Cutting gas usage

John Mills_5

So even with the hot water of baseboard, these super efficient boilers are worth going to? Not much choice locally, probably could get a Quantum 90 or Pinnacle. How's the reliability? That scares me, especially since my cousin is 4 hours away.

The baseboard is in great shape. Windows are good, not sure of insulation.

John Mills_5

Ideas

My cousin's place, 1800 sq ft ranch with 1400 sq ft basement, 5 zones of baseboard, 4 in the house are used, garage is not. He's wondering if he should replace the boiler or if there are any other ideas to cut gas costs. 180000 input, probably 1 notch oversized though I haven't crunched it yet. He does throttle down the water a bit in mild weather.

Would it be worth going to 82% atmospheric boiler? Or beyond? Even with me doing it, cost is an issue.

Thanks guys

jim murtaugh

$$$$

proper load calc,high eff. boiler and an outdoor reset i belive would pay for themselves.

lchmb

Dont' forget

I would also look at the baseboard. If it's old and busted it won't do it's job as good....Look at the entire picture and work forward from there...

A.J.

180,000 seems more

than a a notch over size although the heat loss will tell for sure. Don't be afraid to go with a properly done heat loss, it is the best way save money. Then pick a new condesing boiler with outdoor reset.
With fuel prices always going up your return on your investment will be doing the same.

Kupetz,s Plb & Htg

hr

Sounds way oversized to me?

1800 square feet even at a high number of 25 BTU/ square foot = 45,000. Basements are typically lower loads than the upper level.

Do a load calc as suggested above to get a better handle on what is actually needed.

I'd put the first money into tightening up the building and limiting the losses. Have a blower door test performed to get an actual starting point.

A modulating boiler with outdoor reset would be my first choice.

hot rod

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jeff_51

Gotta agree with hot rod

and for that matter, the rest of the posts. Does sound way oversized. My house is about that size and the heat loss was under 75,000. Only has 1 1/2 inches of pink in the walls and combinations on the windows which are original to the house (1954) Blown in insulation in the attic to about 2 feet. You best payback is insulation first and then windows. A good combination storm installed from the outside is not that expensive. Also don't forget, domestic hot water usage is usually half you annual gas usage. Get a good tankless or hot watermaker when you do the boiler. There are usually really low rate loans available from the energy co's for all of these kinds of upgrades and often the loan cost payments are less than the fuel savings. Check it out. Love the new buderus wall hung. Haven't had a chance to install one yet. But others on this site have.