So I'm in MA and plan to replace oil-fired boiler with natural gas. I have a 1.5 story Cape with a half-finished basement and heated garage. Radiators in ground floor and some baseboards. 1952 construction. 1.25 bathrooms, 2000 sq ft. Plan to have 1 to 2 extra baths in the future (like 10+ years away), a gas grill, and gas stove (near future). Currently have dryer on gas. I got several estimates in anticipation of financing through Mass Save. However the most detailed quote and also the most expensive is the only one suggesting venting thru the chimney (see below). He said it would keep the boiler quiet and that other customers complained about that in the past. This would require a new chimney liner because ours is falling down (confirmed separately by a chimney guy).
This is the text of the most expensive quote, vented thru chimney:
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We will provide and install one new Lochinvar 95+% AFUE rated modulating high efficiency sealed combustion wall mounted hot water boiler to replace the existing 80% chimney vented / oil fired atmospheric boiler. The existing boiler will be removed and disposed of properly. The new boiler will be installed in the same general location in the basement mechanical area. The new boiler shall be chimney vented via a new 3” stainless steel liner along with a new 3” aluminum liner for required direct venting combustion air. We will completely rework all of the “near boiler” piping – complete with new zone valves and a new variable drive main circulator. We repair a compromised basement baseboard heat loop (assuming that the baseboard heat itself is viable (work beyond this may require a change order)…
At least one “spare” zone shall be included in this near boiler piping in case of future needs. We will also add an additional zone to serve the domestic hot water needs. We will remove and dispose of the existing glass lined indirect fired storage tank. We will supply and install a new Lochinvar SIT050 stainless steel indirect fired domestic hot water - a “Sparco – Safety Mix” valve shall be included as an added anti-scald measure beyond the digital controls included with the new boiler.
Wiring and a new zone control relay system shall be included.
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The other quotes are about 5k cheaper overall:
A)
Burnham Alpine 105k ALP105BW-4T02
Superstore Water Tank with designated zone off boiler
![B)]( "B)")
Install new Rinnai E110C hot water boiler on basement wall
C)
Lochinvar Noble NKC150 wall hung, gas fired, combination forced hot water boiler and
water heater at 95% AFU (cheapest quote--it was 8k cheaper than the detailed one)
OR
Installation of Lochinvar WHB155 wall hung, gas fired, forced hot water boiler at 95% AFUE
Installation of Lochinvar Squire SIT050 50 gallon indirect fired water heater
Any advice on the best quote here and why the most expensive one suggests venting out into the chimney?
This is the text of the most expensive quote, vented thru chimney:
---
We will provide and install one new Lochinvar 95+% AFUE rated modulating high efficiency sealed combustion wall mounted hot water boiler to replace the existing 80% chimney vented / oil fired atmospheric boiler. The existing boiler will be removed and disposed of properly. The new boiler will be installed in the same general location in the basement mechanical area. The new boiler shall be chimney vented via a new 3” stainless steel liner along with a new 3” aluminum liner for required direct venting combustion air. We will completely rework all of the “near boiler” piping – complete with new zone valves and a new variable drive main circulator. We repair a compromised basement baseboard heat loop (assuming that the baseboard heat itself is viable (work beyond this may require a change order)…
At least one “spare” zone shall be included in this near boiler piping in case of future needs. We will also add an additional zone to serve the domestic hot water needs. We will remove and dispose of the existing glass lined indirect fired storage tank. We will supply and install a new Lochinvar SIT050 stainless steel indirect fired domestic hot water - a “Sparco – Safety Mix” valve shall be included as an added anti-scald measure beyond the digital controls included with the new boiler.
Wiring and a new zone control relay system shall be included.
---
The other quotes are about 5k cheaper overall:
A)
Burnham Alpine 105k ALP105BW-4T02
Superstore Water Tank with designated zone off boiler
Install new Rinnai E110C hot water boiler on basement wall
C)
Lochinvar Noble NKC150 wall hung, gas fired, combination forced hot water boiler and
water heater at 95% AFU (cheapest quote--it was 8k cheaper than the detailed one)
OR
Installation of Lochinvar WHB155 wall hung, gas fired, forced hot water boiler at 95% AFUE
Installation of Lochinvar Squire SIT050 50 gallon indirect fired water heater
Any advice on the best quote here and why the most expensive one suggests venting out into the chimney?