Top Ten Questions to Ask the Boiler Installer

Paul Pollets

Constantin posed a question in a previous post that got me excited....What questions should an informed homeowner be asking the boiler installer or salesman?? Here's my list. Paul

1. Will you provide a heat loss calculation or an EDR connected load calculation to size my new boiler?

2. Are there differences in efficiencies between boilers, particularly between European boilers and American boilers?

3. Where should the circulator pump be installed on the “near-boiler” piping?

4. I have an existing masonry chimney; do I need a chimney liner?

5. All boilers have “controls”. Why should my boiler have an outdoor reset control?

6. Will you be installing a “low water cutoff” device? Why or why not?

7. Will you be insulating the pipes on my new steam boiler? If so, what type of insulation will you install?

8. Will you be insulating the pipes on my new hot water boiler? If so, what type of insulation will you install? And if not, why not?

9. Will you be commissioning the new steam (or hot water) boiler with proper chemicals to remove production oils, dirt, sludge, flux residues, pipe dope, etc.?

10. Will you warranty the system unconditionally for 1 year parts and labor and guarantee the home will reach 68°F at the coldest day of the year?


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Jamie_6

I really like that list Paul! I think I will incorporate that into our WEB site if you don't mind.

Jamie

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lchmb

How about

Is your service department trained and qualified to install this type of equipment? Are they familiar with the system itself (radiant, steam, multi-zone or monoflow). What type of warranty is there on the system itself (block warranty) and what is the track record of the manufacturer (will they actually back up the warranty or be gone in ten years?) And will all of the install be done to meet all local and state codes?

just my .02...:)

DanHolohan

That's one

for the Blog, Paul. Thanks.

Maine doug_7

I copied my 2cents from the other thread

Do you use electronic equipment to measure and adjust the combustion process? What do you measure? (check the little boxes) Do you provide a printout to leave with the installed equipment? Is maintenance included for the first year on this new install? Do you offer a service contract? Is 24/7 emergency service included? Do you sub-contract this work to other companies?

techheat_2

How about at design temp for # 10 instead of "coldest day of year" The coldest day could be substantially less than design temp

Larry_10

hay Paul I just wanted to say hi I saw you on hvactv.com

your good at snow melting systems and gave a class at ish North America.

keep up the good work

:-)

don_62

bump>>>

agreed, most important, very good

Mark Eatherton1

All excellent questions...

Maybe it should be the top 20 instead of the top 10. Questions vary from company to comany, and I'm sure some of mine would probably offend people here at the wall, like,

11. Do you require a deposit up front, and if so, what will I get in return for it?

12. Can I get a copy of your insurance, workers comp and liability, and can I have the telephone number of your insurance agent to ask them about any claims they've had against your account?

13. Can I get the names and telephone numbers of the last 5 customers that you've worked for, and I'll need your permission to call and visit the job sites.

14. I need the name and telephone number of your least satisfied customer in the past year. (We've ALL got them...)

14. Will you guarantee all componenets, parts and labor for 2 years from date of commissioning? How about 5 years?

15. Will you come back within a year of installation and check the combustion efficiency of the equipment to verify that everyting is still in good shape?

16. Are you designing this system as if YOU will be paying the energy bills?

17. Do you offer free utility bill analysis based on actual weather data?

I'll leave the rest to you...

ME

Maine doug_8

Your questions made

me think that perhaps the length of the list of questions is a variable of the cost and complexity of the job. Doing a whole house at big bucks or mega bucks versus just replacing a boiler. It would appear that the list can be adjusted for things other than what you guys do. Some of these questions I should have posed to the acadia sunrooms that built the sunroom on the side of one of our buildings. We finally fixed it by tearing it down and starting over.

S Ebels

All good Paul!

The problem that I run into is that 9 out of 10 homeowners don't know the answers to these questions themselves. Even if someone did get the answers "right", they wouldn't know. Therefore, they can't tell if someone is giving them a snow job or not.

I think the best advice I could give a homeowner is to look at your list and Mark's below, then get familiar with the who, what, when and how of each question. Ton's of resources here on The Wall to do just that.

After you, the homeowner, know these answers and understand why they are important, you may proceed to shop around. If you screen your contractors with the questions Paul and Mark have listed, I think you'll have a better than 90% chance of getting a superior heating system. One that is properly designed, sized and installed. A properly installed boiler system that is installed and controlled correctly, and matched to your heating load is a thing of beauty that will give decades of dependable, economical service and will provide the best comfort level attainable.

If, on the other hand you feel it's not worth your effort to learn these things.............well, it's your money.

Weezbo

i will make an attempt to put ten questions...

"How come its So expensive" "Do i Look like I have the word BANK imprinted on my forehead?" "see that thing right there? how much will i save if you re use it?" "Idont care what it looks like,i just want it to work,Whats the Bottom line?""Why should i care if you have licences ,if you didnt would you suddenly NOT know how to do it?""Why cant you explain to ME how to fix this stuff?""What took you so long ?""what do you mean it costs 2.18? i saw one for 2.09 just the other day!""That worked FINE un till YOU came by I think you should just fix this one and I'll get another opinion.So, do you want the work or not?""looking at the Boiler,can you tell me how much longer it will work in this condition?" How am I doing so far ? the ideal and the reality is a LONG WAY from home.however,clarify what you mean by informed/ educated,i say i can prove these words have left the mouth of just about every layer of society....

Boiler Guy

ALL

Valid points and questions. Almost makes me think every job anyone does today needs an aumbudsman to sort things out for both parties. I am sure there would still be misunderstandings and dissatisfaction. OH WHAT TO DO !!??