Trinity vs Munchkin?

R. Kalia

If you have some experience with the innards of each boiler, which one would you recommend for quality? Superficially they are very similar. In a thread from some months ago, people thought that the Munchkin would last 15 years or less (flimsy and plasticky compared to the MZ or Viessmann). Is the Trinity the same way? It has less of a record than the Munchkin and is cheaper, but my question is, is it better built?

Ted_5

They have the same heat-X

made by a company in France. If I only had these 2 choices, I would pick Munchkin.

Ted

Troy_3

Munchkin

They both use the same heat exchange coil. That's where the similarities end. Trinity fires a lot more BTUs into fewer coils. In other words the Munchkin of similar BTU rating will have a longer heat exchanger with more coils. It also uses a 1-1/4" heat exchang manifold where the coils collect. Trinity I'm told uses only a 3/4" manifold. The controls are completely different. I've never used a Trinity but I've used many Munchkins. Yes the Trinity is cheaper. I personally am very pleased with Munchkin.

Randy Tibbits

is the trinity listed and labeled? In order to install a boiler in my area, the boiler must be asme approved and if it's a steel boiler it must have a hershey hancock approval label. I'm curious

Mark Eatherton1

What the Hecksa

Hershey Hancock label? Would that be an H stamp?

Sounds like a cross between a candy bar and a fabric store where I come from:-)

Serious...

I have no experience with the Trinity, but can strongly recommend the Munchkin line.

Regardless of what you choose, make sure the consumer is aware of the need for annual service and cleaning on the inside (fire side) of the boiler.

If you ignore them, they WILL go away.

ME

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R. Kalia

munchkin quality

> I have no experience with the Trinity, but can

> strongly recommend the Munchkin line.


But you do agree that the Munchkin is not very solidly made and isn't going to last all that long, right? So I am looking for something that might be better built (like the MZ) but doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

Ted_5

Small price to pay for quality HAHAHA

The Viessmann is not that much more then the MZ. The MZ does not modulate or have a built in Variable speed pump or a 316Ti stainless steel heat-X. You have to look at all things inclueded, not just price.

Ted

R. Kalia

hahaha is right

A Munchkin installed in my house will be about $6K, a Viessman about $10K. That is not a small difference to a buyer, although a seller may want me to think so.

Mark Eatherton

The heart of the system...

is made of stainless steel, and properly maintained should last a good long time. As for the plastic jacket, like it or not, most of your automobile exteriors these days are made of plastic.

What kind of abuse do you think the jacket is going to see?

Just curious.

ME

Brian

Trinity

I think you need to look at parts availability.In my area all you see are Trinitys when it comes to condensing/modulating boilers.I have yet to see a munchkin or Vitodens installed.I'm sure in other areas it is the other way around.I agree with Mark that looking after the boiler,especially the water,will give you years of service.I always why all the Viessman guys rave about the 316ti heat exchanger as if it was formed by the hand of God but Viessman only gives it an 8 year warranty???

Good Luck
Brian

Ranger

Trinity

The firm that I work for carries the Trinity line.Although my branch has only sold two so far,thay we sold two two of my customers for personal use.(one in a hunting cabin in upstate N.Y.,one here in central New Joisey/new construction)Both were very happy with the boilers performance.My personal experance with lo-mass boilers dates back 10-12 years with Patterson-Kelly gas down-fired
"wash machine" boilers.very compact w/very hi input."Lots-o-agwa" is the key with these products (The Trinity's need 10-11 GPM to operate properly and although thay are 3/4" connections the pipeing instructions recommend 1-1/4" primary loop to get the proper GPM.)We also aquired another line,Rinnai.This is another lo-mass very compact
non condensing wall hung that can be used solely for domestic or hydronic w/an indirect water heater.thay make several indoor a-n-d an outdoor wall hung (very popular in the southern states i'm told)The No:1 service issue with these is poor electrical grounding (The Trinity uses a Fenwal processer and the Rinnai uses DC control)Second is poor gas pressure,Third poor venting/pipeing practices.Actually reading the installation instructions is imperative.If you are comfortable with what you are installing and you have had good luck with whatever brand that happens to be (or your contractor) than by all means stick with it!For more info on these products see nythermal.com or rinnai.us
[+] R_Anger [+]

eric legacy

wall hung boiler


Shhhhh, keep this under your wet hats but Buderus is coming out with US version of thier famous wall hung boiler. Dont mention this to a soul its top secret.

oops was I supposed to say that.

E.L.

R. Kalia

not a sceret

http://www.contractormag.com/articles/newsarticle.cfm?newsid=256

see the last line of text in the above web page. It isn't a secret.

What does Buderus bring to the table that Munchkin/Pinnacle, Trinity, MZ (nonmodul), Viessman, Baxi (noncond) don't?

R. Kalia

what do they offer?

What does Buderus bring to the table that Munchkin/Pinnacle, Trinity, MZ (nonmodul), Viessman, Baxi (noncond) don't?

Cheaper than MZ? Better made than Munchkin? All the features (cond, modul, reset)?

Uni R

Buderus Logamax

"Wall Hung Condensing Boilers with outputs from 21kW to 60kW. These High Efficiency Boilers feature aluminium heat exchangers, modulating pre-mix gas burner, modulating air fan, gas valve and primary pump."

Source: http://www.cfquadrant.ie/products.html


The German site also mentions that the HEX is aluminium. I believe it is sold in straight, combi and integrated tank models overseas. It's funny seeing the integrated tank being built into these Logamax, MZ and Baxi boilers. It supports my belief that Europeans would prefer hot water tanks if they had a place to put them.

Ted_5

Look at it a different way.

How do you buy steak at the store? It is by the pound. How about seafood, produce? By the pound! Why would you pay more for a steak over another steak of the same cut? Because one weighs more! What do you get out of it? It will fill you up more, maybe feed 2 people, leftovers for another meal. With that in mind, look at the 2 cost you gave. The M. $6,000.00 divided by a weight of 75 lbs = $80.00 per lbs The Viessmann $10,000.00 [this price is way out of wack, the V does not cost $4,000.00 more!] divided by a weight of 143lbs = $69.93 per lbs. The Viessmann 316Ti heat-X wieghs as much as the M boiler total. Just a thought. Good luck.

Ted

R. Kalia

price and weight

The Vitodens price is out of whack because, in my area anyway, Viessmanns are sold like Ferraris---if you have to ask, you can't afford it. It's a show-off item. [Also there is a bit more hardware and installation cost because of the proprietary controls.]

And maybe a heavy heat-X just means more metal to heat up, which is heat that does not go upstairs...?

heatboy

It's not a Ferrari.

You ever notice there haven't been any guys coming here whining about service issues with the Vitodens? I wonder why that is? Maybe it's because they cost more and are very well engineered heating equipment that don't fail. They cost more because you simply get more with no compromises. They aren't for everyone. They are for the client who wants quality and no headaches.

Show off item? Why yes, I think I will!

hb

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