Tankless versus tank

Mike R.

My current old Burnham Pace-Pac tankless dry base boiler does not adequately give me enough hot water in winter but almost enough in summer. Hot showers in summer but not enough hot water for laundry ( usually wash in luke warm water, even when washer is set for hot). Probably my tankless coil is shot. When winter comes, basement is cold and we take cold showers and wash laundry in cold water. The call for heat usually dops boiler temp upon start up when circulator draws water from the radiators.

I am getting a new 3 section Burnham wet base V8 boiler. My 1950's, 1347 square feet single level ranch has 137.6 feet of baseray cast iron radiators. I am not sure how much water in the radiators. I have one bath but plan for a second bath. Do I need a 40 gallon indirect tank or will a new tankless coil in the new boiler give me enough hot water?

kevin coppinger_4

Wow....

cast iron baseboard....put that boiler on outdor reset and do the 40gal. indirect...that will be a great setup, vey comfortable...I would NOT do the coil...kpc

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Rookie_3

I'm with Kevin, go with the indirect. You will be able to take back to back showers 24/7. You can put the indirect on a priority zone but may not have to even if your ranch has a seperate bedroom zone. Cold start will stop needless cycling in the summer months.
Enjoy........B-Boiler

J.C.A._3

I'll agree

with the Indirect also, however I'm gonna make some enimies by saying that "cold start" isn't all it's cracked up to be.(gas or oil)!

Have the installer put in a maintaining control, even kept at 120° it will keep the boiler cleaner in the long run.Wired properly, it will also keep the wild temp swings from making strange creeking noises on a call for heat.

The triple aquastat will hold the water from the boiler till it is at the set point before pumping to the emitters if its wired properly,it also gives it a bit of a headstart on the call for domestic water.Overall increase in fuel use and decrease in efficiencies amount to about 1/2%. A small price to pay for comfort.

Having worked in this industry for 20 years has taught me a few things and having to service them has given me a different look at others. This is one thing I believe in completely.

As to the tank size, I will have to know more. How many people in the home and what is the biggest demand at any given time ? 40 gallons is fine for 3 people trying to shower at 15-20 minute intervals, but if it's anymore than that, you may want to consider a bigger tank. JMHO. Chris

Boston Boiler

Don't like the cold starts Chris? I would think the efficiency drop would be a little more than 1/2%. Not a bad set up your suggesting. I've seen them with a high limt only and 845's for each zone and haven't really heard TOO MANY complaints.Usually the complaints come down to too much being called for at the same time. Winter months shouldn't need much of a head start on the domestic and with only a 10* drop to call how bad can it be in the summer. Cold start or not indirect should keep him a lot happier than he tankless.

J.C.A._3

B.B.

Been there , done that , got the t-shirt. Maintenance takes longer for "cold start", and I'm from the school of SERVICE. I wouldn't have it any other way.(even in my own home!) Chris

kevin coppinger_9

which aquastat would you use?

and if he were to use the outdoor reset feature I suggested ,how would that effect that? Cast iron baseboard is the next best thing to radiant floors if done right...kpc

Mike R.

Tankless VS Tank, more Info

I am surprised to get such a quick response, even on a Saturday night. You guys must love your job. Here is some more Info. My 1950's, 3-bedroom ranch only has one zone and there are only three people. I would love a basement bathroom. My older boiler has problem with heating domestic water. Showers are fine in summer, when not one right after the other. Doing laundry, I can feel the heat being drained from the tankless coil with my hand on the pipe (coil probably has deposit build-up). We have a dishwasher too. You guys are stating that a tankless coil won't cut it? Also note in the winter, turning up the thermostat...calling for heat cools the funace down (I watch temp gauge). My 137.6 feet of castiron baseboard holds 41 gallons of water (0.3 gal/linear foot per Burnham Hydronics). How does the castiron baseboard affect the boiler?

How will the wetbase boiler improve over my current drybase boiler?

If I get the tank and put it to the left of the burner, how much room do I need to swing the burner door on the Burnham V8? Does the door need to swing 180 degrees?

Additionally, upon installing a tank, if you don't keep the boiler at a constant temp (which the tankless does), won't the fluctuating temp using cold start cause constant expansion and contraction between the joints of the castiron sections? Won't keeping the boiler at constant temp improve longevity? The Burnham V7 was a supposively a leaker and the Burnham V8 improved this. Could cold start play havoc and cause a leak?

Please note that my father and brother in-law both have non-leaking tankless Burnham V-7 (my father's is at least 6-years old). My brother in-law says he can take mutiple showers with no problem.

Mike R.

Boiler Sizing

Based on the data I have given to you guys in my previous two postings, is a three (3) section Burnham V8 boiler the right size for my ranch? Please see the two postings before answering.