We’re in the process of designing our next house and are stumped by the number of choices out there for furnaces / boilers. Since we live in Maine, we want to stay as efficient as possible without breaking the bank up front. <!—-><!—-> <!—->
I’d be interested in recommendations for a source for both heat and domestic hot water. We plan on using oil as our source of heat, and we want to use HW baseboards. We’ll hopefully include radiant heating in the basement floor (in the slab). <!—-><!—->
Any thoughts? Dave<!—-><!—->
Replies
We have a Buderus boiler hooked to a Carlin burner installed by our builder and plumber. We moved in 1 yr. & 3 days ago into a very tight house (the EnergyStar rep. said it was one of the tightest he'd seen.) The boiler heats a 1st floor radiant slab, baseboards upstairs, and domestic HW. (If we had to do it again, I'd have a dedicated HW heater though -i.e. no sense in heating up the whole boiler in summer for HW.)
However, the builder had to install a "make-up" air supply vent to the boiler it's damper was contantly flapping. The HVAC vendor (AGS Service - Henniker, NH recommended by our oil supplier) sells the Buderus, but never teams it with a Carlin boiler. AGS says the Buderus is tailored for radiant heat, but tends to be fussy.
I'd ask your local HVAC company (ask the local plumbers / neighbors for 2 reputable firms) what they sell and recommend.