Voyager Blues

hot_rod

Steve was working on a Voyager unit yesterday that provides heat and DHW. We did not install it but have serviced it for the last 5 or 6 years. We go through one or two ignitors every year. Now the burner has disintegrated. This unit has been checked, double checked, and triple checked. The LP gas pressure has been adjusted to specs. At this point, the homeowner is sick of dealing with it and does not want to put any more money into it. He wants us to rip it out and replace it.

Due to space constraints (closet under a stairwell) and venting requirements (3" PVC intake and exhaust) we are limited in what we can use. It is not possible to get stainless steel vent to the outside and there is not enough space for a conventional boiler/indirect setup. Any suggestions regarding a replacement unit? A Combi-cor would fit but I have heard of heat exchanger problems with this unit. Has Bradford-White solved this problem? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. TIA -DF

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ScottMP

Dan

we installed a Teledyne Laars Indurance for just this type od application with no trouble so far.

Scott

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bill clinton_3

Voyager replacement

Polaris is a pretty good substitute. Same basic idea, vastly more reliable and better built. The new Polaris models are very quiet. A bit taller than Voyager, so check clearances.

Bill

hot_rod

Polaris

Bill,

Thanks for the advice. I have never installed a Polaris unit. Is the DHW separated from the heating fluid through a heat exchanger. I do not want to mix heat/DHW. -DF


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Troy_3

Munchkin

We have used a munchkin on a shelf hanging above a superstor indirect tank. Add the vision 1 control and you get in/outdoor modulation and dhw priority. This also gives you burner modulation. Much better IMHO than a water heater doing both jobs.

Joannie

Endurance

Thanks for mentioning us, Scott, but you may be thinking of the Summit units. The Endurance is vented with stainless steel only.

Our Summit 200 condensing units can be vented with 3 or 4" PVC, CPVC, ABS or stainless.

The Summit 250 condensing units can be vented with 3 or 4" CPVC or stainless.

The Summit unit is not a combination unit, but can be easily couple with an indirect water heater.

Joannie

Laars Heating Systems

munchkin-man

Thanks for mentioning the Munchkin Troy

He is correct. Additionally it will even sit on top of the indirect so it it used as a shelve. It is vented in three inch PVC 40 and can be used with the Vision 1 control pkg. This includes an out door sensor and a thermister for sencing the temp in the SSU Ultra indirect. The vision can control two temps. One set at desired delivery for the indirect that has priority on a timed sequence and separate temp for central heating. You can use any one of the Taco zone relays to add additional zones.

hot_rod

Some thoughts

As I understand it the Munchkin can have the 3" vent reduced to 2" ? Of course a performance hit is involved.

I've had good luck with the Polaris, did one today in fact! I use the tank for DHW and a flat plate for the radiant. Nice to have the HX where you can get to it! I'm looking at some of the Danfoss ZCPHX prebuild modules for this application, also.

Did the Voyager have the upodate kit installed, the burner sock and ring around the ignitor? I have a few dual Voyagers installed with 5-6 year track records. The retro fit kit made the ignitor issure disappear.

The 2" PVC will be the challange, as you already know.

hot rod

john wood

Concentric vent seems to help too..

In my own experience with installing voyagers, the ones that had the concentric vent kit had very little to no ignitor problems. The ones with the 2 separate 3" pipes were regular consumers of HSI's. Apparently the collar retro helps on HSI life. I think that exhaust gas recirc has a lot to do with HSI and burner life. May want to look at that aspect of the install.

Hope this is helpful.