"ransley" wrote in message

Do you have large cast iron radiators on exterior walls? I do, I
wonder how much energy I waste heating a cold under insulated wall
that the heat just goes outside.

What temp does the 2000 heat water to, does it vary with outside temp
with an outside thermometer. I have seen add on controls to modulate
temp heated to, since it is cheaper to keep temp lower and not always
run to 180. But it depends on how big your radiators are.

How does it heat domestic HW, why is the 2000 better than a seperate
tank.

To accuratly compare what is saved in fuel don`t you have to chart
out past degree days, ive heard there is an easy to use accurate
formula.

Is it dual fuel or an easy conversion.

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I have finned copper baseboard and a fairly well insulated house built in
1978 I've added attic insulation.

The water goes to about 180. It will not circulate water until the boiler
water is 120. No outside thermometer. Once the thermostat is satisfied,
the burner will shut down but the circulator will run until the water is
back down to 120 so no heat is left in a place you don't want or need it.
Heat up time is only 90 seconds.

Indirect fired is a better methods, System 2000 or others. The tank has 2"
of rigid foam insulation for a temperature drop of only 1/4 of a degree per
hour. Unlike gas or oil fired, there is no stack for hot air to leak from.
Compared to the old style tankless coil, it keeps unused water hot for a 6
degree drop in 24 hours instead of the big drop that caused the oil burner
to fire up many times during the day, even in summer. That alone will save
quite a few gallons of oil.

Some systems use a stainless steel coil inside the tank. Mine uses a small
circulator and a heat exchanger. Small, but it heated the 40 gallons of 55
degree water to 125 in minutes. First hour draw is over 200 gallons, much
more than any other type of heater. Again, once the aquastat is satisfied,
it continues to move the heat from the boiler to the tank rather than waste
it into atmosphere. No so bad in winter, but a pure waste in summer. My
utility area is already a few degrees cooler so I know I'm saving energy.
It will take some time to see just how much.

I do have degree day history for the past two years to do a fairly accurate
comparison. Oil delivery is not always the same time so it will not be
perfect. Every one I've talked to says a minimum of 25% save, possible up
to 40%. I'd be happy in the 25 to 30% range.

I do not know how easily converted it is from oil to gas. I'll never be
able to get gas here so I never checked. I hesitated getting rid of a
working boiler, but once I started doing research, I saw the benefits of new
designs. I also wanted to choose the equipment and time to change with some
research rather than have the old one break and not be repairable on a 0
degree day and have to take what was on the floor.

You have to see the installation to appreciate it. Just a glance and the
perfect solder joints you know the guy is a pro. Everything about it was
done just right.
--
Ed
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome/