Looking to buy new gas boiler - questions

jim_wilson · Mar 1, 2006

I just found out that I can get a tax deduction for investing in a new - more efficient gas boiler, but I must purchase one by the end of March. This was on my list of to-do's anyway because I added onto the house a couple of years ago (still need to finish) and the current boiler is old and inefficient as well as being too small to heat the added area.

So I was wondering if anybody has any advice as to what a good brand or brands are to look for, features I should want, high efficiency vs. lower efficiency cost tradeoffs etc. This boiler will be for heating an approximately 2100 sq ft. house that will be divided into two zones. I already have a gas water heater (separate) but we plan on adding a whirlpool tub as part of the renovation so I will need added hot water capacity at some point too.

Scozz · Mar 4, 2006

Jim, I've been in the HVAC field for 25 yrs so I could give some advice. There are very few "bad" boilers (especially gas) on the market today. The installation is what typically differentiates good from bad. If I had to recommend a boiler my first pick (also most expensive /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif) would be the Buderus wall hung unit. They are top of the line and very efficient. When you put in the new jacuzzi and need additional hot water consider an instatainious HWH (Rinnai would be my preferance) as they can offer unlimited water on demand making them most efficient....PM me if you have specific ?'s ... good luck...Scozz

jim_wilson · Mar 4, 2006

Thanks for the reply Scozz - I will have to check out the Buderus - I have not heard of them before. The ones I had checked out were Burnham and Weil-Mclain high efficiency units and also the Viessmann.

Sigarms · Mar 4, 2006

I'll second the Buderus.

Been in business since the mid 1700's, and sells more boilers per yer world wide than Burnahm, Weil, Smith and Cown COMBINED.

You'd be looking at the GB142 (over 90%) wall hung boiler or the GA124X (85%) series sealed combustion. On the GA124, if installed properly, you will not hear the boiler run, only the circulator pump (I've won alot of money on that bet).

On the GB124, Buderus has sold over 20 million worldwide since the mid 90's, so all of the "kinks" (if any) have been worked out.

They've been in the U.S since the early 90's, and they have no issue with thier heat exchangers (I'd tell you how many have come back under wrty in the U.S, but you wouldn't beleive me).

On thier cast iron boilers, you can run as low as 30 degree water temp on the return and not have to worry AT ALL about thermal shock (no other boiler in the world can make that claim).

They are out of Germany (I've toured the plant and you can eat off of the floor for what thats worth), and for the most part, new to the U.S.

Downside to this boiler is that they are expensive. You get what you pay for and they will not be the cheapest boiler "in town".

If I didn't live in N.C, I'd have on in my house.

Actually, Burnahm (which I sell as well) copied Buderus's G-115/G215 with thier "new" MPO oil boiler and they already have had a recall on some of those units.

Weil has also copied Buderus's "swing out door" design as well, which some guys never knew existed (Buderus).

Do have a different opinion than Scozz on the water heater. I'd look at the Bosch (German made as well) over the Rinnai. Sell both of those units as well and the guys tend to like the Bosch over the Rinnai due to they way the unit is built.

kenmac · Mar 4, 2006

I'll 3 rd the Buderus boiler . Very good boiler. With nat .gas prices what they are (who knows when they will drop), if you can swing the cost , go with the 90 %

NY_Yankees_Fan · Mar 5, 2006

My NG boiler is 18 yrs old, I think the efficiency rating is at most 75-80%. I use it for heat and hot water have a 80 gallon external tank. Any idea how much I would save per year if I went with a GB 142? Any idea on cost to install or just for the boiler?? I think my boiler is about 120K BTU. Any web sites with calculators to figure annual savings by changing boilers? The highest gas bill so far this winter has been $500, and this has been a mild winter.

jim_wilson · Mar 6, 2006

So what exactly constitutes "expensive"? I have looked around at a bunch of my options and even considered possibly going with one of the dual fuel wood/gas boilers but passed on that option because they are in the $8000 - $10000 range. What is the price range of the Buderus wall hung unit?

I plan on doing this installation myself as I have done a couple of gas boiler installations in the past and will have my father helping me who has extensive plumbing experience plus a number of gas boiler installs under his belt. I know - I know - I should hire a professional but I am a diehard do - it - yourselfer and I will get the exact install I want and save a pretty nice chunk of money by doing it myself.

Right now my current boiler is a floor model so switching over to a wall mount unit is going to take some reconfiguration - which I have to do anyway because I am going to change from the current single zone setup to a 4 zone and all of the piping needs to get done over ( it is a rat's nest of 50 years of different peoples work).