How to Install a Combination Boiler/Water Heater | Ask This Old House

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This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey replaces a water heater and boiler with a single unit that's much more efficient. (See below for a shopping list, tools, and steps.)
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Richard replaces an old water heater and heating boiler with a single unit that is much more efficient.
Shopping List for How to Install a Combination Boiler/Water Heater:
- Plywood panel, used for mounting new combination boiler[BR]
- Combination boiler/water heater, including mounting hardware
- PVC pipe and fittings
- Outdoor temperature sensor
- PVC condensate line with limestone neutralizer
- Condensate pump
Tools List for How to Install a Combination Boiler/Water Heater:
- Screwdriver
- Drill/driver with 4-inch hole saw
- Tape measure
Steps for How to Install a Combination Boiler/Water Heater:
1. Mount a plywood panel to the basement wall to serve as a mounting panel for the new combination boiler.
2. Run new gas, electrical, and plumbing lines to the plywood panel.
3. Screw the metal mounting brackets to the plywood panel, then hang the combination heater onto the brackets.
4. Drill two 4-inch-diameter holes through the house wall for the exhaust vent and air intake vent. Be sure the air intake is above the snow line, and that the exhaust vent is 12 inches from a window and 12 inches from the air intake.
5. Use PVC pipe and fittings to create the exhaust and air intake vents. Run the piping from the boiler through the exterior wall.
6. Connect hot- and cold-water lines to the combination boiler to deliver water to the heating system and the domestic water fixtures.
7. Connect the gas line and new electrical cable to the combination boiler.
8. Mount an outdoor temperature sensor onto the north side of the house to help regulate the production of hot water.
9. Run a PVC condensate line with limestone neutralizer from the combination heater to a nearby utility sink drain or floor drain. Use a condensate pump to drain away the excess condensation.
10. Turn on the combination boiler, and it should immediately start making hot water.
11. Remove and discard the old boiler and water heater.
Expert assistance with this project was provided by Barry Cullen of Comfort Technology [www.comfort-tec...].
Richard and Barry installed a condensing wall-mounted boiler, model number E75C, manufactured by Rinnai [www.rinnai.us/]
About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers-and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.
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How to Install a Combination Boiler/Water Heater | Ask This Old House
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29 сен 2024

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Комментарии : 548

@etem.a.4974 4 года назад

That basement is so neat ... Organized .... Wow...

@larrycurrier290 3 года назад

I'd like to see a video of years later and see just how happy this lady is with this thing. Don't ask somebody that's just put one of these in how they like it asked somebody that's had one for a while. This thing is very low water capacity I can imagine this thing having some amount of thermal shock when it sucks that nice cold water back from the system.

@OMGWTFLOLSMH Год назад

They've been using these units all over Europe for decades. Americans are so set in their ways and resistant to change. They sized the unit for her hot water requirements and the size of her house. Not sure what you mean by "very low water capacity". I bet you're a climate change denier and anti-EV too.

@larrycurrier290 Год назад

@@OMGWTFLOLSMH as a 40-year plumbing and heating guy I probably know a little bit more about this than you do pal. As far as climate change goes, there was an ice age before there was an automobile And you're into electric vehicles I guess you don't realize where electricity comes from number one and number two the kids that died in mines mining lithium and cobalt for your Tesla. If you don't know anything about the life expectancy of certain heating equipment then you probably shouldn't say anything at all.

@joecliffordson 5 месяцев назад

@@OMGWTFLOLSMHwtf. You could not have just quit at Europeans have enjoyed these for years? Who hurt you so bad you have to jump to conclusions about a little question. Then you go on to use the most divisive terms possible that have no meaning. Tell you what. That attitude does not sell conservation. Good ideas that deliver what the consumer wants sell conservation . What is a climate denier anyway? You mean like those residing at the space station? Get with the program and sell the idea of responsible care for our planet if you want to be conservation minded. It takes a lot more than pointing and saying climate denier. EV denier. Maybe you need a psychiatrist.

@omaxman1 7 лет назад

can't stop watching these videos..

@marcosmota1094 5 лет назад

I know it's an old video, but it's nice to see Roger!

@jnictv1075 3 года назад

Where in this video is Roger????

@jakegardiner6304 3 года назад

@@jnictv1075 the end of the video... did you even watch it?

@supertokinwhiteguy 7 лет назад

Use some short sweep elbows, those long ones protrude way to far.

@reubenyoder6990 7 лет назад

Use a Navien combi boiler and you can vent it with 2 inch pipe.

@1chish 8 лет назад

I first fitted a German made Vaillant combi boiler over 35 years ago here in the UK. It lasted longer than my marriage at 20+ years! I have fitted a few other makes for friends. Ideal, Baxi, Worcester (Bosch). All have lasted with annual servicing to keep them 100%. Last one I fitted was an Ideal Logic 30, cost me about £750 ($1060) and I fitted it in 2 days replacing a 30 year old floor mounted Mexico. Have to say the UK flue and intake systems seem to be far better than that US version. You hardly notice them as they combine the two into one pipe. Different Regs I suppose.

@H4zuZazu 6 лет назад

And the combined flue pipe is more efficient, couse of Heat recover to preheat the combustion Air.

