recomondations for low temperature boilers

Lisa_2

Please recomend a low temperature boiler. Currently looking at a Munchkin. Any ideas would be appreciated...gas prices are going up! Thanks.

Ken_8

There are many types of boilers

in this vein.

The Munchkin however is perhaps the best bang for the buck in North America IMHO.

I like the fact that it is made on the same side of the Atlantic as us. They speak English and import costs are zip with the trade pacts in place. I rather invest in the hardware than some foreign import duties and the freight costs to bring in a piece of iron from 5,000 miles away.

But what do I know.

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marc

you get what you pay for

it seems that in the past few months there have been many posts on the munchkin and related issues, i wont go into them, if you are comparing viessmann to munchkin there is really no comparison, the munchkin takes 2 trips thru the combustion chamber to condense, comes with a refractory, the controls are fastened to the boiler with velcro, there is no gaskets to make this a so called sealed combustion unit, you have to upgrade to get the vision controls, all this for $$$ plus have you seen the quality control on the exchanger and the consistent spacing on stainless steel. i would like to buy all american, but until we catch up with viessmann there is no comparison. i think, marc

ALH_3

Munchmate

Aren't the heat exchangers for the Munchkin boilers made in France?

Mitch_4

Dunkirk boilers

Quantum or quantum leap. ALL American made in NY state. I think Mad dog has 1.

Unknown

Mad Dog

heats his home with steam.....and a Burnham Independence at that.

Glenn

Constantin

I read the same posts you are referring to...

... and I come to a slightly different conclusion. Please humor me and allow for the fact that not only am I a homeowner engineer but I have also developed a gas appliance in the past.

There is no question that the Munchkin is being built to a different price point than the Viessmann. On the other hand, many folks don't need nor want the Mercedes-Benz of the heating industry in their home. Look around, there are plenty more Chevies on the road, with many folks perfectly happy to be sitting on fabric instead of leather.

And while the Viessmann owners I have run across are simply ecstatic about their boiler choice, let's also remember the number of ecstatic Munchkin owners we have heard of on the Wall. Many of them couldn't believe that something so small and quiet could effectively heat their home and save them a lot of cash at the same time.

Furthermore, it has been my impression that HTP has stood behind their product. For example, one of the issues that has been consistently raised by Munchkin-bashers are the expensive blower motors failures associated with early production units. However, IIRC, HTP stepped up to the plate and raised the warranty period on the motors to 5 years.

So, while you might not find the use of Velcro inside Munchkins appropriate nor think that the Munchkin HX is worthy of respect, many folks here apparently have no issues installing Munchkins.

The Vision 1 controls (or similar wares from Tekmar, et. al) are something everyone should install as a matter of course. Otherwise, you're wasting a perfectly good opportunity to save 16+% energy (according to Honeywell, IIRC) while also raising comfort levels.

Were I installing a gas unit, I would have a hard time choosing between the HTP Munchkin and the Viessmann Vitodens. Since I live in Boston, local gas vs. oil prices have made this decision obsolete, we're going to install a oil-based Vitola.

Paul Pollets

Wise words, again

A balanced viewpoint, to be sure....somehow, many contractors think apples and oranges are the same fruit. we're paying $1.95 for #2 oil in Seattle at the moment, and .59 therm for nat gas. As energy prices start to climb this fall and winter, it should raise the consciousnes of homeowners who want to escape expensive heating habits. For contractors, there's many opportunities to offer more efficient systems to their customers. BTW, You'll like the Vitola, and hopefully the chassis burner.

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Constantin

Thanks for the kind words!

The price differences between Boston and Seattle are amazing though... Here, we currently pay $1.45/gallon of #2 vs. $1.35/therm of city gas.

If my math does not fail me, oil prices would have to rise to $1.73 per gallon before I'd reach the current price of gas (at 86% efficiency for the oil boiler vs. 94% for the gas unit). And... the gas prices seem no less poised to go down than the oil prices, so oil it is for now.

I look forward to meeting you at ISH.

Mitch_4

apologies

I misremembered. It was boilerpro who said he had a 100,000 quatum leap, not mad dog.

Weezbo

seems all of us assumed Lisa was speaking Residential.

ernie_3

Quantum 90

Dunkirk has just come out w' a Q-90-125 &200k, thank God.
I just sold one and was then told that their in production for mid to late September. I had a signed contract so I swapped it w' the UB-90-125. Installed it today w' an indirect on priority and two loops of baseboard. Jacketing was a little chincy but the aluminum block looks like the Q-90 twin.