Boiler/Tankless Water Heater Problems-Need advice

[BlackDogKurt]

We are the second owners of a 9-year old house with an oil burner furnace and baseboard heating. There is no water heater tank and the hot water is heated by the oil burner furnace.

In 2007, we had to replace the power vent blower motor, which cost us over $ with labor. The repairman said that the motor probably wore out faster than normal because of the fact that it was running so frequently and year round, every time water was heated. He suggested that we might want to consider switching to a tanked water heater since he could not guarantee how long the new motor would last.

This year, the transformer on the furnace needed to be replaced, which cost a $ more. In addition, we have found that the water does not get hot enough in the winter if more than one of the three heat zones in the house is heating at the same time. We were leaning to live with this inconvenience (I assume our tankless water heater is undersized…???), but now, in the past few months, the temperature of the hot water suddenly does not get very warm ever, and it is not even winter yet. I am afraid that there is something new now wrong.

Having now spent over $ on the boiler in the past few years, and being wary of the power vent blower motor going again in the next few years, and now with the new problems with the hot water, I am seriously wondering if it does make sense to switch to a tanked water heater to reduce the wear on the boiler parts.

I know that tankless water heaters are more efficient overall, but I am afraid that in our case, it is becoming a major money pit. As I am previously unfamiliar with tankless water heaters, I am looking for other opinions or suggestions before making a decision though.

Thanks!

[derksquad]

my uncle had a similar setup that you had and limped for years he love his new tankless, rinnai i think, he also likes having individual control between boiler for the floors and tankless for the house. his hope is to replace the boiler someday with another small well built efficient appliance and get a basement out of all the saved room.

[BaldLoonie]

You have a "tankless coil" in your boiler. Oodles different from the tankless gas heaters of today. Do you have a gas line in your house? You could go to conventional tank or a tankless. The latter are rather pricey and require maintenance. Sounds like you better be planning on a new boiler soon too if you have trouble heating the house.

[lentz]

Just install a separate water heater, either gas or electric. Which ever one has the best BTU price. Then you can only have the furnace running when you need heat. Will probably be cheaper than using oil for hot water in the warm months. The house will not be getting that extra heat from the boiler in the summer time also.

[heaterman]

Several options here. I would talk with some of your local contractors for their opinions. If your tankless coil is under performing it could because of mineral build up in the coil (which can be cleaned) or it could be for other reasons related to the control system. An auxilary water heater to make up the difference during peak demand periods is an option. I would perfer that the auxilary water heater was capable of supplying your hot water needs during non heating season so that the boiler could be turned off and then the boiler tank less coil plumbed in series with the auxilary tank to supply the needed domestic water during the heating season. Any qualified hydronics / plumbing contractor should be able to set you up with a system that will be efficient and provide you with ample hot water for domestic use.

[inhoth2o]

tankless coil and power vent the frist owner was thinking more about his leather couch then he was his heat and hot water, 8 years on a power vent motor without maintain that's good, you have a tankless coil in the boiler and it's properly the least efficient way to heat your hot water, each time you call for hot water the burner comes on to maintain the boiler water at a hi-temp to heat the cold water running thur the coil, you can go with a booster but you still have this coil and the warrenty on the water tank is not there, separate gas or oil hot water tank, better warrenties but the standby loss lowers efficienty, electric check warrenty and rates, indirect water heater best warrenty and hot water, boiler run less for hot water and at a lower temp and can be put on priority with the right control, these are some options, again talk to some local contractors

[amh112181]

I would bite the bullet and the expence and go with a tankless gas water heater then you not burn fuel unless you are using hot water. Turn the boiler off in the summer. Then in a few years replace the boiler to get something more efficent. IE coldstart no coil.