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Choosing Your New Boiler

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WHEN REPLACING YOUR OIL BOILER CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING

 In Europe Fuel Prices and Environmental Concerns have driven the development of  Boiler technology to a Higher Standard,so we look to them for better products. Sadly most contractors in my trade are stuck in the past & are reluctant to recognize better products and technology. It is much easier to do what they have always done, I often hear “that’s what I’ve been using for 25 years”, These contractors will throw out bogus arguments to try to knock foreign products, such as parts availability, or the product is hard to work on. “What people don’t understand, they fear.” I myself had started to fall into this trap, until I educated myself and recognized the reliability and quality of some foreign products .Too many contractors do not educate themselves, this a great disservice to the consumer. Thirty years ago ,if everyone listened to the average car mechanic, we would not have fuel injection in autos today. Ignorant mechanics will not stifle the advancement of technology .As more consumers become aware of better systems, the mechanics in my industry will have to adapt. Nowadays even the most basic controls, on boilers, are based on, & employ micro chip technology.

 Regarding product or part availability, the consumer must be aware of the manufacturers place in the market. Consumers should be wary of some imported products, as there presence in this country might not be much more than a small warehouse, in someones back yard.  Many Products are currently flooding the U.S. Market so scrutiny of any product is prudent. But one should be careful not to “ throw out the Baby , with the wash”. Buderus and Viessmann have been in North America for over 25years.Both have made multimillion dollar investments in Training & Importing Facilities, and are continuing to expand. These companies both sell products world wide. If you are considering a foreign boiler , checkout  their U.S. representation.Ask your contractor, how long has the product been available in the U.S.?

  Because the U.S. boiler companies are relatively small, research & development is very limited. Instead of focusing on improved efficiency in operation, most development has been focused on reducing material content, and size reduction of the units ,to increase profit margins. Many boilers have been so reduced in size that the heat exchange surface has to be insulated to protect it from the flame of the Burner(this is ludicrous). Insulated fire boxes were originally used to help support combustion on our old burners. New burners can now combust properly without the fire box. Because Viessmann and Buderus maintained their size neither need to employ fireboxes, improving efficient heat transfer to the boiler water, that heats the home.

 There are many small nuances that make Viessmann & Buderus outshine many other boilers ,but the most important is “Low Temperature Operation Capability”. Heating systems are designed to adequately heat the structure at “Design Temperature” (the coldest day of the year,(Highest Heat Loss)).The system will operate  between 180degrees & 200Degrees.The problem is we are at “Design Temperature” only about 2% of our heating Season, so we are firing on a daily basis at temperatures exceeding our needs. It is like Flooring the accelerator of a car , and then slamming on the brakes. The thermostat calls for heat ,the boiler fires to 180 and then the thermostat slams on the brakes, and stops pumping all this hot boiler water throughout the building ,which is then left to overheat the boiler room & lose heat up the Chimney, till the next call for heat. It is much more efficient to only fire the Boiler to a temperature required  for the actual heat loss of the building on any given day. This is easily accomplished by using a control which measures the outside temperature & adjusts the boiler to an operating temperature adequate to provide comfort in the building .It is speculated, that for every 3degrees you can lower boiler temperature you save 1%.These controls can be added to any boiler and improve operating efficiency. The issue that arises is most boilers cannot be fired or operated at a temperature below 140degrees.It voids the manufacturers warranty, not to mention ruins the boiler. Viessmann & Buderus are the only Oil Boilers on the market that can Operate lower than 140(Buderus 104degrees,Viessmann no low limit).

 I should make it clear that Buderus and Viessmann are not totally equal .The Buderus Boiler is of a traditional cast iron sectional design, in that, sections are bolted together, to achieve different boiler heating outputs. This concept is fine to a degree. The internal water passage flow rates change as does the flue gas flow through the sections ,and efficiency suffers . Buderus recognizes this so it limits how many sections can be slapped together. Buderus’ 115 series has only three sizes and then it steps to a different casting design the 215 . The 215 limits its offering to 5 sizes. Some boilers have as many as 12 sections.It is hard to maintain proper thermodynamics, when you keep adding sections. The Viessmann Vitola Boiler does not simply add sections, each boiler in the Vitola series is dimensionally different, thus maintaining perfect thermodynamic balance with each size.

 When choosing a boiler we should look beyond what it costs today  , but what it costs throughout its working life, to operate & maintain.

 Randy Sprague