Heat

Getting a new heating and hot water system for the house may not sound like a very exciting development. We're happy to have it, though.

The old boiler was a contractor-grade system installed when our house was built 20+ years ago. It was never very efficient and there were constant problems. And, although it was a fairly well-known brand, parts were difficult to find and often had to be jury-rigged. I should also point out that the boiler and all the plumbing in the house were installed by a guy whose nickname (we later found out) was Leaky Dick. Suffice to say that his work left something to be desired.

Fast forward to the days of high oil prices and the chance to get a tax credit for more efficient systems. We decided now was the time to replace that old boiler.

Lots of design changes, super-heavy insulation, more efficient pumps, and computer controls. It even uses outside air for combustion. They advertise a 40% reduction in heating costs, a claim that was born out by several people we checked with including a ConVal teacher. It's yellow, too!