WJcandee
Wise One
A client recently purchased a home with a 24-zone hydronic heat system. Furnace has 20 old-timey Bell & Gossett circulating pumps of varying age running off a 175 KBtu Weil-McLain rear-vented oil-fired boiler that looks to be 25-ish years old. (This boiler is for heat only; domestic hot water is provided by a smaller boiler with a huge indirect tank.)
The client has two questions, based upon a recent experience where a circulating pump seized, water failed to circulate in a zone, the heating pipe froze during a deep-freeze here, and water poured out. He wants no more issues with the system, so the highest-level of reliability is the primary criterion.
Regardless of whether it seems sensible financially to replace 20-odd circulation pumps, would it materially-improve reliability to replace the B&Gs with a more modern, maintenance-free design? (About four of the b&gs appear to have crapped out already over the years and been replaced with another smaller design.) If so, what's the recommended style and manufacturer? Is there a downside to doing so, other than the cost?
Second, while I understand that a Buderus condensing boiler might raise efficiency substantially in the system (provided that it can be redesigned to bring the return water in at a low enough temp), is there a boiler that would be significantly-more-efficient than the 30-year-old one that nevertheless retains the present no-muss-no-fuss, highly-reliable nature of the present boiler? In other words, with reliability and minimal-maintenance (i.e. a couple of visits a year by the oil dealer) as the highest priorities, and return-on-investment being a lower priority, is there a recommended style and brand of boiler with a relatively-efficient design that is uncomplicated and rock-solid reliable?
Also, I see online where they seem almost to be giving away some "obsolete" Trane triple-pass-boilers. Anybody know why the prices are so low on these?
The client has two questions, based upon a recent experience where a circulating pump seized, water failed to circulate in a zone, the heating pipe froze during a deep-freeze here, and water poured out. He wants no more issues with the system, so the highest-level of reliability is the primary criterion.
Regardless of whether it seems sensible financially to replace 20-odd circulation pumps, would it materially-improve reliability to replace the B&Gs with a more modern, maintenance-free design? (About four of the b&gs appear to have crapped out already over the years and been replaced with another smaller design.) If so, what's the recommended style and manufacturer? Is there a downside to doing so, other than the cost?
Second, while I understand that a Buderus condensing boiler might raise efficiency substantially in the system (provided that it can be redesigned to bring the return water in at a low enough temp), is there a boiler that would be significantly-more-efficient than the 30-year-old one that nevertheless retains the present no-muss-no-fuss, highly-reliable nature of the present boiler? In other words, with reliability and minimal-maintenance (i.e. a couple of visits a year by the oil dealer) as the highest priorities, and return-on-investment being a lower priority, is there a recommended style and brand of boiler with a relatively-efficient design that is uncomplicated and rock-solid reliable?
Also, I see online where they seem almost to be giving away some "obsolete" Trane triple-pass-boilers. Anybody know why the prices are so low on these?
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