Need advice for new heating system ASAP

aok

We need to replace our leaking hot water boiler and are relying on the oil company's suggestion. They, of course, want to sell us oil and service the unit, so we're not sure what they recommend is in our best interest.

Looking for a well made system that will last a long time and be economical to use, of course.

Sizewise, what we have now has done us well. I'm posting a photo of the unit that needs to be replaced (and the puddle that's under it) along with a close up of the data tag.

Some general information: We're in the Boston area, this is supplying the first floor hot water two zone heating loop of a 1870's home and we'll be here for a long time to come. We have gas in the house, but I doubt the supply is adaquate to add a heating system. And we'd prefer to vent through the foundation but being old stone it's integrity is questionable. But them too, the chimney is deteriroating and questionable as well.

Recommendations of what to do are more than welcome.

yuri

If you have gas in the house it usually comes in a 1" black iron pipe and you can easily have enough capacity for a high efficiency boiler. Weil McLain makes some very good ones. Unless your gas line is too small for some strange reason, most utilities supply enough so it is not a problem.http://www.weil-mclain.com/
Contact your gas supplier and see if their supply is enough or start getting quotes from some reputable boiler companies (non oil) and they can check the line for you.

aok

Don't think that'd work. It's a small pipe that comes in, nothing like today's design and dates back to the late 1800's. It already supplies two gas water heaters, two ranges and two dryers. I'm told it's inadequate for an increased load, and bringing in a new supply line is a major ordeal.

tk03

The most important step in this process is proper sizing. DO NOT SIZE off the old boiler. For more information on the benefit of proper sizing see this link.
www.comfort-calc.net/home-page.html
After the size is know you need to make a choice of a good contractor that will install it properly.
What type of radiation do you have. There are good oil and gas products on the market. What ever your choice you should save 25 - 40% as long as it is sized properly and piped properly. I would strongly suggest an outdoor reset control. For more info you can go into the tech menu on the above link for an explanation.

Scuba_Dave

What is an outdoor reset control & why would you have one?
Ok, just read it on that link - sounds like a good thing
But we adjust our heat down at night & when we are away from the house

My oil boiler is almost double the size needed for my house
Its 22 years old rated 86% efficient, no gas to my house
Our heating bill has already dropped in 1/2 due to new windows, doors & insulating the rim joist around the house

yuri

An outdoor reset control senses the outdoor temperature. It then raises or lowers the boiler water temp to keep it running longer/more efficiently/less heat loss thru the pipes from radiation. As it gets colder outside it raises the water temp. No unit outside to tamper with, just a sensor probe.

yuri

For AOK: If you know some of your neighbors see what type of boiler/who they recommend other than the oil company. You want to get at least 3 independent quotes. The oil co may provide better 24 hr service and that is usually built into their pricing etc. Sometimes you get what you pay for. "Good is not Cheap and Cheap is not Good".

beenthere

Are they going to address that oil line when they change out the boiler?

aok

If you're referring to the wet spot on the floor under the oil line, that's water that's seeping from the boiler. I'm told the oil line has to be upgraded to an enclosed overhead pipe.

beenthere

I was refering to copper in concrete.
But if they are running new overhead. then they are taking care of teh problem.