@RossKempOnYourMum01 6 лет назад

What's your gas safe number?

@AMD1 6 лет назад

Grumpy Electrician They're called Concentric vents in North America, and they're commonly used.

@gfriedman99 5 лет назад

AMD1 nobody has them

@grizzlybear2702 5 лет назад

1chish its very sad that in today’s modern world a boiler can be more loving and caring than a wife

@Maxid1 8 лет назад

4:43 "Ok Ma'am, let me explain the hydra you have sticking out of the side of your house."

@thatoneukrainian649 6 лет назад

And it was on market, this is rinnai q series, and they have good termination kits.

@guzman9011 5 лет назад

Yeah they could of just installed two down facing pipes about 15 inches apart

@harrisonherring9194 5 лет назад

we have Coaxial flues in the UK for all boilers. does the job of exhaust and intake, whilst looking so much cleaner on the wall.... those two pipes are so ugly... or why not just move them apart, with a flat vent???

@squidproquo2241 4 года назад

OK Idiot let's hear what your problem is.

@squidproquo2241 4 года назад

@@harrisonherring9194 _ Or, why focus on the looks of the pipes instead of their efficiency? This mentality that focuses on how pipes looks like instead of their function is uglier than the pipes ... Even when it comes from a social class focused Britishit

@apivaras 7 лет назад

ugliest flue and air intake pipes I ever seen!

@Cafaedplay 7 лет назад

dude this guys are nuts it look like branches pipes coming out of the house

@gfriedman99 5 лет назад

Its not a big deal. Just plant a bush in front of it

@toms7947 4 года назад

I agree. Not a lot of options though with the building code.

@squidproquo2241 4 года назад

This is the most idiotic remark I have read under this video.

@ozm8642 4 года назад

@@toms7947 actually you can use a 'pancake' termination. We use them whenever we can because it looks way better than the hydra haha

@verbotn 3 года назад

When I install condensing gas appliances, I will put the air intake and exhaust as far apart as possible. It made me cringe to see them putting the two side by side as that increases the chance of the air intake being subject to frost closure during extremely cold weather, when some of the moist exhaust is re-ingested and creates a hoar frost accumulation in the air intake. When the air intake is partly or entirely blocked by frost or any foreign material, a sensitive air-pressure safety switch will prevent the appliance from firing. The region they're installing in might make this less likely, but I'm in Calgary, Alberta so we do get some very cold spells during winter where this is a factor. If I am installing multiple condensing gas-fired appliances, I will bank all of the intakes together and all of the exhausts together with as much space between them as site conditions allow, though generally 6' is plenty. There is usually a prevailing wind direction, so I'll install the intakes upwind of the exhausts for the same reason. This past winter I had an interesting service call at a clients where his condensing gas furnace was not firing, upon arrival it had a fault code indicating a combustion air problem and I could hear whistling around some of the burner enclosure, so I suspected something blocking the intake. I went outside and found a plastic packaging 'pillow' from an Amazon package that had become lodged in the air intake, that was a new one, random garbage blowing in the wind that plugged the combustion air pipe.

@jacob60617 4 года назад

I had one install on my home. It’s really good. But can be expensive to maintenance if it breaks down

@jonminnella4157 3 года назад

Great technology however when it brakes its expensive old boiler uses lots of gas but hardly ever brakes

@captaingreenhat 3 года назад

Exactly. With a little extra effort she could have kept her old equipment and still had a hybrid and efficient modern system.

@chooch5728 3 года назад

Everything is expensive to fix. old or new

@jochimbenschneider1915 Год назад

Electric boiler is better

@paulg444 6 лет назад

I like the old cast iron system.

@MrFy2013 6 лет назад

I love how many commenters here know better than Trethewy. Or think they do. #Dunning-Kruger

@kyleholland527 6 лет назад

Dunning Kruger IS the internet. And the White House.

@spencerwilton5831 3 года назад

We have used these in Europe for decades. What's with that hideous flue arrangement? Ours are coaxial, a single pipe with the exhaust running inside the slightly larger intake pipe. They protrude a few inches from the wall and are hardly noticeable. This set up looks like a water slide coming out of the side of the building!

@jaymorin4466 5 лет назад

Don’t get to comfortable holding that expansion tank as you install that boiler. Most vulnerable connection on that boiler!

@macpatel7810 4 года назад

Lol. I was thinking the same...

@jamiewatchorn7639 6 лет назад

Galvanised pipe, crimp pex fittings, steam heating, oil boilers instead of Combi boilers... America’s plumbing infrastructure is so outdated

@molotov_man3264 3 года назад

Are you a plumber?

@bmkolb 6 лет назад

I love cast iron boilers the Combi is very very expensive to repair and service. Blowers cost from 300 to 600 plus labor. Controls cost from 350 to 1,000 Anyone one of those two parts go bad your savings is gone on efficiency. The boilers might last 15 to 20 years vs cast iron 30 to 50 years

@gfriedman99 5 лет назад

B K like everything else nowadays it’s disposable. If it breaks you throw away and buy new

@DW-bo3qw 4 года назад

You would be lucky to get 15

@hughjazzole2037 9 месяцев назад

what blower?? its baseboard

@Cisco132 5 лет назад

The installation won’t be approve in New York The flue pipe under a window. A foot is not enough.

