Posted by jtown on October 24, 2001 at 07:01:05:
In Reply to: Is oversizing of a steam boiler ineffcient? posted by Steve on October 23, 2001 at 17:43:36:
What area are you located in? What is your non-heating monthly usage for DHW/cooking, etc.? If the boiler is not running much, size won't matter. I would guesstimate an extra 5% on the fuel bill at most. Some of that depends on the layout of basement and stack. A motorized stack damper would cut excessive off-cycle stack. An hour of running/day of the boiler (burner time, not steam cycle) is 2.1 therms on your bill or about $2. Make sure meter reading is actual not estimated. Look for gas leaks, pre-heat house and shut everything off for 12hrs and read meter before and after and use soapy water. You should be able to smell any that cost money. Leaks can be inboard of shut-offs. Look for water leaks, heating and DHW. Make sure you have no steam leaks either, including vents that don't shut