New Boiler Question OR What would you install for you?

David Toppin

Hello all:

I am a homeowner outside of Worcester MA and I am in the process of looking for a new gas boiler. The present one is a Thermodyne Laars 200,000 BTU job. I have owned the house for 6 months, it is a 4000 sq ft, 5BR Royal Barry Wills designed cape built in 1962 by a lumberyard owner. Good quality materials, I'm sure it could use more insulation than it has, and it has triple track aluminum storm windows. My last house was a 100 year old 5600 sq ft on a lake on cape cod, which was very windy and had lots of windows. I replaced the 150,000 BTU Hydrotherm Multipulse with a 150,000 BTU Buderus gas boiler, which I loved. I can't believe my new house needs more BTU than the last one. Can anyone tell me how to find someone who does accurate heat loss calculations in my area? I'd like to put in another Buderus, but I'm afraid I won't be able to get a unit that is big enough in the basement. I have no bulkhead, I have to come in through the garage, around an immediate corner, and down the stairs. The last one I eased down the stairs with my Bobcat, but I won't have that option here. I guess my question is: What is a good boiler that is compact and can put out the 150 to 200,000 BTUs I probably need. I don't want anything too odd that no one knows how to work on in a few years, but I do tend to like the most efficient units, I value the long term savings over the initial investment. I hate high monthly bills! I would also consider changing to oil If I thought that would be a significant savings. Any thoughts on that? I would also like an indirect water heater to replace the old ao smith standalone unit I have now. I figure now is the time to get it all over with. Can you guys tell me the pros & cons of an indirect system? Are there some that don't need an external tank, I guess the heating coil would reside in the boiler? Any recommendations for installers in the Worcester MA area? Thanks in advance for your help!

Bob Bona_4

Hello David

> Hello all:

>

> I am a homeowner outside of

> Worcester MA and I am in the process of looking

> for a new gas boiler. The present one is a

> Thermodyne Laars 200,000 BTU job. I have owned

> the house for 6 months, it is a 4000 sq ft, 5BR

> Royal Barry Wills designed cape built in 1962 by

> a lumberyard owner. Good quality materials, I'm

> sure it could use more insulation than it has,

> and it has triple track aluminum storm windows.

> My last house was a 100 year old 5600 sq ft on a

> lake on cape cod, which was very windy and had

> lots of windows. I replaced the 150,000 BTU

> Hydrotherm Multipulse with a 150,000 BTU Buderus

> gas boiler, which I loved. I can't believe my

> new house needs more BTU than the last one. Can

> anyone tell me how to find someone who does

> accurate heat loss calculations in my area? I'd

> like to put in another Buderus, but I'm afraid I

> won't be able to get a unit that is big enough in

> the basement. I have no bulkhead, I have to come

> in through the garage, around an immediate

> corner, and down the stairs. The last one I

> eased down the stairs with my Bobcat, but I won't

> have that option here. I guess my question is:

> What is a good boiler that is compact and can put

> out the 150 to 200,000 BTUs I probably need. I

> don't want anything too odd that no one knows how

> to work on in a few years, but I do tend to like

> the most efficient units, I value the long term

> savings over the initial investment. I hate high

> monthly bills! I would also consider changing to

> oil If I thought that would be a significant

> savings. Any thoughts on that? I would also like

> an indirect water heater to replace the old ao

> smith standalone unit I have now. I figure now

> is the time to get it all over with. Can you

> guys tell me the pros & cons of an indirect

> system? Are there some that don't need an

> external tank, I guess the heating coil would

> reside in the boiler? Any recommendations for

> installers in the Worcester MA area? Thanks in

> advance for your help!





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Bob Bona_4

David

The very first thing you need to do is a heat loss calc. You can't guess at boiler sizing. And yes, team the boiler with an indirect water heater. Prioritize it-do not add it's load to the heating load of the home.

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Jackchips

I am

curious why you want to replace the teledyne, Dave? I used to install many of them and just replaced one in my Mother-in-laws that I installed 27 years ago. A good working teledyne and an AO Smith water heater are a good combination.

If there is a problem with the unit then I agree that a new boiler with an indirect "super store" is a better system.

I am 10 miles south of Worcester and want to welcome you to the county.

unknown

i would try to find a contractor that sells munchkin boilers, they make a boiler that fires at 199,000 BTU and will self regulate down to 80,000 depending on your current load. the boiler is 92% efficient at full firing and becomes more efficient as it lowers imput. This unit only weighs in at a whopping 115 pounds and can be vented with pvc pipe. the newer models have the ability to prioritize the system for dhw tanks also. They have many more benefits i didnt touch on, but i really recommed you at least look at this one, i think there great and use them with all my radiant jobs.

David Toppin

Thanks,

I should have mentioned this is not a radiant job, I have cast Iron baseboard and wall units.

Dave Toppin