Move boiler upstairs ?

Duane

My ex has just bought a house that was originally electric radiant, but was changed to hydronic with baseboard some years ago. The oil boiler also has a domestic coil. The boiler has been declared dead by the home inspector, leaks and other such faults, and the "closet" that houses the boiler is shoddy, with poor access, non-firecode sheetrock, and a luan door. She would vary much like to reclaim the closet area, as it is in the kitchen. The house is on slab so no basement options. Are there any serious cons to relocating the boiler (other than the cost of repiping) to the 2nd floor, directly above where it is now ? This would allow construction of a proper closet, and the reclaim of the coveted kitchen space.

Duane

I should add that the new boiler will be natural gas, which is already available in the house

Pat Clark

Check with a contractor

concerning local codes in your area. Certain gas fired equipment cannot be installed in bedrooms or bathrooms in most states unless it is a sealed combustion unit. Also I would recommend to install a low water cutoff on the boiler (it should be required by code, but may not be) for safety reasons. Other than that it should not be a problem to move it to the upstairs. We relocate boilers all the time so that people can better utilize their space.

Pat Clark

Ken_8

Pat's right.

But if you look at a few sealed combustion units, you can install one of that style unit ANYWHERE!

Many are wall hung and so quiet the fridge will drown it out.

The MZ with tankless comes to mind as an absolute home run!

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DaveGateway

if you stick with oil

Drawing fuel oil up a flight would make it complicated. Also the weight of the boiler and requirements for non-combustable flooring. Any thought to building an insulated shed against the house behind the old closet since all the piping is there already?

Ed_13

Moving Boiler Upstairs.

> My ex has just bought a house that was originally

> electric radiant, but was changed to hydronic

> with baseboard some years ago. The oil boiler

> also has a domestic coil. The boiler has been

> declared dead by the home inspector, leaks and

> other such faults, and the "closet" that houses

> the boiler is shoddy, with poor access,

> non-firecode sheetrock, and a luan door. She

> would vary much like to reclaim the closet area,

> as it is in the kitchen. The house is on slab so

> no basement options. Are there any serious cons

> to relocating the boiler (other than the cost of

> repiping) to the 2nd floor, directly above where

> it is now ? This would allow construction of a

> proper closet, and the reclaim of the coveted

> kitchen space.

Ed_13

Moving Boiler Upstairs.

If you are installing the new boiler on a combustible floor, one concern is that you use a boiler that is LISTED for an installation on a combustible floor. If it is not, you must take the proper precautions to protect the floor to meet the LISTING of the boiler that you use.

Don't try to re-invent the wheel. And don’t assume that you are installing it correctly because you put it on a base or surface that you think is OK. Just because you put a boiler on a surface or material that will not burn, it is not necessarily a surface that will not transfer heat to something else that will burn.

I’ve seen boiler installed on wonder board, set the wood floor on fire beneath the wonder board. I have also seen it happen when the boiler is installed with a metal plate or old asbestos board beneath the boiler, when the plate or A board are on top of a wood floor.

Read the boiler instructions, and the related codes and standards, VERY carefully, to be sure that you are able to install it where you plan to, safely. It may be as simple as choosing a different boiler for the job.

Regards,

Edward A. (Ed) Carey

Ed_13

Moving Boiler Upstairs.

If you are installing the new boiler on a combustible floor, one concern is that you use a boiler that is LISTED for an installation on a combustible floor. If it is not, you must take the proper precautions to protect the floor to meet the LISTING of the boiler that you use.

Don't try to re-invent the wheel. And don’t assume that you are installing it correctly because you put it on a base or surface that you think is OK. Just because you put a boiler on a surface or material that will not burn, it is not necessarily a surface that will not transfer heat to something else that will burn.

I’ve seen boiler installed on wonder board, set the wood floor on fire beneath the wonder board. I have also seen it happen when the boiler is installed with a metal plate or old asbestos board beneath the boiler, when the plate or A board are on top of a wood floor.

Read the boiler instructions, and the related codes and standards, VERY carefully, to be sure that you are able to install it where you plan to, safely. It may be as simple as choosing a different boiler for the job.

Regards,

Edward A. (Ed) Carey

Robert O'Connor_7

Movin on up!!

You can relocate, but be careful. The selection of the new equipment is paramont. Before you buy, check out each one of your selections and see if it will work in it's new location. Things to consider are combustion air, combustable walls and flooring, venting and the differing limitations of such. I'm not absolutely sure if even a sealed combustion unit is allowed in a toilet room. The code states that no fuel burning apliances are allowed in the bathroom. Robert O'Connor/NJ

Mark Hunt

Where is this place?


Sounds like a "Cold Brook" house in Rotterdam, NY.

Mark H

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Weezbo

Gravity is something Iron oil fired boilers are in agreement..

With:) speaking of re piping...the flue is probably not much better shape right? were you to have a garage....
a small nook could harbour the appliancenew stove pipe new insulated vent and saddle, jack and thimble....new fuel line to a tiger loop combo....small water maker for hot water storage.send two lines back to the zones one supply one return send one hot one cold potable, send one 1/2" potable for a recirc line to or near the kitchen sink Voila ! Your in the right Century! Hurray:) complete new system sorta:) dragging boilers up stairs i am about to think for you again...is pain in back,pain in mind when need to fix ,soot is seldom fully under control ..you might be tempted to use things that are falling apart with no real savings in the future as our cost never go down.
was this helpful ? ? well if not at least it was another perspective....

Mitch_4

LOW WATER CUT OFF!!

With the heating system below the boiler make SURE you install a LWCO, not all boilers include them.

Having a situation where a boiler can fire with no water in it would be a bad thing. I am certain others here will agree that dry firing a boiler is generally considered bad.

Duane

Thanks guys

Food for thought. The MZ or equivalent looks like the best solution as getting rid of the flue pipe would be an additional advantage. A website showed one installed over a washer / dryer on the same wall...that would be a neat installation upstairs as she is also considering upstairs washer and dryer, and a dedicated closet could easily house all of the above. Might be an expensive install, one that I certainly have no intentions to get involved in. House is in Barrington, RI which explains why the radiant electric is no loger in use.