Some things get better with age. Residential boilers, however, are not one of them.
Holland King discovered that hard truth when he solved a heating and hot water problem for a multi-family home in Providence, R.I. The three-family house—which was built in 1900, according to a real estate property listing—needed a new boiler for one of the apartments. King estimates the boiler that had been serving the one-bedroom, 1,000 square foot second floor apartment on the three-story house had been installed in the 1960s.
“The owner would’ve needed a lot of money to repair it just to get it back up and running,’’ said King, the owner of King Plumbing in North Attleboro, Mass. “The customer thought the money would be better spent on a new unit due to the age of the boiler.”
Problems and Options
Issues with aging boilers are not unique. Older boilers were simply not designed with energy efficiency in mind and, over time, scale, sediment and debris can make the problem worse (even with regular servicing). Many older boilers have efficiency ratings between 60 and 70 percent, which wastes precious resources.
“The combustion chamber on this unit was full of soot,’’ King said. “One or two of the burner tubes needed to be replaced. I found some leaks, the circulator wasn’t working, and the hydrostat needed to be replaced. Many of the major components were in disrepair.”
King said customers will sometimes choose for repair rather than investing in a new unit. “Repairing an old boiler can help, but just won’t be as efficient as a new unit and most likely you’re going to have to continue to put a lot of money toward repair and maintenance,’’ he said. “A new boiler will be more costly in the short-term. But in the long term, it’s going to save a lot of money.”
Bring in the New
King replaced the boiler with an HTP Elite Ultra 150,000 BTU combination (space hearing and domestic hot water capable) unit. The unit will dramatically improve efficiency for the property owner and tenant.
“There’s a few benefits,’’ King said. “It’s a new product and has a great warranty. But the primary advantage is the efficiency. The tenant paying the gas bill will see a dramatic reduction.”
The Elite Ultra has an 11:1 turndown ratio, meaning it can provide optimum load matching capabilities with a capacity range from 13,200 to 150,000 BTUs while operating at efficiencies up to 96 percent. That feature limits short cycling and provides more efficient energy consumption.
The boiler includes a proprietary heat exchanger with high grade stainless steel that ensures maximum quality at the heart of the boiler and resists corrosion. The heat exchanger provides an increase in water flow, which creates more internal turbulence. The turbulence scrubs the internal walls and reduces exchanger deposits, which will extend the lifespan of the boiler. HTP also offers a 15-year warranty when it is registered online.
“Combination units are good for apartments and small homes,’’ King said. “The advantage of a combination unit is that they provide infinite hot water during busiest times. Combi boilers are very efficient and generally that’s a unit that we’ll install for apartments and some condominiums.”
Combination boilers offer space heating and domestic hot water in one package. The high efficiency units save space and are frequently installed when there is limited room for mechanical equipment.
“There’s a much lower mechanical footprint and lower up-front costs compared to a boiler with an indirect,’’ King said. “On apartments where there is just one bathroom and a kitchen it’s ideal for combi units.”
King had ample room to install the combination unit for the home. “We had an entire wall to work with, so space wasn’t an issue,’’ he said. “The biggest thing was connecting to the existing supply and return, which was about 50 feet away. It wasn’t a difficult installation. We were able to finish the project in just one day.”
Staying Connected
The Elite Ultra is also equipped with HTP Link Technology, which enables remote monitoring of the system. “It ensures that the unit is regularly monitored,’’ King said. “It can set up real-time service notifications and maintenance alerts.”
Many older homes have unique circumstances with heating, hot water and efficiency. They require continual updating and pose some unique challenges to maintain the thermal comfort of occupants.
“Everything goes back to money spent on utilities and usage,’’ King said. “The tenant for this apartment is going to see some real savings and this boiler will serve that apartment for a very long time. It was a good investment by the property owner, and it’s going to really help reduce energy expenses.”
Thomas Renner writes on building, construction, engineering and other trade industry topics for publications throughout the United States.