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Posted by Heatpro on December 12, 2005 at 15:20:00:
In Reply to: Re: Do boilers decrease in efficiency over time? posted by Mike on December 12, 2005 at 14:57:10:
Do boilers lose efficiency over time?
+++ Boilers lose some surface over time, so may decrease in efficiency, especially if dirt gets inside and makes the walls thicker through dirt. A sealed hot water system doesn't gather sludge, as no fresh water with oxygen and dirt doesn't come into it. Leaving it completely alone without service can have the burners stray from optimum. The cure is annual combustion testing adjustment service.
Would I see any fuel savings if I switched to a modern boiler?
+++ DEPENDS IF the unit was made with a stack damper, probably not much if you want to use a cast-iron boiler.
If you change to a 90+ efficiency condensing boiler you will save on fuel at the expense of the change-out.
Is my boiler oversized?
+++ Probably, most of them are. Heat estimating is math that 'hands-on' people avoid in favor of the physical handicaps of square feet and big thumbs.
http://heatpro.bluedomino.com/duct/squareft.htm