boiler and hot water question

Brad White_146 · November 2006

post this as a new thread... It may get lost here! You may not realize it, but you are tagging on to another person's question and will not likely get individual attention.

Cut or Copy and Paste your message. Then click on "New Topic". Make sure the appropriate category is checked, Heating questions is usually the default but there are controls, refrigeration and energy efficiency categories also. Choose the appropriate one.

Paste your message into the message field. Type in a subject line, your information then "Post" and you are on your way to a wide audience eager to help.

Brad

chuck_6 · November 2006

We have a 1989, 50,000BTU boiler and a 41-gallon Amtrol hot water making that we are looking to replace. The boiler heats a 300 sq ft, poorly insulated sunroom and the hot water maker. I know I have to tighten up the sunroom (insulation and better windows). The way I see it I have a few options - get a bigger boiler (approx 100,000BTUs) that would supply enough hot water (currently, cannot take back-to-back showers), get another smaller boiler and install a mixing valve, or we have a radiator in our kitchen that was capped off many years ago - we can drill through the wall, extend the piping out and have a radiator sit about halfway up the wall (eliminates the need for a second boiler and get a stand-alone hot water maker). Please advise with any thoughts or new ideas.

Thanks,
Chuck

Ken_40 · November 2006

I know it's a pain...

But the boiler has plenty of power, the Amtrol plenty of starage; but, something's wrong.

That combination should allow 3+ back-to-back showers and then some!

The problem is probably the coil within the Amtrol being coated with scale/lime/calcium carbonate - and the heat NOT getting into the water as it should.

Amtrols are notorious for this over-time "flaw." You could spend a day pulling the coil out, wire-brushing the crud off the coil and perhaps using vinegar or some mild acid to thoroughly clean it off. Or, you could go the direction you intended, and save time, but at a much larger expense. The stainless steel indirects out there (Triangle and the Weil McLain variant) are good choices with lifetime warranties.

To verify the problem, I'd pull the coil out and re-gasket the port, and make sure before spening any big money. If the boiler is only putting out 130F water, or some similar "problem," you want to find the actual culprit before taking the big hit on a total replacement.

You may be at a juncture where re-thinking the entire heating system and domestic hot water interface may up the efficiency of the entire heating and hot water systems as a single upgrade for both bathing and whole house comfort.

Thinking of a single water heater (with today's fuel costs) makes little sense as the ultimate solution. Cheap up front? Yes. Long haul? Nyet!

Unknown · November 2006

I second Ken.

Agreed

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chuck_6 · November 2006

Thanks Ken

Ken, I appreciate your comments. In the past I've asked our heating people about it and they have said the Amtrol is self-cleaning. Even though a pain, I guess it would be a lot less costly to clean out the coil.

Since both the small boiler and Amtrol are old, and in re-thinking for the future, others have mentioned high efficiency boilers that vent out the side of the house, but I just don't see the need to heat one room and for our indirect.

Joe Brix · November 2006

Maybe a priority control

for the indirect would be a better solution. 100K for a 300sq ft room sounds like overkill to me unless the sunroom is open to the elements. I would work on insulating the sunroom unless you like throwing money out the window (literally). Let the sunroom go with out heat for 1/2 hr while it gives all 50K Btu to the indirect. Aftr 15yrs, the tank's coil is at least owed a cleaning.

chuck_6 · November 2006

Thanks Joe. I forgot to mention we do have a priority system. The sunroom is poorly insulated with big windows. I know I need to tighten it up, and get a good cleaning on the hot water maker. Since both are old, if we do have to get a new boiler and indirect, it sounds like we should get another 50-60,000BTU, which would probably be more efficient than our 50,000BTU output (36,500BTU input) Utica.

Byron · November 2006

Radiator-hot water heating system

I just moved into an older house. The heat has not been turned on for at least one year, maybe two. I feel like I've done everything correctly to get the system running. The problem is I can't get the pump(motor) to circulate the hot water. When the switch for the pump is on the burners shut off. If I shut the switch to the motor off the burners will stay on and heat the water. I feel like the pump is OK because it worked last weak. What could I be doing wrong? I have no experience with this. Maybe you can give some ideas of how this system should work.

Couderay · November 2006

re post

Byron put your question in a new post

Byron · November 2006

Boiler problems

I just bought a 1930's home which has the original boiler/ hot water/radiator heating system. It is a one pipe system which has not been in use for two years. The problem I'm having is getting the pump(moter) to circulate the hot water. When the switch for the pump is on the burners shut off. If the switch is off the burners stay on and heat the water. I think the pump is OK - it worked last week. What could be going on? -I really have no experience with this type of heat at all - but am learning quickly - Help

Byron · November 2006

HOw?

Brad White_9 · November 2006

You should really

post this as a new thread... It may get lost here!

Brad

Byron · November 2006

How?

Jeff Lawrence_25 · November 2006

On the main page of the Wall

There is a phrase at the top that says something like "New Thread."

Byron · November 2006

thank you VERY much

Brad White_9 · November 2006

Cut or Copy and Paste

your message. Then click on "New Topic". Make sure the appropriate category is checked, Heating questions is usually the default but there are controls, refrigeration and energy efficiency categories also. Choose the appropriate one.

Paste your message into the message field. Type in a subject line, your information then "Post" and you are on your way to a wide audience eager to help.

Jay_30 · November 2006

tankless water heaters

I have a 4year old boiler with a tankless water heater, the problem is i don't get any hot water. A plumber told me i should not have a tankless because i have hard water, should i go with a reagular water heater instead.

Thanks Jay

boiler and hot water question

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