[Piedmont]

I just had a new oil boiler installed, it's a cold start so at least it doesn't idle.

I'm finding although the boiler is very efficient it's algorithms are not. For example my system determines there's a call for heat (either heating or indirect hot water tank). It heats the water to 170-190F and then the system detects there isn't a need so shuts off the pumps. I now have many gallons of 170F-190F water doing nothing but cooling off in the boiler & pipes. Since my house is well insulated, small, and I heat my hot water and some heating with solar (the boiler just boosts it on cloudy days) the boiler typically goes on once every 12 hours and is in an unfinished uninsulated basement.

Is there a controller that I can tell the pump to run for another 10-15 minutes after the call is shut off so that 170F-190F hot water will put a little more heat into my hot water tank, or heat the house just a little bit longer? It seems wasteful that I'm heating many gallons of water to 170F-190F and having it sit and cool down at least twice a day, 365 days a year, not utilizing a boat load of latent heat that could be tapped and put where I need it.

Thanks

 

[supers05]

Yes, there are some nice controllers. One company is tekmar. There are others. I'll get links later.

Technically the heat isn't wasted during the heating season. (the heat that leaves the pipes, warms your house.) The heating side can be managed with an indoor/outdoor reset controller. It reduces the target temp so that everything can be more efficient. Do you have a modulating it staged boiler? Condensing? Make and m/n?

For the hot water Demand, you need the higher temp, but you can continue to run the pumps for a predetermined time or temperature. Some of the tekmar controllers have all of the above features.

Some boilers do have these features built in. Some navian, most Camus and lockinvar come with integrated controllers.

Cheers!

 

[jimn]

The heat in the pipes is going to radiate into your house in an event whether is being pumped or not. Yes there are controllers which will manage the heat level based on the outside temp . Many consider they really don't pay for themselves . I bought an super efficient oil boiler (85% AFUE) with a standard control . It has saved me 30% on my oil consumption

 

[supers05]

I use those controllers on almost every size of building. They do work great. But their price can be prohibitive when a pro installs it for homeowners. The more zones, the better they are.

Cheers!