@hp11208 4 года назад

I know, NY don't play.

@macpatel7810 4 года назад

Yep. Same in the UK. 300mm not enough below an opening..

@babysealclub11 4 года назад

Just make it longer as needed.

@TheOneWaja 6 лет назад

Im from the UK. i have a Vailant turbomax 242, over 10 years old in my home. im a gas engineer and have barely had to touch my boiler other then to service it. Get your boiler serviced yearly, properly and it should last many years like mine. many new combis are made to break. however there are a few good new boiler makes out there which will last years. for example, the new Baxi range. Make sure your boiler has rigid materials such as copper and brass and my word, what a range of boilers they have. very innovative. i recommend all to have a look. easy to maintain and repair, what can go wrong!

@tommytmt 3 года назад

How do you feel about Rinnai and/or Naven? I’m in the US and I’m not aware of whether or not we can get Baxi here. I don’t know of any contractors who install them in my area. I’ve heard of them and from what I’ve heard they’re fantastic units, I’m subscribed to a HVAC contractor from the UK.

@juanfernandez1180 3 года назад

@@tommytmt stay away from navien very fragile units I've installed many the stainless steel heat exchanger is horrible gets clogged very quickly and the acidic byproduct of the unit will eat through the heat exchanger quicker than other units I've installed. Being a plumber myself I just installed a cast iron unit and it's amazing never gives me problems like the wall hung units do and run it at 83 percent efficiency... wall hung units are great on efficiency but what's the point of you'll end up having to change it in 5 -7 years which I've done many so... and that's with maintenance can't imagine how long it'll last without...

@PatrickvanderStoop 6 лет назад

this one i love, because this heater is made in the Netherlands... so two things i love the most... America and the dutch heaters..... great show guys..

@mr.dahliaking.202 7 лет назад

I hate my combi boiler because of the annoying cold water intervals whenever I turn off the hot tap and turn it on again. I changed my setup. I still keep my combi boiler for heating the house and basement, but the how water part for the taps I converted into closed zone, and by saying that I mean that I bought tesy bilight combinated 150 liters electric water heater with a copper spiral inside, and I am using termosthat to call the pump into action and water is circulating and the boiler thinks it's heating hot water for the taps when infact it is heating the tank water heater via spiral inside. It's like heat exchanger and it works great, no more cold water intervals and plenty of hot water pressure. I suggest this convert to everyone who hate the hot water fluctuation when the tap is turned on/off rapidly.

@jeanpierre-louis3986 6 лет назад

Hi , I am very interested by your experience could send me some pics or a video. I wanna modify mine too. Thanks! My email: Zeledu1@gmail.com

@charlesstevensEnki 6 лет назад

Once the scale is built up in the heat exchanger efficiency will drop. I like the separate heat exchangers just in case they have to replaced.

@morbo3000 5 лет назад

Descaling by periodically pumping an acid (usually vinegar) through the heat exchangers is recommended if you live in an area with hard water. At 5:25, you can see that there are fittings installed for just that purpose.

@dorianlord6576 4 года назад

I would definitely want the outdoor venting pipes on the side of the house--they are a bit unsightly.

@beoutside 2 года назад

There are much better low profile venting options.

@OMGWTFLOLSMH Год назад

Yeah, that was a cheapy install. There are much better solutions.

@johnburns4017 5 лет назад

ATAG, Dutch, re-badged by Rinnai. Quality. But the control system is complex. A pity Intergas, Dutch again, do not sell in the USA.

@mysticpizza02 5 лет назад

Would have liked to have installed an ATAG but it was very expensive settled for an Alpha combi hope it lasts my previous standard boiler hot/cold water tanks lasted 34 years was very inefficient towards the end it was an Ideal mexico.

@proverbs2life 3 года назад

Combi units can definitely appease almost any home. They are able to be installed in a cascade to add more than one unit for higher demand. Plus you can always do domestic and hydronic heat from separate tankless units

@fgcbrooklyn Год назад

Do you have a suggestion about the BRAND? I am looking into this but as usual the web is full of junk information and recommendations (secretly sponsored)

@Cody-ye3ye 11 месяцев назад

@@fgcbrooklynnavien is garbage

@waynedagostino541 5 лет назад

It kind of sucks that she’ll never ever be able to open that window again because combustion gases may come into the house from that window because he put the vent too close to a window it may be code but you got to have common sense

@Slowhand871 5 лет назад

It is fine. Thats what code is. It protects you.

@mnf65 4 года назад

@@Slowhand871 code is minimum. Always try to exceed code if available. I would have never vented it that close to a window.

@jamesmcinnis208 3 года назад

When was the last time you saw a house with its windows open? Even on the most beautiful days of the year nobody opens their windows.

@julfeng 5 лет назад

I'm not impressed with these units. I owned one for hot water tank replacement and it would stop working in the middle of a bath. Also, they require yearly cleaning and maintenance and are prone to scaling, no thanks. I had a guy come over and beg me to replace my boiler with one but I was skeptical. I ended up using a cast iron boiler with a stainless steel condenser on the side which is almost just as efficient as these, also, I used a indirect tank for hot water, that way I know I have hot water there, not phantom hot water that may or may not work. Also, the warrant on these units is typically half of a "real" boiler.

