New System / Direct Vent or Power Vent ?

Dave_4

i have a buderus g115-28 and power vent i don't have any problems with staining the outside of my house and i have white siding.

i have been power venting for 5 years with no problems just add a few drops of oil 2 times a year to the motor and it works great.

because the buderus has a 3 pass design and the burner is setup good it burns real clean and dose not soot the side of my house id go powervent. but chimney is the best way to go if you can.

Chuck Welch

New System / Direct Vent or Power Vent ?

I am trying to decide on a heating system for a vacation house we will be building and was looking for some info on venting and boiler options. The house will be approx 2,300 sq ft (500 of it's the finished basement) and am currently planning on 3 zone baseboard with an indirect for the hot water. We will have a gas fireplace so I wasn't planning on having a chimmney but I haven't heard great things on powerventing an oil burner out a sidewall due to noise, smell and staining the exterior.
The heating subs for the two general contractors I am considering aren't providing much info at this point (one did say his quote was to power vent a viesmann and use an outdoor reset).
What exactly is direct venting ? I know the Buderus G115 can be direct vented so does this mean I can vent out the sidewall and don't need a powerventer ?
Can I vent through the roof with some type of double wall metal pipe in place of a chimmney or would it be beter to just build a one flue chimmney for the boiler ?
Thanks in advance !

kevin coppinger_4

do yourself...

a favor...put in the chimney. Either stainless allfuel or a lined masonary. MUCH less headaches! kpc

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Steve_35

In the case of direct vent with Buderus

they most likely are referring to sealed combustion. Combustion air comes in one pipe from the outdoors and exhaust is vented out another pipe to the outdoors. No chimney and no power vent. We have a number of these in the field with good results. We also have a number of power vented units but in many ways I like the sealed combustion units better. They are VERY quiet.

I would NOT recommend installing a direct vent (sealed combustion) or a power vented unit near a deck or commonly used outdoor area. You may get a whiff when the burner first fires up or shuts down. You shouldn't get any staining unless something is really out of whack. I've had a power vented Buderus in my home for 14 years and there's no staining on the wall. And I can assure you that our boiler probably isn't serviced as often as it should be.

Joe@buderus_2

A chimney is the preferred means for venting an oil fired boiler. The G115 can be direct vent, no power vent, out the side wall. Odor can be an issue depending on air currents, landscaping, etc.. Burner maintenance is very important. Thanks for considering Buderus.

chapchap70_2

I don't like direct venting

If I understand correctly, when someone takes a boiler apart (to clean it) and puts it back together, he will probably not get it sealed the way it was from the factory. Since there is no power venter to get all the flue gases out of the boiler, some of these gases can leak into the house. This is more likely as the boiler gets older.

If you direct/power vent, make sure the venting comes out above the snow line. (1st floor boiler room maybe?) Also consider a boiler with puffback protection like the System 2000. They are not as leery about power venting as many of the other boiler manufacturers but I don't believe they recommend direct venting. They do recommend sealed combustion (air piped to the burner from outside) as an energy saving measure.

Ron Schroeder

I have been using the G115 direct vent for years. It has worked flawlessly in all cases so far.

Chuck Welch

Sounds like a chimney

is the way to go. Can I "natural draft" (not sure of the term) a metal all fuel / class A chimney though my roof or do I still need some type of draft inducer / power vent on it ? Any recommendations on a brand of chimney pipe ?
Thanks

Joe Grosso

Chimney

I have seen some Buderus D.V. systems with great operation, however, I would go chimney as it is much better and simpler. No, you do not need any type of fan or assistance. However, due to a tightly built new home, you will need to make sure you have a good supply of combustion air, this is critical.On the metal chimney, go with an insulated double wall Class A chimney with stainless steel inner AND outer shell. Such as Metalbestos,Dura-Plus,Security.Stay away from an air-cooled Class A such as the brand name "Air Jet" and also any brand of chimney using galvinized outer shell.