heaters. Rather not have an elderly parent doing that.

Can set the Tecmar occupied WWSD higher but then the boiler will run just to keep it warm. Thinking of triggering the 'unoccupied' WWSD - set at higher temp than occupied - on a call for heat so the boiler runs when it would normally be in WWSD. Effectively making it a cold start boiler.

Pros/Cons to this?

Big Ed_4

Set the WWSD to 70 for Mom :)

Jamie Hall

The only con is you'll burn a little more fuel. The pros overwhelm that! Space heaters are risky — and even if your parents are fully and capable, older folks health is much more sensitive to cold — and urgent care visits don't come free.