@pooka9052 5 лет назад

Lots of uninformed misinformation there and surely all boilers require an annual service for safety and to validate your guarantee. There are many different manufactures of combi boilers and as with everything you get what you pay for. Condenser boliers are the most efficient available and the savings are reflected in your energy bills. If your worried about hot water issues just avoid the combi and get a separate tank. Limescale affects all systems, circulated heating water in a sealed system is not effected by limescale, only supply water.

@allentoyokawa9068 2 года назад

Made in Japan!

@jamesvelvet3612 2 года назад

Original 1962 American Standard boiler and Westinghouse burner. Boiler has a coil, no external tank. 60 years old and works fine. So simple a cave man can fix it ;-)

@simpleagain1 Год назад

Throughout history cavemen have always received an unfair knock

@victorguery1492 4 года назад

Do I need an external pump for the heat loop? Of is the internal pump strong enough for 3 zones?

@onyxe.s.4349 9 лет назад

we have had them in the uk for over 20 years

@onyxe.s.4349 9 лет назад

i don`t like the venting it`s bad

@briancnc 9 лет назад

+ONYX E.S. There has to be a more aesthetic way to vent that, I agree the PVC elbows like that are by no means attractive.

@acardboredbox 9 лет назад

+briancnc being white they look bad, but paint them black or the house color and they'd look fine.

@Sawashi32 9 лет назад

Congrats to you and the UK but these things are junk anyway.

@MKRM27 9 лет назад

+Sawashi32 They aren't junk in the UK; perhaps they're just better quality engineering. As for the venting, I've never seen one like that.

@tre2472 7 лет назад

would you recommend the water in this system be treated? like a water softener? cast aluminum?

@languy99 3 года назад

And it only cost $10,000. The trades are such ripoff artist’s it’s not even funny.

@Lionscall111 Год назад

I loved how they picked up the unit by its internal and valuable sensitive parts to hang on the wall.

@jeffwright5794 2 года назад

Seems like a great idea..until it breaks down. Parts take days to weeks. Which is fine if you have backup heat for the house. Inevitably the thing will fail when it’s the middle of the winter. When that happens it’s quicker to replace the whole unit than waiting for parts. Supply houses usually have entire boilers in stock. Not so much for parts. Also when using radiators or base board heat you still need to run the boiler temperature at 180deg. Which reduces the efficiency substantially. These work best for radiant in the floor heat where the water temperature is usually at 130 deg. There are multiple plastic parts, sensors and control boards Also yearly maintenance must be done to keep the heat exchanger from becoming plugged with minerals. I’ve worked on these for decades, you won’t find one in my house.

@Keegeth 2 года назад

Rinnai and Naviens are very easy to get parts for in RI. Lochinvar and nti are a different story.

@jeffwright5794 2 года назад

@@KeegethIt recently took a week to get a three way valve for a Navien up state NY in a unit that was less than a year old . Other similar type units I've worked on I've always needed to wait for parts. My comments stand.

@Keegeth 2 года назад

@@jeffwright5794 that sux. For a 3 way valve for an ncb unit that had a bad 3 way valve I called plumbers supply and they had one on hand. An ncb heat exchanger was leaking combustion gases in the cabinet causing cabinet temp to rise, causing oil to be extracted out if the plastic parts and the pcb board to go bad took 2 days.

@adriansmith7104 2 года назад

What about the Polaris isn't that brand supposed to outlive you and your next generation. Is not tankless but it works for both.

@jeffwright5794 2 года назад

@@adriansmith7104 never heard of one up here and don’t have a local supplier for parts either

@Jason-wc3fh 5 лет назад

Hack job venting install. Should use the deb4 deburring tool on the pipe before fitting them together and gluing them. Without deburring the end of the pipe, the bevelled end from the cut will push the glue out of the fitting and make for a weak joint.

@frmerrin2 5 лет назад

Yeah right.

@josht8288 5 лет назад

Oh goody' so if one small thing in the combi failed you lose both hot water and your heating. I would have left the old setup in place but isolated from the sistem as an emergency backup.

@iandouglas4992 4 года назад

That would be extremely combersum on the heating side, those systems have to be bled.

@joshuacassino7297 2 года назад

What’s a great combo brand?

@Anakwad 5 лет назад

Thanks for the information ! I love This old house.

@stevepailet8258 4 года назад

as small a combi as this is. There are times when the heat call is still smaller than the combi will produce. So this is a great reason to keep the old tank water heater as a ballast tank with enough warmed water to supply the radiant without short cycling the combi. This seems to happen most often with using radiant heating as opposed to the convectors which usually have a much larger btu heat call. Radiant floor (could be in the wall or ceiling) spread the heat load and will have cooler water flowing than the convectors

@spencerwilton5831 3 года назад

Steve Pailet a decent combi will modulate down to 2-3kw, sometimes lower. Short cycling shouldn't be too much of an issue on a well planned system.

