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My husband and I will be purchasing our first home in the near future. The house we are looking at runs on oil and doesn't have a separate hot water heater. How concerned or unconcerned should I be? I have been reading the threads about oil burners and am bracing myslef for the costs associated with oil heating. Approximately how difficult is it and much does it cost to get a separate hot water heater?
How many people will be living in the house?
Is there gas service to the home now for cooking?
How old is the boiler?
What you have is a "tankless coil" which is will cost the most to produce domestic hot water. The other safety issue withtankless coils is they do not produce enough hot water at 120-140 degrees. So people increase the tempature of the hot water to 180+ degrees so that you use less but thats how children get serious burns.
Right on KB. And I would note that the max. hot water supply temp. allowed by code is 120 deg. Tankless coils for 2 adults, a washing machine, & a dishwasher would have a very hard time keeping up. In matter of fact if you utilzed them all at the same time you would def. run out of hot water. I would say the best remedy is to add a indirect storage tank. What do ya think KB?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kbinspections
Well a few questions:
How many people will be living in the house?
Is there gas service to the home now for cooking?
How old is the boiler?
What you have is a "tankless coil" which is will cost the most to produce domestic hot water. The other safety issue withtankless coils is they do not produce enough hot water at 120-140 degrees. So people increase the tempature of the hot water to 180+ degrees so that you use less but thats how children get serious burns.
Right on KB. And I would note that the max. hot water supply temp. allowed by code is 120 deg. Tankless coils for 2 adults, a washing machine, & a dishwasher would have a very hard time keeping up. In matter of fact if you utilzed them all at the same time you would def. run out of hot water. I would say the best remedy is to add a indirect storage tank. What do ya think KB?
Indirect fired stainless steel storage tank is the way to go.....$800-$1000 plus instaltion but itsa worth every penny.
Rock,
There is some talk about raising the tempature to 140 degrees because some bacteria can live above 120 degrees (legionella) but with our teated water, I think 120 is just fine.
Tankless boilers are common in Europe, but I wonder about them in the States. Dishwashers and washing machines there are fully self heating (even American washing machines with a heater only boost the temperature, not heat all the water). We had a tankless combi boiler (gas, not electric--did heating and hot water) and they are VERY efficient and cost effective, but they can't cope with major demands on hot water. Even in the UK they say not to install one if you have 2 bathrooms.
Tankless boilers are common in Europe, but I wonder about them in the States. Dishwashers and washing machines there are fully self heating (even American washing machines with a heater only boost the temperature, not heat all the water). We had a tankless combi boiler (gas, not electric--did heating and hot water) and they are VERY efficient and cost effective, but they can't cope with major demands on hot water. Even in the UK they say not to install one if you have 2 bathrooms.
We are talking about 2 different things: in Europe & Japan & what you are talking about is called a "tankless water heater" in those countries. In the US they are called "instantanous hot water heater". Although the industry calles them "tankless water heater.
In the US , the old school intergrated hot water coils in a boiler is commonly know as a tankless hot water or coil.
Confused.....lol.
What you are speaking about is very efficient but still has not really caught on in the states for a # of reasons. In certain situations , they are great.
The problem is:
#1) We use much more hot water than other countries.
#2) Expensive....
#3) Parts replacement
The old hot water coils are very inefficient and need replacement.
Thanks so much for your input...I have to say that the home inspector was impressed with all of my questions....but most of my "knowledge" came from lurking on these boards.
That being said, here is the preliminary/unofficial information on the boiler. I don't have the report yet so this is off of my memory-- The boiler is a Malibu brand and is "beyond its useful life"; the RE agent says that it is about 30 years old but will double check. The HI says that there isn't really much room for a separate hot water heater with the way that the house is setup.
I'd like to do additional research on boilers since it seems that this house will need one in the future....where should I begin and who sells them? Also, what does it even cost to get a boiler?
Thanks again in advance.
Last edited by daviine; 07-02-2008 at 10:17 PM..
Reason: typos
Thanks so much for your input...I have to say that the home inspector was impressed with all of my questions....but most of my "knowledge" came from lurking on these boards.
That being said, here is the preliminary/unofficial information on the boiler. I don't have the report yet so this is off of my memory-- The boiler is a Malibu brand and is "beyond its useful life"; the RE agent says that it is about 30 years old but will double check. The HI says that there isn't really much room for a separate hot water heater with the way that the house is setup.
I'd like to do additional research on boilers since it seems that this house will need one in the future....where should I begin and who sells them? Also, what does it even cost to get a boiler?
Thanks again in advance.
Malibu= not so good......
To do a system correctly, $5000-7000 thousand dollars.
Plumbers will purchase and install your boiler....get a few qoutes.
Why no room for hot water heater? Is the hous on a slab? Is it a Levitt?
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