boiler setback control

[janbonny]

I'm a homeowner in central NY State who is considering having an outdoor temperature setback control installed to reduce boiler water temperature during warm weather in order to save fuel oil.

I have a oil fired 105MBTU hot water boiler with three baseboard heat zones and one indirect hot water heater zone. Boiler water is set at 180 degrees and the indirect hot water heater is set at 130 degrees.

The three heating zone thermostats and hot water control are connected to four relays that turn the four circulators on and off as needed. There is no circulator that runs all the time. The boiler turns on and off as needed to maintain 180 degree water. This is not a condensing type boiler.

The system works very well, but I believe I could save some money, by maintaining a lower boiler water temperature in the summer. I believe the boiler water temperature would have to be maintained at 140 degrees or above in order to heat the domestic hot water and avoid condensation of flue gas in the boiler and masonary (clay liner) chimney.

what do you think? Is this worth exploring? Thanks for your help.

[pecmsg]

Check out the Tekmar site.

http://www.tekmarcontrols.com/index.html

The 260 should be what you need

[janbonny]

Thanks PECMSG, I'll check it out. I've found a few controls on the internet, but they all need a sensor on a continuous running zone in order to monitor boiler water temp. My circulators only run when a thermostat calls for heat.

[propmanage]

It's a nice idea but?

You need a boiler that can run at low temperatures. But I would like to know why you have it set at 180 is 160 unable to heat the house.

[pecmsg]

Thanks PECMSG, I'll check it out. I've found a few controls on the internet, but they all need a sensor on a continuous running zone in order to monitor boiler water temp. My circulators only run when a thermostat calls for heat.

Then the 260 is what you’re looking for, but please have a heating contractor hook it up. The teckmar site can supply you with a list of contractors in your area.