Boiler vs.water heater

[ketas47]

I have a 26' x 38' ( walls 2"x6" )with 10 ' ceiling completely insulated & drywalled. I am going to hook up my radaint floor this summer. I am thinking about buying a used boiler . about 5 years old but only used about 15 hours. The boiler was too small for previous owner. The boiler is a natural gas lochinvar 45000 btu or 55000 btu , owner has to double check size. It is not a modulating boiler from what I understand.He wants about $400 Whould this boiler be better than a 40 gal. natural gas water heater? It seems to be about the correct size for my garage,I THINK?
Thanks Terry

 

[jklingel]

I assume you are talking about using one instead of the other for hydronic heating??? From your comment "It seems to be about the correct size for my garage,I THINK", I gather that a heat loss analysis has not been done. I sure would do that before I did anything, esp lay the PEX, even if you do it yourself. It ain't rocket science. Will you be losing more btu's than the boiler can produce? Any idea of the efficiency of both appliances? Just questions; sorry I can't specifically answer.

 

[jklingel]

Check this out. http://www.healthyheating.com/bb2/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=821&sid=2db77f0de9e5b4d72acc6eaf83bfac24

 

[jackportd]

Hi,
I'd like to implement a linked heating system, combining solar thermal panels for hot water in the summer, a wood burning boiler stove for hot water and heating in the winter, and a gas/oil boiler as backup - is this style of link up heating possible?

 

[VHF]

Hi,
I'd like to implement a linked heating system, combining solar thermal panels for hot water in the summer, a wood burning boiler stove for hot water and heating in the winter, and a gas/oil boiler as backup - is this style of link up heating possible?

It is very doable, but can get complex.

To reduce wood smoke pollution and the amount of wood burned, get a wood gasification type of boiler. And ideal system would have a 500-1000 gallon storage tank so you can fire the wood boiler less frequently (i.e. a clean hot burn every other day during milder winter weather.)

Water from the storage tank can be circulated through in-floor tubing for space heating and can also heat domestic hot water through a heat exchanger.

 

[HoosierBuddy]

To reduce wood smoke pollution and the amount of wood burned, get a wood gasification type of boiler.

There's a guy about 3 blocks from me that must have opted for the "other" kind of wood boiler, because his stunk up a several block radius all winter long last year. I haven't noticed it this year. I think maybe he went back to burning gas so his neighbors would get off his **** about the smell. It was ungodly.

Phil

 

[HoosierBuddy]

My first thought is, it sounds like the boiler would work great for you. My second thought is...a heat calculation would be a good idea.

Phil