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CGI vs GV ?
JIMBO_2
Member Posts: 127
I am getting ready to replace my own boiler, a 1956 WM, with a new model. I've seen a lot of CGIs out there, but not too many GVs. Other than the cost difference, is there any other major differences? Is the GV worth the extra money? Hey, I'm curious.
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Comments
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Jimbo
I am guessing that you're house was built in 1956 or prior. So have probably either CI rads or convectors? The weil mclain GV boiler has been discontinued. The CGI is a entry level boiler. Go with a condensing modulating boiler and find out how much money you can really save on your heating-water heating bills.
Darin0 -
GV ??
I dont think GV is discontinued.0 -
Me niether
I did not hear anything about that. Is this true?0 -
Yes
That was the word from our supplier. When that boiler came out it was in the higher edge of boilers from weil but now with the ultra it has lost its place and source of parts. That boiler came out twelve years ago+. It was a good boiler for its time.
Darin0 -
someone
I think someone should tell our supplier because we just installed one a month ago...0 -
Well you could
assume that they were going to sell their existing stock.
Darin0 -
Go with the Ultra...
as Darin has said the GV is on it's way out....think about it... till you buy the GV and add the S/S vent pipe you have more money into it than an Ultra with PVC.... plus plenty of extra bells and whistles...
With today's gas prices and the FACT that gas prices will be on the rise dramatically in the next few years, I would definetly go with the most eff. heat source possible.
Floyd0 -
I know
But like you pointed out, anytime they (anyone that is) does away with a system it start's getting a little harder to get parts. I would hate to think in a year or two I have to chase parts for a fairly new install...:(0 -
Lchmb
During the late winter last year, I had a Gv about 10+ years old, It had the thermostatic valve go bad , which you have to cut out and repipe to get the factory replacement in. The replacement took a long time to get a hold of. We were told then that they were being discontinued and the parts they had in stock would be sold untill exhausted and no replacement parts would be made. Well when another part failed on the boiler the owner said enough was enough and he wanted that boiler out and a new one in. There is a certain time period manufacturers have to maintain replacement parts. 10 yrs? It is unfortunate but with technology progressing as it is in our industry, I think this will happen alot more frequently with parts for discontinued equipment.
Darin0 -
cgi
the cgi is a little noisy if that is an issue. For a little extra you might check out the CGS sealed combustion boiler. (side-vent out the house only however--no chimney venting)
for example concerning repair parts weil made an he boiler going back to 1981, and they still make parts at reasonable prices. the gv was first made in 1990. they probably made more gv's than he's, so the demand will be there.
the gv is a fine boiler, it is quiet, but it causes you to use costly al-29-4-c stainless vent-pipe. If you apply this boiler to any other application than standard fin-tube radiation you will need primary-secondary piping, or anther scheme outlined in the manual. The boiler will lock-out if you pipe it in-and out, on converted gravity systems. Primary-secondary has been the recommended piping scheme for gv's since day-one.
Mike0 -
Clarification
Thanks, guys. The house was built in the 1930s and has a CI rad in every room, the bathroom, kitchen, and pantry have CI baseboard. The supply and return feeds that run across the basement are 2" steel that feed 1" branches. If necessary, to save energy, I guess I could cut-out the 2" and run 1 or 1-1/4 in its place. Any suggestions? The house is 2 stories, unfinished attic and the attic floor is fully insulated.0 -
Guys,
Talked with the folks at WM. The GV is not discontinued, and there is not a problem getting parts to produce.
TEI0 -
TEI that is correct
I called WM and the same thing the GV Series continues to be made. There are some wholesale outlets that will not handle it any longer but it is still being made and parts are availble.
One of the things you have to watch out for in this business is that distributors will go with the money and not necessarily have what we would like to call the best of both worlds. Stocking spare parts for equipment is a costly venture. What some distributors do is narrow down their stock to cut down inventory costs. An example many distributors will tell you that White Rodgers Cycle Pilot is obsolete and no parts are availble (older VHE and HE WM boilers used this system) well White rodgers still has paaarts for replacement, your local supplier however may not have them.
Hope this helps, this is one of the things I spend time in class on is how to find spare parts and replacement parts. Helping your customer to be able to find replacement parts can be a real pain if you do not know what you are doing.0 -
I should not have listened to the counter guy
I talked to the branch manager at our supply house today and she said that the GV was still in production. Sorry if I put anybody in a panic. But in response to the original post I still stand with pointing the HO towards a condensing, modulating gas boiler. Sorry again for the misinformation.
Darin0 -
GV boilers are still in my 2005 price book. Weare a distributor and Weil hasn't made us aware of discontinuing the GV. It fills the slot between CG and Ultra.
steve0 -
Thanks, but
Why exactly do you prefer the modulating unit over the CGI? Granted it requires a condensate pump, but where's the big gain in efficiency? It will be required to heat 7 good-size old CI rads and about 15' of CI baseboard in a 2 story house. I'd appreciate any feed-back you care to offer. Thanks, Jimmy0 -
GV Boiler has not been discontinued
I just called my saleslady at Weil-McLain and she said that if the GV boiler has been discontinued, nobody told her. I would imagine that some wholesalers (including my employer, Mechanical Supply Company in St. Louis) has discontinued the GV series since the Ultra has hit the market. We sell a lot if CGi's and used to sell a lot of GV's. Both, properly installed, are great boilers. The Ultra is even better.0 -
Why I prefer a modulating boiler
The CGi boiler fires a fixed rate or it is off. Let's suppose you install a CGi-4 firing at 100,000 BTUH. The boiler either fires at 100 MBH or it's off. Now compare that to an Ultra-105. The Ultra will fire at any rate between 21,000 BTUH and 105,000 BTUH. It's 52 deg in St. Louis today. The Ultra will fire at a reduced rate and save the homeowner money. At the price of gas, why burn any more of it than you need to? As an example, one of my contractors installed an Ultra-80 in a home that fires at around 48,000 BTUH one a 20 deg day. We design to 0 F in St. Louis but our average temp during the winter is not nearly that cold. A modulating boiler much more closely matches the firing rate of the boiler to the actual heat loss of the structure.0
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