DanielNJ
09-25-2009, 12:51 PM
I'm about to replace our old oil-fired boiler with a high-efficiency gas model.
We've had three contactors come out to measure and offer proposals, one of which was was done last year and is no longer being considered. But all three recommended a boiler in the 100,000 BTU range for our 2-story colonial house in suburban NJ with a finished basement and attic. I hope since at least the sizing estimates all agree, they are correct.
Both of the current proposals recommended a Peerless Purefire PF-110 boiler. The other brands they mentioned as alternatives were Buderis and Weil-McLain. I believe those are the brands they can get most easily from their suppliers, and are the ones they usually work with. Does anyone have thoughts for or against any of these choices? What about the Peerless Purefire vs Peerless Pinnacle? It looks like both of those are high-efficiency models from Peerless that qualify for the government tax rebates but the proposals didn't even mention the Pinnacle -- is one a better choice than the other?
Next, our current space is kind of tight so both current installlers have recommended small indirect water heaters in the 30-32 gallon range. One suggested either a Buderis or Superstor, the other recommended a Peerless Partner to go with the Peerless boiler. When I expressed my doubts about such a small water heater, both installers suggested they're "like a 100-gallon conventional water heater" and "should provide an endless supply of hot water". When I continued to press them, one installer said the only difference between the 30-gallon size vs larger indirect sizes was flow rate. The other guy said the only difference was recovery rate (the bigger ones recover faster, he said). None of which seems to agree with what I've read here or elsewhere! Is there any truth to these statements or are they just trying to steer us to the smallest indirect unit because that's what's easiest for them to fit into our existing space? When I asked one of them about using a tankless Bosch instead, he warned me that it would "not last a year" due to hard water buildup. Really?? What I really suspect I should do is tear out part of an adjacent closet and go with a properly sized indirect water heater, but I don't feel like I'm getting the accurate info I need to make the right choice. We've been spoiled by the tankless coil in the old oil-fired boiler, and we are accustomed to taking a couple of back-to-back 10-15 minute showers while sometimes even running the dishwasher at the same time without having to worry about it at all. Am I wrong to think a 30-gallon indirect water heater would not be up to that task?
Thanks for any insight.
We've had three contactors come out to measure and offer proposals, one of which was was done last year and is no longer being considered. But all three recommended a boiler in the 100,000 BTU range for our 2-story colonial house in suburban NJ with a finished basement and attic. I hope since at least the sizing estimates all agree, they are correct.
Both of the current proposals recommended a Peerless Purefire PF-110 boiler. The other brands they mentioned as alternatives were Buderis and Weil-McLain. I believe those are the brands they can get most easily from their suppliers, and are the ones they usually work with. Does anyone have thoughts for or against any of these choices? What about the Peerless Purefire vs Peerless Pinnacle? It looks like both of those are high-efficiency models from Peerless that qualify for the government tax rebates but the proposals didn't even mention the Pinnacle -- is one a better choice than the other?
Next, our current space is kind of tight so both current installlers have recommended small indirect water heaters in the 30-32 gallon range. One suggested either a Buderis or Superstor, the other recommended a Peerless Partner to go with the Peerless boiler. When I expressed my doubts about such a small water heater, both installers suggested they're "like a 100-gallon conventional water heater" and "should provide an endless supply of hot water". When I continued to press them, one installer said the only difference between the 30-gallon size vs larger indirect sizes was flow rate. The other guy said the only difference was recovery rate (the bigger ones recover faster, he said). None of which seems to agree with what I've read here or elsewhere! Is there any truth to these statements or are they just trying to steer us to the smallest indirect unit because that's what's easiest for them to fit into our existing space? When I asked one of them about using a tankless Bosch instead, he warned me that it would "not last a year" due to hard water buildup. Really?? What I really suspect I should do is tear out part of an adjacent closet and go with a properly sized indirect water heater, but I don't feel like I'm getting the accurate info I need to make the right choice. We've been spoiled by the tankless coil in the old oil-fired boiler, and we are accustomed to taking a couple of back-to-back 10-15 minute showers while sometimes even running the dishwasher at the same time without having to worry about it at all. Am I wrong to think a 30-gallon indirect water heater would not be up to that task?
Thanks for any insight.