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Pensotti wb 3 pass boiler

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vaporvac
vaporvac Member Posts: 1,520
in THE MAIN WALL
My dad in Maine is looking to replace his Burnham boiler with a Pensotti quadritech series #DK2-4 oil.  I haven't found anything referenced on this website about this brand.  I'd like to hear some opinions on this and perhaps some alternate brand choices.  He will be installing this himself with a bit of help as he did with his prior system.  I'm suggesting a Triangle Tube, but don't know if that is comparable. He's looking to heat his dhw with it and is looking for direct vent with  high efficiency.  The indirect WH is made by Heat-Flo in Ma. The control is a Honeywell L-4080b aquastat. I can't really get a fix on either. Any and all help would be appreciated.  I want to make sure this is the best decision for his circumstances. He's using Taco pumps.

Thanks for all the help you've given to me in the past.

Colleen
Two-pipe Trane vaporvacuum system; 1466 edr
Twinned, staged Slantfin TR50s piped into 4" header with Riello G400 burners; 240K lead, 200K lag Btus. Controlled by Taco Relay and Honeywell RTH6580WF

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  • icesailor
    icesailor Member Posts: 7,265
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    Pensotti Boilers:

    I have never installed one, but from what I have read, some consider them the best thing since sliced bread. I saw one at a trade show years ago and couldn't believe that it could heat a house but "Firedragon" had some connection with them and has one in his house that will be heading for the Smithsonian when he ever takes it out.

    They may have different models. They are not available where I work. Ask in the Oil section here or ask at Oil Tech Talk. I've never heard a disparaging word about them.

    It may have been a very early "Triple Pass Boiler". It was probably more money and the "smart"(cheap) guys, would go with a New Yorker steel boiler that would last 10 years while a wet based boiler like a Pensotti or a Weil-McLain would last a lifetime with quality service.

    My only question would be would be if the Pensotti could be converted to LP Gas with a conversion burner if oil became so high as to be too costly to run. However, I've always thought that "LP" stood for "Liquefied Petroleum" gas so the price should be tied to oil prices. Commodity speculators seem to make this an exception.

    MO. Others are welcome to disagree.
  • meplumber
    meplumber Member Posts: 678
    edited July 2012
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    Great little oil boiler

    Unless he is in one of the few areas up here that has natural gas, oil is still a good option on an older home. These are similar to the Biasi's and Buderus's.



    Pensotti's 3 pass oil boilers are a good quality boiler. These packages use a Riello burner and when set up correctly, I am hearing of 88% AFUE numbers. Their North American headquarters is in Brewer, ME (Bangor Suburb). This makes product service up here exceptional.



    http://www.pensotti-pna.com/Quatech%20Brochure.pdf



    I wouldn't hesitate to put one in my own home. I know a lot of companies up here in Eastern Maine that swear by them. I have only installed a handful (2 or 3) of them as we are mostly high-end residential, commercial, and institutional, but the ones that I have put in have been trouble free.



    Good Luck.
  • billtwocase
    billtwocase Member Posts: 2,385
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    Installed a few

    I will take them over the Blue one any day
  • vaporvac
    vaporvac Member Posts: 1,520
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    Blue One?

    These are great answers.but i'm wondering what "I will take them over the Blue one any day" means. What is the Blue one?

    Are these better ie.less worry and maintenance than mod/cons. The stated efficiency seems quite a bit lower, but the mod/cons might require a completely professional installation which he is defintiely trying to avoid.  

    He received good word of mouth, although I've recently directed him to this website. He actually lives in New Gloucester, Me on Sabbath Day Lake.  The house is not old, but there's no natural gas out there. In other words, it's a little remote, so  oil  is the only option and what he currently uses.

    I'm also wondering if the comment " we are mostly high-end residential, commercial, and institutional" is meant to imply these Penzotti's are not meant for very large houses as opposed to the quality of the boiler? The house is not a huge McMansion, but bigger than the average summer "camp" up there.

    All in all I'm getting a positive picture and will follow the advice to post on the oil section. thanks for the input thus far!

    Colleen
    Two-pipe Trane vaporvacuum system; 1466 edr
    Twinned, staged Slantfin TR50s piped into 4" header with Riello G400 burners; 240K lead, 200K lag Btus. Controlled by Taco Relay and Honeywell RTH6580WF
  • meplumber
    meplumber Member Posts: 678
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    Blue One's

    The Blue One's are Buderus.

    By "High-end residential, institutional, commercial", I was only referring to size.  Pennsotti is geared toward the smaller load boilers, 200K btu and under.  They have some larger ones, but I do a lot of 400K BTU and up boilers.  Most of the McMansions are designed around low temp radiation, so LP fired Mod/Cons are the best fit.  Existing houses up here are most often traditional baseboard.  In a traditional baseboard application, where natural gas isn't available, oil is still the most cost effective option in my opinion. 

    Your dad will be fine with the Pennsotti.  No worries.  Just make sure that he sets up the burner with a combustion analyzer.  No boiler installation will work properly without it.  Mod/Cons are even more dependent on proper setup.

     
  • Rod
    Rod Posts: 2,067
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    Pensotti

    Does Pensotti make a model for steam/oil?

    - Rod
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,835
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    Used to

    the "R" series IIRC. Haven't sold them for some time. 
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • maine rick
    maine rick Member Posts: 107
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    boiler

    you need to check out the baisi fire bird.

    http://www.qhtinc.com/firebird-products/popular/ 

    what part of maine?
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