[Greenbuilding] Fresh air to boiler questions

[Benjamin Pratt]

Norbert, I would love to close off that 6" hole. I was told that the boiler
would operate less efficiently if I do that. I suppose that assumes less
oxygen? IF that is not true, I and am ready to plug up that hole! Any ideas
about the open flue of the boiler and the water heater? Are they less
concerning?
Thanks!
Ben





b e n j a m i n p r a t t

professor art+design
the university of wisconsin stout

On Wed, Jan 14, 2015 at 3:04 PM, Norbert Senf <norbert.senf at gmail.com>
wrote:

> The air consumption of an 80,000 BTU/hr boiler is in the range of 25 cfm
> while it is operating. Heating that combustion air by 50 degrees F requires
> about 3,000 BTU/hr, which happens no matter whether the outside air has a
> direct or indirect path to the burner.  Having a 6" dia permanent leak in
> the basement is a really inefficient way to do it. There is no good
> engineering reason to have that leak, unless your basement is hermetically
> airtight and 25 cfm would depressurize it enough to cause the boiler or
> water heater or (worst case) an open fireplace to backdraft. This is
> generally considered to be -5 Pa. Much more likely that a 250 cfm kitchen
> exhaust hood would do it, assuming that your basement is not sealed from
> the rest of the house. Clother dryers and bathroom fans also, are in the
> 100 cfm range.
>
> On Tue, Jan 13, 2015 at 7:43 PM, Benjamin Pratt <
> benjamin.g.pratt at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I have been sealing up and insulating the unfinished portion of my
>> basement, but am concerned it is a waste of time and money: There is a 6"
>> fresh air duct to provide proper combustion for the boiler. Also, there is
>> no damper on the water heater or boiler. Therefore, a lot of cold air is
>> continually dumped into the basement, and a lot of hot air escapes up the
>> chimney.
>>    I suppose the solution to this would be to install a new boiler, and
>> to install a direct vent kit on the water heater. The boiler is around 15
>> years old, and is 84 percent efficient. If I buy a more efficient boiler,
>> that is direct vented, any guess as to how much energy I will save? I
>> suppose its more then just the amount of natural gas I will save with a
>> more efficient boiler, since I would also be eliminating a huge source of
>> air infiltration. I would like to be able to calculate the ROI, so my wife
>> agrees to the purchase.
>> I'd appreciate any help you can provide.
>> Thanks,
>> Ben
>>
>>
>>
>> b e n j a m i n p r a t t
>>
>> professor art+design
>> the university of wisconsin stout
>>
>> On Tue, Jan 13, 2015 at 3:46 PM, Sacie Lambertson <
>> sacie.lambertson at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> I'm looking for an architect in Seattle who understands energy efficient
>>> good building and does contemporary design work.  Welcome suggestions.
>>> Best to send these off the forum, to me directly. Sacie
>>>
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>>
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> Norbert Senf
> Masonry Stove Builders
> 25 Brouse Road, RR 5
> Shawville Québec J0X 2Y0
> 819.647.5092
> www.heatkit.com
>
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