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Posted by Doug B on March 28, 2008 at 13:40:23:
In Reply to: Re: Boiler Upgrade posted by HeatPro on March 28, 2008 at 11:25:00:
the point of making the upgrade is to get more domestic hot water. The coil barely gives a trickle of water out of the shower head due to the scale and rust buildup within the coil.
I could always install an IFWH on the current boiler, but i find it hard to beleive that a boiler made in 1945 would have an 80% efficiency rating. With the price of fuel oil surpassing $3.50/gal in my area, cost savings is a good thing. Natural gas isn't that much cheaper than oil, so either fuel souce doesn't really matter.
Last winter I burned approxiamtely 4-5 gallons of fuel oil daily. this winter, it was in the area of 3.5-4 gallons daily. which is quit a bit for an 1100 sqft house. I've installed extra insulation wherever I could, plus insulated the pipes.
the other problem is that i cant install a separate oil or gas fired HWH. The existing thimble height is lower than the shortest HWH Flue cap dimension at only 47" A.F.F. The shortest 45 gal HWH that I could find is 52" to the flu cap. Installing another thimble can be done, but that's an added expense.
I like the idea of using a direct vent unit, but don't have the headroom for the flue pipe in the basement, or the ground clearance once it penetrates the exterior wall, And I don't want it to be installed in the Attic.
Any other suggestions?