Which system is best?

Rodney Summers

on a Baseboard system. A TR-100 is a big tank unless you like whirlpool tubs and doing loads of laundry. Are the other qoutes including large indirects? EK usually pushes a glass lined booster tank that only has a 12 year warranty. I'd make sure the system is sized properly for the new addition with an outdoor reset and priority control for the indirect. You should be able to down fire the boiler slightly so you're not over capacity now and short cycle the boiler. If you don't have large cast iron rads, I don't see the need for the higher mass Viessmann boiler.

Betsy_3

Which system is best?

We need to replace a 25+ year old (oil) boiler NOW. Our house is 3000 square feet and will soon be 4000 (but replacement can't wait for renovation.) Currently baseboard heat but contemplating converting to hydroair in the renovation as we are adding central a/c. 5 people, including teenagers, live in the house. We live in the northeast. We have had 3 professionals give us proposals and each proposes a different type of system.

Proposal 1: System 2000 by Energy Kinetics.

Proposal 2: Weil McLain boiler with a Phase III TR-100 indirect water heater.

Proposal 3: Viessmann system with (or without) outdoor reset.

Proposer 3 worries about thermal shock in System 2000. Proposer 1 says System 2000 is best because it is low mas. Weil McLain seems to be old school but is that so bad....

Can anybody offer guidance and/or advice.

Steve Garson_2

In my opinion, they are all good proposals as long as they are sized based on your heat loss. My guess is that the prices are quite different: you get what you pay for and in this case, it is efficiency.

If you plan on being in the house for a real long time, the Viessman with outdoor reset is the only way to go. But if you aren't going to live there long term, the additional cost may not be worth it, since home buyers don't factor in these things.

Seriously consider NOT using hot air heat (with water) in your addition. Much less comfort.

Todd_12

Weil Mclain

Also offers higher efficiency boilers, Ultra's for gas or oil.

chapchap70_2

I wouldn't worry about thermal shock

Energy Kinetics has been around since 1979 and I believe they have a 25 year warranty on the pressure vessel of their boiler. I would think if thermal shock was an issue, they would be out of business. One of the main reasons the System 2000 is a steel boiler is because steel can handle major swings in temperature in a short period of time without problems.

When we build our house, we will have a System 2000 installed. I am thinking of putting it on the main floor instead of the basement so I can put in a power venter and have it 7 feet above grade.

Although Viesmann can boast of higer combustion efficiency, I think the System 2000 is more efficient because it is cold start and cold finish so it is not firing to keep the boiler water hot, and most of the heat from the water is purged from the system into the rooms in every heating cycle.

I hope this can help but if you had an emergency, you may have had your new heating system installed.

grindog

go with the viesman

the viesman boiler is the best of the bunch and your contractor seems to be educated if he wants to sell you outdoor reset.
Regardless if you live in the house forever or sell it down the road you will have a great energy saving boiler with the viesman and it will pay for its self quickly.

Bob Forand

Which Viessmann boiler were you quoted ? Do you have a chimney ? What is the heatload ? Why was "Thermal Shock" brought up ? Is this a low temp application ? There is more to this than just low mass etc..Some other things to think about is that System 2000 is sold through contractor dealers. What happens when you need parts ? The contractor that sells the system also dictates prices on parts. At least with Viessmann and WM, there are plenty of outlets available for repair parts....