@garethw001 2 года назад

By the same principal could you use a traditional, inexpensive electric water tank to 'pre-heat' the water supply for the combi boiler to reduce the amount of gas used? (and fossil fuel burned)

@figgyfiggy5 5 лет назад

Lots of moving parts leading to failure.

@MrFyfle 4 года назад

It's less parts than the previous setup

@vtechead1 6 лет назад

Stay away from combi boilers. The top brands like Worscester Bosch or Valient go around 5 years with a few faults developing in that time. After 5 years they cannot be trusted. Stick to tried and trusted old school boilers.

@wileecoyote5749 3 года назад

I agree

@firstnamelastname6868 4 года назад

Anyone own one of these?

@spencerwilton5831 3 года назад

daniel leidan yes, pretty much most of Europe.

@46fd04 Год назад

I just had a similar unit installed at a family member's home. The company did not install the outdoor temp. sensor. They said it causes too many problems.

@MrPromerican 5 лет назад

I see hydraulic, air and dirt seprator, but where is the expansion tank? I guess rennai doesn't require it? But hydronic principle does...

@jamesfisher5391 4 года назад

it's the red thing inside the boiler. You could add another depending on the water content of the heating system. 3:36 you can see him trying to break it off while hanging the boiler. lol

@matthewkromer9256 4 года назад

I love my new heating system.... don't mind my pos rusty air conditioner...

@Shao-wen_Wu 4 года назад

"Can it heat the house and produce domestic hot water at the same time?" thank you for including that question, I have that one too.

@caru3257 4 года назад

It has priority for hot water.

@autonomy5649 3 года назад

The internal diverter valve reroutes the water either to space heating or water heating. The space heating water basically starts to cool off during a call for hot water. In the worst case, if someone takes a long shower, you'll have barely any heat for that time. Maybe some day someone will put in a valve that can be partially open and the boiler just modulates up to handle the load.

@M13x13M 2 года назад

No, you need a combo core with a water tank to do that.

@dirtyarm1668 5 лет назад

Good luck with rinnai barely enough to run a shower head. And the black iron piping yuck. There wasn't anything wrong with that old system. Hopefully in coming water temp isn't to low. Htp and navien would show that one who is boss.

@michaelsmith9034 2 года назад

Homeowner will probably regret removing that old boiler. Far more dependable.

@lucasvargas4580 4 года назад

hello i´m from south of brasil, and we used this wather heater a lot of time, we never used a boiler, we used a gás passager. He just work wen you open the shower, when you closed he stop whith a gás.... This way we can saver money!

@bwckplumbingfixtures1864 3 года назад

I wouldn’t be effective

@MassEffectFVR 4 года назад

"modulating gas valve" looks like we will be replacing it next year

@Carmeri1928 2 года назад

How much is the price

@DuncanCunningham 9 лет назад

New? In the US maybe. Standard boiler setup in the UK since the early 80's though I'm not sure we had instant on demand in a combi until the 90's. Every home should have one if they use gas heating with radiant panels, baseboards or flooring. I'm sure they could connect up to a heat exchange air handler too but that could get expensive to install and we all know that up front costs, in the US, is always considered over running costs.

@knighthvac4876 9 лет назад

+Gravel Trap King Yes new in US less the 10 years , Most are installed wrong here in the U.S. , Customer have the Out door reset removed do to poor heat output. Most homes are under radiated with baseboard, Original boiler were pushing out 180 to 200 degree water. How often are boiler replaced in the UK? Here in U.S. most customers are expecting 20-30 Years. TY

@DuncanCunningham 9 лет назад

Boilers replaced in the UK?, I'm not sure. In the house I grew up in, they replaced them due to technology and efficiency improvements not mechanical failures. My parents replaced the coal boiler in 1982 with a gas version and they replaced it again in 1998 to get a better one that used less gas, nothing wrong with the older one, it just was too inefficient to run compared to the newer models. I'm installing a boiler to heat radiator panels in our home in Utah (to match our UK home setup) they are great at keeping the rooms warmer, I hate the too hot, too cold air handler feeling. I want gentle heat that is cheaper to run. costs a little more to install but better in the long run, and it can easily be attached to solar collectors to heat the water anytime of the year so the boiler has less work to do. As long as its not snowing the typically clear skies in Utah allow solar collectors to pull in lots of free sun heat.

@gfriedman99 5 лет назад

Knight Hvac 20-30 years??? My cast iron American Standard gas boiler is 60 years and still runs great with very little maintenance.

@wholeNwon 4 года назад

Too complex. Gas is cheap and repairs are very expensive. Small increments of efficiency aren't worth the negatives. Keep it simple and reliable.

@justinrogers4465 4 года назад

That cast iron boiler will probably run forever, they'll be lucky if they get 15 years out of the combi boiler

@jblyon2 4 года назад

This is the standard type of unit in the UK since they normally have very little space in their homes. Parts are plentiful and cheap and everyone knows how to work on them. I doubt that'll be the case here. I'd honestly go with the type of system that's in my apartment. High BTU 50 gallon water heater with a loop for the heat. Simple, very reliable, and still pretty efficient. I can start a hot wash, turn on the heat (3 ton air handler), and take a shower at the same time with no issues.

