How atmospheric equipment may reduce heat loss...Boilerpro

Boilerpro_3

After having installed a new atmospheric chimney vented boiler with draft hood in my helper's home a few years ago, they began to experience a cold draft in some first floor rooms.

The boiler replaced an old oversized oil conversion to gas boiler with a wide open stack. This is in an old 2 story frame with new windows and insulation throughout. Boiler is located in the basement conected to a 30 foot chimney.

My thought is this. The wide open stack on that old boiler created a low pressure point in the basement due to chimney draft. This low pressure point counteracted the stack effect draft through the 2 story home. With the new boiler, when the damper is closed, the draft rising through the home now has no counteracting low pressure from the chimney. Now the cold air in the basement is pulled into the living areas of the home, increasing the heat loss.

Interesting thought, eh. The dead men may have struck again.

Boilerpro

Steamhead

What I'd look for

is how the cold air is entering the basement, and how it's rising into the attic from the second floor. Bet you find some real big openings!