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I need to replace the boiler for my hot water baseboard heating system. I am not sure whether to choose a cast iron or copper boiler. The old one was a AO Smith copper boiler. Contractor opinions on cast iron vs. copper vary and I was curious as to the opinion of the board on these two different types. Any quick advice would be greatly appreciated as I need to move on this ASAP before another cold snap returns to Cleveland.
Also, is a chimney liner required for either of these two boilers? I have what I understand to be called an “inside” chimney where only the last few feet are exposed out of the roof.
Thanks
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re - Also, is a chimney liner required for either of these two boilers?
My understanding is If it's a condensing boiler you will need a stainless steel flu liner if it is to be vented through an existing (old) chimney.
Many of the high efficiency boilers are condensing types.
If I am incorrect, please hammer away.
*Alan, for this guy's heating situation(baseboard heating)a condensating type boiler is improbable, the boiler water temp never gets low enough to cause condensation in the firebox. Further more it is almost impossible to find a US boiler maker who makes condensating type boilers. The Europeans are just about the only makers of that type of boilers. The efficiency of a condensating boiler is usually greater than a conventical boiler and god -forbid any boiler maker in the US to do that, and 84 percent off. is not high eff. in my book. If you are using nat. gas and have a convential type chimney cinder block and ceramic flue) according to the new venting codes, you will have to install an aluminum liner. They are not too costly and are easy to instal. As far as the difference between cast-iron and copper tube boilers is weight, they are both as effective as another. The real culpit of boiler failure are leaks in the system, which introduces more minerals and oxygen by way of the make-up water. The minerals cause the boiler heating surfaces to become limed up and decrease heat transfer and the oxygen creates acid. There is no reason a hot water heating system should have any leaks, PERIOD!, hence never any make-up water added. With proper near boiler piping (pumping away) you should never have to bleed any radiation either. Jon
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I need to replace the boiler for my hot water baseboard heating system. I am not sure whether to choose a cast iron or copper boiler. The old one was a AO Smith copper boiler. Contractor opinions on cast iron vs. copper vary and I was curious as to the opinion of the board on these two different types. Any quick advice would be greatly appreciated as I need to move on this ASAP before another cold snap returns to Cleveland.
Also, is a chimney liner required for either of these two boilers? I have what I understand to be called an "inside" chimney where only the last few feet are exposed out of the roof.
Thanks