Dave4242
12-25-04, 07:29 PM
we built our house 4 years ago and at the time, we were told by the heating contractor to get a Lochinvar High efficiency gas boiler as it was the latest and greatest.
Unbeknowst to us, it is one of these low-mass boilers that seem to be very susceptible to noise/flashing if there is any issue with flow through the boiler.
The original installer was not familiar with this type of boiler and had piped it like any other installation, so we lived through months of horrible sounds coming from the boiler until the problem was corrected, or so we thought.
We then had an issue with the main circulating pump burning out each year, usually on the coldest day.
The repairman from the gas company said that he thought the pump was oversized and was "freewheeling" and burning out.
I contacted the original heating contractor and he agreed to get another plumber to come and fix the situation.
I asked that the entire unit be repiped as I was wary of any bandaid solutions, but the new plumber, who is from a very reputable company, said he spoke to someone at Lochinvar that told him he needed to add a bypass, and all would be fine.
They did this about a month ago, and everything seemed fine until they added glycol to the system, and then we have had a howling like you wouldn't believe.
I sent a couple digital pictures to Lochinvar, and 2 different techinicians said that among other things, the bypass is in the wrong place.
I am so frustrated with this.
My questions are:
1. Should I stick with this boiler and have them repipe from scratch? My contractor says they install these low-mass boilers all the time now without any problems. (Mine was unfortunately the first they did).
2. Cut my losses and buy a nice regular run-of the mill gas boiler that is not one of these low-mass monstrosities (and what would that cost for a 300K BTU)...we had a Burnham in our other house. Is that a good brand? I would want to buy it at cost from my contractor and have him install it free of charge.
3. If he doesn't agree to #'s 1 or 2, should I get a lawyer?
Thanks.
Dave
Unbeknowst to us, it is one of these low-mass boilers that seem to be very susceptible to noise/flashing if there is any issue with flow through the boiler.
The original installer was not familiar with this type of boiler and had piped it like any other installation, so we lived through months of horrible sounds coming from the boiler until the problem was corrected, or so we thought.
We then had an issue with the main circulating pump burning out each year, usually on the coldest day.
The repairman from the gas company said that he thought the pump was oversized and was "freewheeling" and burning out.
I contacted the original heating contractor and he agreed to get another plumber to come and fix the situation.
I asked that the entire unit be repiped as I was wary of any bandaid solutions, but the new plumber, who is from a very reputable company, said he spoke to someone at Lochinvar that told him he needed to add a bypass, and all would be fine.
They did this about a month ago, and everything seemed fine until they added glycol to the system, and then we have had a howling like you wouldn't believe.
I sent a couple digital pictures to Lochinvar, and 2 different techinicians said that among other things, the bypass is in the wrong place.
I am so frustrated with this.
My questions are:
1. Should I stick with this boiler and have them repipe from scratch? My contractor says they install these low-mass boilers all the time now without any problems. (Mine was unfortunately the first they did).
2. Cut my losses and buy a nice regular run-of the mill gas boiler that is not one of these low-mass monstrosities (and what would that cost for a 300K BTU)...we had a Burnham in our other house. Is that a good brand? I would want to buy it at cost from my contractor and have him install it free of charge.
3. If he doesn't agree to #'s 1 or 2, should I get a lawyer?
Thanks.
Dave