@jeffreyjohn2037 4 года назад

I like my cast iron atmospheric gas boiler. It's five years old and trouble free.

@wholeNwon 4 года назад

@@jeffreyjohn2037 Mine is 35 yo and still working well. Only replaced the pilot.

@Rabi7468 6 лет назад

That combi boiler is too big , like living in 1950s. Here in UK combi boiler is alot slimmer and has one flue, Americans need to catch up.

@tommytmt 5 лет назад

A Miah - Hmm, well that is a Rinnai… they’re actually Japanese.

@GalaXy808 8 лет назад

wow? I got it,sounds like better than the regular water heater

@Mihogan 3 года назад

This new tech is really cool but I prefer my old school cast-iron boiler. So much more complication, maintenance, and room for things to inevitably go wrong, all for maybe 15% more efficiency. For my home that would only equate to maybe $200/year saved - I'm sure the maintenance costs are around that for this unit.

@hughjazzole2037 9 месяцев назад

Youre a plumber that makes $$$ pushing those outdated pieces of crap??

@mfielding007 4 года назад

we have had these for years in england but you dont have all those ugly pipes showing,looks a right mess

@BB-nn9en 4 года назад

Pipeless heating and hot water! Amazing.

@spencerwilton5831 3 года назад

B B 4 inch coaxial flue, protrudes about three inches from the wall in a discrete round terminal. No need for all that hideous exterior pipework.

@bratttt100 Год назад

Works great but wow, what a waste of water waiting for it to get hot. My shower runs and runs and runs for ever before the hot water arrives. I have a LAARS Mascott LX and it breaks down annually. I iive next to where this is and the parts are made. But I have to pay 100.00 for the repair guy to drive to the next town to get the part that's next to my house. That is the worked out by LAARS and the company that works on my furnace. It's NUTS. I finally started ordering spare parts to keep next to the boiler. They say they will install them, but I fear "At what cost". On the plus side, we have natural gas and it's SAVED us so much money.

@EnjoyCalculus 19 дней назад

Rip roger

@demil3618 6 лет назад

Amazed they still don’t work in metric... But why not install a condenser builder that recycles more of the exhaust heat with a pipe-in-pipe flue?

@dantebbe 5 месяцев назад

How much does something like this cost? Efficiency is great, but it it's not going to pay itself off for 15 years, most of us can't take the plunge.

@MrPoofydrop 4 года назад

Ive never seen flue pipes placed in such close proximity to a window. The flue pipe exhaust fumes will go right back into the house. Especially that house since they have an air conditioner in the window. The air conditioner will pull the exhaust fumes into the house when its running. im shocked that was allowed. No primer on pvc either? what state are they in and do they have inspectors?

@rainmaker3700 4 года назад

@@brennatrix I believe code is 36" from any opening.

@rainmaker3700 4 года назад

@@brennatrix Navien and Rinnai require 12" between the flue and the intake. But UBC requires 36" betweeen any opening and the flue pipe. Atleast that is what is enforced in my area of Northern Cali. I install 10-15 Navien boilers/water heaters a year.

@POLOLOUS3 2 года назад

That exhaust venting looks horrible. It will blow into someone’s face walking by lol. Also the code states 4’ vertically and horizontally from windows or doors. This is wrong.

@komiandr Год назад

I throw away such combi because it gave enough hot water only for one shower/faucet.

@daversj 3 года назад

Disappointed to see iron pipe used instead of copper or brass on a new install. Saved maybe $100 in materials but will have more rust in the system, especially with a plate heat exchanger on the DHW side.

@autonomy5649 3 года назад

Agree. Although it does look like they installed a Spirovent dirt separator although not on the return side as recommended (next to the Spirovent Jr. air separator?).

@MemoGrafix 8 лет назад

I can't do both heat and hot water at the same time, not good for Me.

@Mike-uf7oc 10 месяцев назад

I have Navien ncb 190/080h goes off on thermostat but it keeps running no/off every few minutes

@davidalearmonth 8 лет назад

Hi! Could you please tell me what Make and Model you used? I see Rinnai? I'm looking at installing one This Week in my house. (in Ontario, Canada). It is a big old house, probably close to 3000 sqft, so I am curious if current models can handle that? My guy is recommending Navien combo boiler. (not sure what size. I think 240) Thank you for your help!

@thomasmacgowan 8 лет назад

+David Learmonth IBC Boilers are made in Vancouver!

@davidalearmonth 8 лет назад

+Thomas Macgowan Thanks! I installed mine back in February. Ended up going with Viessmann. Works fairly well.

@tombomombodombo 3 года назад

@@davidalearmonth how come you got it over the navien? My plumber is recommending the navien.

@davidalearmonth 3 года назад

@@tombomombodombo Viessmann is just a really good name, and I think our previous boiler from the 80s might have been from them. We've been quite happy with it. Although the one change I would make is I would have had the boiler heat a small tank for domestic hot water instead of doing it completely on demand with the combi unit. The on demand domestic hot water is very quick to start, but the problem is due to safety the system still runs for 30 seconds after you turn off the hot water at the tap, which means that if you or an appliance request hot water again in that time suddenly you are getting cold water.

