Some_Mediocre_Guy OP t1_j7umnlu wrote on February 9, 2023 at 3:07 PM

Reply to comment by gcubed680 in Seeking Advice: Boiler by Some_Mediocre_Guy

My understanding was that…

It can struggle a bit when the temperatures get really cold.
They are very expensive, despite incentives (I have a 2200 sq ft home).
Replacement parts can be hard to find.
Their efficacy is dependent on how well-insulated your home is.

Now, a lot of that is anecdotal evidence I’ve heard from those around me and some light reading I’ve done. I know they’re not new - they’ve been the norm in Nordic countries for some time now, I believe.

My last concern was the reliance on electricity. I have plans to get a generator and there are plenty of Vermonters with less reliable electricity than us. But it was still a point of concern for me.

But maybe I should make a few calls and see what a quote might run me.

gcubed680 t1_j7upou6 wrote on February 9, 2023 at 3:28 PM

They are expensive despite incentives. I got them installed in a 2000sqft home but wanted to be less reliant on oil with the current pricing. They work great and I’ve run them down to 0 outside, but they are a different heat, doesn’t warm you as well as radiant heat IMO. They can run below 0 but there is a cut off where it costs more in electricity to run that low versus my oil prices. My house was partly reinsulated with spray foam after irene so it’s “mostly” good… still have more work to do but probably better than most really old houses.

All that said i luckily have very reliable electricity and usually supplement heat with a wood stove versus my oil boiler as much as i can. If you are putting in a generator because of unreliable electricity, not sure dumping your heating on it is worth it.

Like i mentioned above a new boiler or retrofit will probably be less than half an install depending on what credits you qualify for with the new programs in 2023 and your generator wouldn’t need to be as big either!

SomeConstructionGuy t1_j7uqfvh wrote on February 9, 2023 at 3:33 PM

Properly sized they won’t struggle until well below zero.

They are expensive. You get free AC though and heating costs will less than half average oil, closer to 1/4 to 1/3 this year.

Replacement parts aren’t hard if you pony up for a reputable brand. (Mitsubishi, daikin, maybe Fujitsu)

Technically their efficiently isn’t dependent on how well insulated your home is, it’s simply dependent on indoor/outdoor temp. Their cost install and to operate is though. And their cost to install is more directly proportional to size unlike fossil fuel boilers. This makes insulating and installing smaller heat pumps more immediately beneficial than insulating and installing a new boiler.

Edit: not trying to sell you on them. They are expensive to install and not to everyone’s preference. Just wanted to provide info so you can make an informed decision!

deadliftothersup t1_j7vfjkk wrote on February 9, 2023 at 6:12 PM

And the poor insulation/inefficiency argument also applies to heating one's house through any heat source if we are talking ability to keep a house warm. Upping insulation should be the very first thing everyone does especially in older homes regardless of heat source.