Apologies if these have been answered previously... I'm looking to replace my old Weil McLain (probably 20+ years) primarily to cut down on heating bills, and have been talking to several contractors and getting several conflilcting messages. Hoping someone here can help clarify these points. Current setup is a 3-zone, gas-fired, hot water boiler, and a relatively new 75 gallon water heater, both vented through a masonry chimney. Questions:
- Are Utica boilers better quality than Crown?
- If I install a chimney-vented boiler, do I need to line the chimney?
- If I install a direct-vent boiler and keep my existing water heater, do I need to line the chimney?
- If the chimney liner answer is yes, then would it make sense to replace the water heater with a direct vent model as well and not have to pay for the liner?
- Should I go with a 3-pump system rather than using a single pump and 3 zone valves?
- If I go with zone valves, should I replace the existing ones (old, but working)?
- What other options are important? I've been quoted things like back flow prevention, air elimination, low water cut-off, automatic air damper...
Thanks in advance.
- Are Utica boilers better quality than Crown?
- If I install a chimney-vented boiler, do I need to line the chimney?
- If I install a direct-vent boiler and keep my existing water heater, do I need to line the chimney?
- If the chimney liner answer is yes, then would it make sense to replace the water heater with a direct vent model as well and not have to pay for the liner?
- Should I go with a 3-pump system rather than using a single pump and 3 zone valves?
- If I go with zone valves, should I replace the existing ones (old, but working)?
- What other options are important? I've been quoted things like back flow prevention, air elimination, low water cut-off, automatic air damper...
Thanks in advance.