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What size boiler for a 3000 square ft house

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alexwest
alexwest Member Posts: 4

Hi I'm trying to figure out what size oil boiler i need for a 1950s home. Its about 3k square ft. House is in massachussets..

Comments

  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 11,588
    edited December 16

    A big one… but not too big!

    How many square feet of wall is the heat going to be migrating thru? How many square feet of glass is the heat going to be migrating thru? How many square feet of ceiling is the heat going to be migrating thru? How many square feet of cold floor is the heat going to be migrating thru? Are there any skylights? What kind of insulation is in those walls? Ceilings? Floors? How many floors, ranch two story modern, split level, three story attached town house?

    I have calculated over 60 BTUh Per sq ft of floor space and have also calculated under 25 BTUh per sq ft of floor space. It all depends on how well it was constructed.  In 1950, homes had minimum insulation standards and were built fairly energy efficient.  but not as well as they are built today.

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

    GGrossethicalpaul
  • Hot_water_fan
    Hot_water_fan Member Posts: 2,240

    Is there a boiler installed now? How much oil does it use?

  • 3,000 [] x 25 BTU/[] = 75,000 BTU's

    That's my rule-of-thumb calculation and that would get me in the ballpark, but before I commit, I would pen and paper a room-by-room heatloss total. You want to feel some level of confidence when you order your boiler, no?

    Of course, that rule-of-thumb multiplier would slide up or down depending on the condition of the house.

    8.33 lbs./gal. x 60 min./hr. x 20°ΔT = 10,000 BTU's/hour

    Two btu per sq ft for degree difference for a slab
  • alexwest
    alexwest Member Posts: 4

    I have a buderus g215 4 section installed

  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 7,244

    The G215/4 has a net BTU rating of 149,000. That's 49.6 BTU per square foot. Almost double what @Alan (California Radiant) Forbesquoted. Are you near the coast or high elevation? Very poor insulation? That's a lot of BTU's.

    hot_rod
  • alexwest
    alexwest Member Posts: 4

    No we are right in Springfield ma, I wouldnt say poor insulation. 1 room does have poor insulation (cinderblock with r6 foamboard).

    Im under the impression it's 171 btu?

    Where are you getting 140?

    I have a 1.10 45 degree but nozzle installed.

    Someone recommended to downsize it to 90 and 60 degree??

    28846.jpg
  • GGross
    GGross Member Posts: 1,733

    "Where are you getting 140?"

    right here, the net rating

    image.png
  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 6,787

    Cinderblock with R-6 insulation, Thats below grade?

  • alexwest
    alexwest Member Posts: 4

    Above grade