@joeellestad8912 4 года назад

Looking to heat a 2000sq radiant house along with hot water for 2 bathrooms and 1 kitchen. What is a good combination unit? Live in northern MN and will also have a outside wood boiler for the winter. Is it a good idea to have the propane as a backup unit when the owb is in use?

@spencerwilton5831 3 года назад

Joe Ellestad In the U.K. 2000 sq foot would be considered a generously proportioned family home. Two bathrooms is a stretch for most combis if they are used at the same time- it's possible, but showering performance might be disappointing when the incoming water temperature is low. Although combi boilers have been widely used here for decades, for larger family homes with higher hot water demand a mains pressure hot water cylinder is still preferred. We use one boiler and a three port valve to serve both the cylinder and central heating. It eliminates the need for a separate water heater, allows for a backup (electric element in the cylinder) and means your boiler is in use daily rather than sitting idle for months at a time during summer which helps prevent parts seizing etc. It's also possible to integrate a wood boiler into the system by clever plumbing so you can run on either system or even both at the same time. There are various methods of doing so including the use of buffer tanks or simple manifolds that serve as a central point for both boilers, the heating and hot water circuits and allow for any combination of heat production and consumption.

@greentea7539 4 месяца назад

We just had one installed and i been so worried that it is close to a window. I see though 12" is enough. Things have changed!!

@97marqedman 5 лет назад

Sigh. That combi boiler is ridiculous for that heating application. It’ll work, but it’ll top out around 85% combustion efficiency (not the 96% advertised) because convectors require 160-200° supply water. The return water won’t be cool enough (under 130°) to cause the flue gasses condense - so 85% is as efficient as the heating side of this unit will get. If she had cast iron radiators it would do much better. Also, the turndown ratio of the burner is usually lousy on combi boilers. A purpose-built condensing boiler usually has a 10:1 turndown ratio, the combi type are usually 5:1 at most - and much higher btu output to start with. So the former may turn down to 5000 btu, and the latter only goes down to 17,000 btu minimum. So it’ll short cycle in the shoulder seasons which will cause higher than normal maintenance and repair costs.

@macattack583 4 года назад

dont put a title when u cant explain it correctly boiler installs are complilcated u guys pulled some bullshit not explaining the ch return and supply setup and im a hvac installer. Dont make it sound like the average person can do it.

@ThePwig Год назад

It’s so weird to see so many copper pipes completely unwrapped by insulation. Seems like such a waste.

@SalimKhan-gk1fh 8 лет назад

Combi boilers are not junk, and are fitted in 90% of British homes, yes, the cheap ones are junk, but fit a good quality German boiler and all will be good, in us , Canada I think viessmann are the most popular and efficient choice

@gfriedman99 5 лет назад

Salim Khan what, no chinese models? I dont want to spend a fortune on this.

@lachcik5084 Год назад

shes a babe

@san379 9 лет назад

better than a house fullllllll of ductwork but no A/C

@brinkshows2720 5 лет назад

That is new tech for you guys????? ** Laughting in european **

@rpvitiello 5 лет назад

Only the northeast USA really does things the "European" way. The rest of the USA uses forced-air heating. A smaller market means they tend to get this stuff far later than other places. Add in the different size pipe and 60hz instead of 50hz electrical supply makes bringing this stuff over even more complicated.

@oldtwinsna8347 3 года назад

That vent pipe seems awfully low to the ground. Some punk kids could put a water hose inside and let it run.

@MrImperial67 Год назад

her old one worked 60yrs. This new one wont last 6 without giving problems

@matt21_22 5 лет назад

The additional cost in maintenance thats Recommended plus yearly safety check on the wall hung makes it unattractive. As well as part availability. if the space is limited you may have no choice . Tank water heater is very simple and less things that can go bad. I had mine for over 13 years with limited maintenance. I work on heating and cooling systems everyday the last thing I want at my home is a unit that needs alot of maintenance. I would sacrifice some efficiency for a unit that will last for many years and less break downs.

@spencerwilton5831 3 года назад

Ken Ortiz all gas appliances should be serviced annually though... doesn't matter if it's a modern combi or a floor standing cast iron installed by your grandparents in 1950. Costs are the same- there is nothing more to servicing a combi, it's just case removal, clean and check, possibly replace a $5 thermocouple and burner seal. Close up again, check gas pressure and combustion gasses- exactly the same as any other boiler / furnace.

@johncoen869 7 лет назад

You can get combi`s with hot water storage.

@jeffreyjohn2037 4 года назад

You can get a condensing boiler with a indirect water heater.

@silk33105 8 лет назад

@thisoldhouse this looks like a wonderful system but you didn't talk about price. how does it cost??

@malachy1847 7 лет назад

Greetimgs from Ireland....They are mainstream over here in Europe so in that regard once sales in North America ramp up, the price will tumble..[.have a unit running off bulk kerosene unit installed in a rental property for the last 10 years ours is a 'Boiler house ' model ..... and apart from annual service zero issues] grantengineering.ie/high-efficiency-heating_products/best-oil-boiler-brand/

@andreyyaromich8277 4 года назад

10g+ installed

@autonomy5649 3 года назад

The units aren't very expensive, relatively speaking, but for some reason installing them the labor jumps 3x despite all the propress, premade manifolds, and combi valves that are out there these days. $10K is about what I've heard, for labor only.

