Standing flame pilot light or hot surface ignighter?

[koditten]

Small argument here with my brother in law. We are trying to list the pros and cons of the two different pilot light systems.

I'm more or an old school type guy. I like the standing flame for my boiler pilot light for several reasons...There is no circuit board required. all you have to go wrong with the boiler is a bad gas valve or bad thermocoupler or maybe a bad pump relay if your boiler incorperates it. Thats about it!

With the hot surface ignightors you can lose the ingnitor, thermocoupler, gas valve, pump relay or the circuit board. If you lose the circuit board you are going to be down for a couple of days unless you live nex door to a Graingers.

The BIL thinks it would be safer having a HSI. His theory is there is less chance for fire or explosion this way. I think that it realy is not a good argument, I'm going to be welding and grinding regardless.

So, let me know your thoughts on this.

Later

 

[mrb]

current codes dictate which type it has. if the appliance has electricity then it has to have electric ignition and no pilot light.

 

[ambenz]

My small 10,000 BTU Williams is totally pilot flame, non electric, convection, simple dimple...and will keep the garage cozy even in sub zero weather.
I work for a automated HVAC company and know how electric, computer aided controls can chew up a garage budget. I rather spend my cash on fun stuff!
KISS! (Keep It Simple Stetson!)

 

[koditten]

I guess I'm not understanding your reply. My intention was if one had to choose between 2 different boilers for a garage floor heat system, wich boiler would you choose? The one with a standing pilot or the one with a hot surface ignighter. I like the one with the less electronics to go wrong, the BIL likes the HSI for safety reasons.

Later

 

[EdT]

I don't think you can buy a new standing pilot device. I think they all have to be hot surface now to conserve fuel. If you could still buy them, I'd think the standing pilot would be a more likely source of unintended ignition of something than the hot surface type. Like you, I'm not a big fan of electronics since the reliability is always an issue, but you may not have a choice.

 

[sneezer41]

i have replaced 2 thermocouples and 2 hot surface ignitors, so go figure.

go for efficiency standing pilots are a waste

 

[Steve in Mi]

I like the standing pilot for its simplicity but also as a means of heat to drive off moisture in the off season and keep rust from destroying the burn chamber and exhaust piping.

Standing pilot was a 15 or 20 dollar add-on in 91 when I replaced my home heating boiler. Not long before then the standing pilot was standard and the electronic ignition was the add-on.

 

[HemiRambler]

You mention grinding and welding so I assume we're talking best system for your garage? I wrestled with this dilema and decided to put a furnace in the attic above the garage - keeps the "fire side" totally isolated from the fumes or potential fumes below in the garage.

I must admit I don't get the "safer" arguement. The HSI lights the gas don't it??? Where's the benefit of safety? Either one there sounds potentially dangerous given the wrong conditions.

<snip>

The BIL thinks it would be safer having a HSI. His theory is there is less chance for fire or explosion this way. I think that it realy is not a good argument, I'm going to be welding and grinding regardless.

So, let me know your thoughts on this.

Later

 

[redsky49]

I am not sure that you even have the choice in current residential equipment. It seems that most devices utilize an igniter.

With commercial/industrial equipment, where there are numerous options and accessories available, you generally can have either. I will typically select an igniter unless particular requirements indicate to the contrary.

As always, offered only as opinion

 

[koditten]

I was hoping to hear from you, redskye. I was pretty sure that the standing pilot boiler was pretty much obsolete for residential.

As I am sure you are aware, there are many "take out boilers" for sale. There is nothing wrong with these boilers except for the fact that the previous owners wanted forced air systems so they could have whole house A/C. I was able to get my pilot light boiler for next to nothing. I wanted a simple boiler with no electronics for the shop. Lets face it, I amgoing to be running my plasma cutter, air compressor or welder. I would think these things would be hard of the circuit boards of a hot serface ignitor boiler.