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boiler choice time

Bobbyd2727
Bobbyd2727 Member Posts: 27
Based on heat loss calculations for my 3000 sq ft home of 138,000 btu, I have had two heating contractors recommend:  the BurnhamMPO147  with an outdoor reset  with an Alliance SL 35 gallon indirect water tank, and the Buderus G215/3 with the logomatic  and the buderus S120 32 gallon indirect hot water tank .  Each contractor is comfortable with the installation and is highly  recommended.  This is one tough choice!  I see the specs compare at Burnham:  burner capacity 1.05gph,DOE heating capacity 129 MBH , IBR water rating 112,  AFUE 87% , water capacity 11.08 gallons.  The Buderus:  burner capacity 1.1gph, DOE heating capacity 134MBH, IBR water rating 117, AFUE 86.3%, water content 12.9 gallons.     Can anyone comment on these choices? 

Comments

  • Ron Jr._3
    Ron Jr._3 Member Posts: 603
    We install both

    More MPOs than Buderus , but both are great choices . What brand boiler are you replacing ?



    If you decide on the MPO and you like to look in on the system to see what's going on , I'd recommend having the optional LCD display installed also . 
  • Bobbyd2727
    Bobbyd2727 Member Posts: 27
    replacing an oldie

    I'm replacing a thirty five year old cast iron Texaco fuel chief 139,000 btu boiler with a high speed beckett burner.  I'm hoping to save at least 25% on fuel oil.  What do you think?
  • Robert O'Brien
    Robert O'Brien Member Posts: 3,540
    Buderus

    Buderus would be my choice,we do about 50/year and the average savings is over 30%
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  • Robert O'Brien
    Robert O'Brien Member Posts: 3,540
    138,000?

    How did you come up with that? Awfully high,that's over 41BTU/Sqft,something is not right
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  • meplumber
    meplumber Member Posts: 678
    Not that high.

    Robert, I frequently have heat loss calcs reveal 42-43 btu/sq ft on old houses up here. With an old Texaco Chief, I would fair to guess that the house is at least 100 yrs old.



    I don't think that his heat loss is that high if he is in an area with a -6 to -10 design temp.
  • Robert O'Brien
    Robert O'Brien Member Posts: 3,540
    Not that old

    The Texaco was a rebadged Dunkirk sold from the early 60's to the early 80'. Texaco bought Paragon Oil in 1960,anything older than that would be a Paragon.  And with regards to the heat loss quite a coincidence the heat loss is exactly the same as the existing unit,no? 41 BTU/sqft and the heat loss calc coming out the same as the unit already  there are both major red flags!
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  • Bobbyd2727
    Bobbyd2727 Member Posts: 27
    house was built in 1971

    Both contractors just walked through the house and said those boilers would be the ones to use since  I have vaulted ceilings in the kitchen and dining room and half of the main zone was on a slab they added btus because of those last two factors.  but did say 128000 to 138000 was a good estimate
  • meplumber
    meplumber Member Posts: 678
    edited March 2012
    Heat loss calc

    In your original post you stated that a heat loss calc gave you 138,000. Was one done?



    I misread earlier. I thought that he said he had a Texaco burner. Most of those that I see are on coal conversions. My mistake Robert. I can safely say that I have never seen a Dunkirk installed in my coverage area.



    What is the OP's location?
  • Robert O'Brien
    Robert O'Brien Member Posts: 3,540
    Added BTU's?

    I'd be shocked if the heat loss was more than 50% of 138K. Do the math now or pay for the wasted  oil forever!
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  • Robert_25
    Robert_25 Member Posts: 527
    fuel consumption for heat loss

    Bobby, how many gallons of fuel do you normally burn per winter?
  • Bobbyd2727
    Bobbyd2727 Member Posts: 27
    gallons burned per year

    In a typical cold winter here on Long Island  about 1000 gallons a year.  thats with the temperature set to 66 degrees fronm 3P.M. to 11 P.M.  and set to 60 degrees at night and most of the day when we are at work.I'm  using a programmable thermostat.  This year with the warm winter maybe will use 800 gallons.  I don't think these contractors did an accurate heat loss calculation because I got 61,000 btus with an estimated on line program.  If thats the case how would you size the boiler?
  • Robert O'Brien
    Robert O'Brien Member Posts: 3,540
    Sounds about right!

    for a 3K sq/ft house on LI. The smallest triple pass boilers are larger than that so the decision is pretty easy, you should see an easy 30% reduction. I'm on LI and that is the average results we've been getting.
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  • Bobbyd2727
    Bobbyd2727 Member Posts: 27
    choosing the right size boiler

    So then would the smallest Buderus Logano G115WS be a good choice?  The smallest size that is chimney vented outputs 85,000 BTU's.
  • Robert O'Brien
    Robert O'Brien Member Posts: 3,540
    Yes

    That would be my recommendation. I would also use a reset control,either the AquaSmart or Logamatic,depending on the application
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  • Bobbyd2727
    Bobbyd2727 Member Posts: 27
    Thanks

    Thanks for your advice!  I'd love to have you over for an estimate!  Are you near East Islip?
  • R Mannino
    R Mannino Member Posts: 440
    edited March 2012
    The G115/3

    probably fits about 85% of the single family residences on Long Island. The climate here on the island is really not very severe in the winter. I put a G125BE/21 (73,000btu's) in my brothers 2500 sq ft home in Oakdale just about a year ago, he estimates about a 50% savings.



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  • R Mannino
    R Mannino Member Posts: 440
    Thanks for the work Bobbyd2727!!!

    A pleasure meeting you as well. Enjoy the savings!
  • Robert O'Brien
    Robert O'Brien Member Posts: 3,540
    Ditto!

    I agree!!
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  • Aaron_in_Maine
    Aaron_in_Maine Member Posts: 315
    Nice

    Nice work as always!
    Aaron Hamilton Heating
    ahheating@ yahoo.com
    (207)229-7717
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    Agreed

    so which Buderus did you end up using? 
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • R Mannino
    R Mannino Member Posts: 440
    It's a G115WS/3

    Frank firing 0.7GPH, I expect the customer to save at least 30%.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    At least!

    nice work.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Bobbyd2727
    Bobbyd2727 Member Posts: 27
    new boiler

    My thanks to Bob and his great team!  This new system is quiet and working efficiently to save oil already.  Its been five days and the reading on the logamatic display indicates five hours of operation which essentially means I,ve used about 3.5 gallons of oil! Its gotten down into the forties at night.  It not only looks beautiful but works great as well!!
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