@fadetounforgiven 7 лет назад

What I don't get is if the boiler already has a circulation pump inside, why would it need another outside?

@mackenzierinier4956 7 лет назад

fadetounforgiven primary and secondary pipping.

@vasiliykyvyrzhik6660 6 лет назад

What ! 3 ' from any opening and 10' from any operating.

@francisyang9997 6 лет назад

so if everyone is taking a shower back to back in the morning...the heat will die....

@gfriedman99 5 лет назад

francis yang just use portable electric heaters in the morning. Less than $100 at home cheapo.

@mustafaalbeshir1800 3 года назад

How come they didn’t use a expansion tank?

@harryschrysan3183 Год назад

They have an integrated expansion tank. That red thing is the expansion tank

@gantmj 7 лет назад

Careful scratching that cover on the floor there guy.

@negritorican 5 лет назад

Lose power because of a storm, enjoying taking cold showers until the power comes back on.

@MMKLYH 5 лет назад

eNaRDe and how would you not have a cold shower if your power was not on if you had a cylinder, I mean unless you’ve got a gas fired cylinder that has a thermocouple your gawny get no hot water regardless

@jake78787 5 лет назад

anyone else notice the white asbestos duct tape?

@SureShotImages 5 лет назад

Clean install boys! #Nice.

@dickritchie2596 3 года назад

Electro-mechanical nightmare. I would keep the old system if it works.

@billcooper6674 6 лет назад

Ya I would of tried to fix it. To toss out a 4-5 k+ unit after 4 years is a waste of machinery and money even if you have lots of it. I do agree with most of the comments here about Tankless, it is a hard sell and the savings are not that great yet what 20 to 30% of your gas bill wow maybe. You need a few things working for you if you are even thinking Tankless. 1. A (good knowledgeable Di Yer) because it is way to expensive to have a authorized installer- plumber do the work $900 to $2000 + Payback is way down the road if ever. A lot of Plumbers run from this type of installation, way to many headaches and repeat calls but they are getting better and so is the technology. 2. Find a (manufacture that will allow a Di Yer to install the Tankless and give you a warranty of parts) on it like Rheem and Nortiz. Please Read the fine print in the warranty section before you spend your hard earned money, many companies will cancel the warranty unless someone with a licence is installing the Tankless. 3. Don't even think of owning a Tankless without a recirculation pump/system. The wait for hot water and the waste of water down the drain is way to much. 4. Federal Tax Credit may still be around in 2018 up to $300 need .82 EF + rating. I am about ready in 2018 to jump into a Tankless probably Rheem or not still desiding. I will spend 1 to 1.5k on it knowing I could replace my current 18 year old TANK model TWICE for that $amount$. If I have no breakdowns in 10 years I will be lucky, if I do its back to the reliable tank model. I'm all for you Di Yer's Good Luck.

@TRaySteeves 6 лет назад

Bill Cooper and all a person needs to do is turn down the internal thermostat! Does anyone really need 120°F water coming out of the tap?

@aerial9719 Год назад

I keyed in on the words....it can not make heat and hot water at the same time.....

@hansi6606 5 лет назад

Regarding SPIROTRAP and SPIROVENT - wrong installation: At 7:17 we have a close look on how they were installed. Doesn't make much sense. The Spirotrap is mounted correct, collecting all the debris from the hydraulics BEFORE entering the water heater and pumps. The Spirovent however will work best, when mounted right behind the water heater at the hottest spot in the system and in front of the pump. It collects all the air bubbles from the water, just as you can see them when boiling water on your stove. The process continues over and over and makes the water adsorptive. It means, that the water will now collect any left air from the system by dissolving it. The water passes the heater again, solved gasses become bubbles, which are again seperated at the Spirovent. If mounted correctly, you will less likely face any issues with air in the system.

@motifman07 7 лет назад

Should have installed an indirect water heater

@Ringele5574 5 лет назад

Thanks TOH for posting some of your programming. I really enjoy them. Please don't listen to all of these 15 y/o experts in the comments.

@mnf65 4 года назад

15+ years of experience not age. I would never vent that close to a window. Code is bare minimum, always try to exceed code.

@GalaXy808 8 лет назад

I have a question sir.i wanna know if is this a water heaters or it is? boiler combi

@MMKLYH 5 лет назад

It’s a combi boiler, a combi does heating and hot water it just gets rid of the need for having a hot water cylinder

@captaingreenhat 3 года назад

Kills me how quick this old house is to punch holes in exterior walls. 😱

@chipdayton1625 3 года назад

So you want them to vent the boiler into the basement?

@jaredsmith1871 2 года назад

@@chipdayton1625 Why couldn't they run an intake and exhaust vent up the existing chimney? They make concentric pipe for this purpose. Then you don't penetrate the wall with unsightly and possibly obtrusive venting. The woman moved the units to the wall but now has an unused chimney.

@chipdayton1625 2 года назад

@@jaredsmith1871 That can be an option sometimes.