From: patchmoney@gmx.com   
      
   On 19 Oct 2025 at 00:50:39 BST, "David. R" wrote:   
      
   > New Oil Boiler Recommendations .   
   > Seeking advice on installing a new oil burner.   
   >   
   > Current Boiler is a Thermo-Dynamics S100 with a Beckett head which is all   
   > about 20 years old, still running fine at the moment and has served me   
   > well.   
   > The house is about 1500 sq ft and has 3 zones.   
   > First/second/basement and is all hot water baseboard.   
   > So as I approach retirement, I'm looking at possible future expenses on a   
   > fixed income.   
   > My fuel/burner service company is recommending an Energy Kinetics System   
   > 2000 boiler.   
   > TBH this thing looks to me like an overly, computerized, complex system   
   > which will require some expensive care and feeding.   
   > It is however very efficient from what I am reading so I will save on fuel   
   > cost which of course I am interested in.   
   >   
   > I'm old school from the Weil-Mclain,  Rheem, era so I admit I'm a little   
   > behind the times.   
   > Also, the current boiler is tankless coil and my wife and I have no need   
   > for a sperate hot water heater.   
   >   
   > So, any and all advice is very much appreciated.   
   > I'm in NYS if that matters and gas is not an option where I live.   
      
   If your current boiler is one of these:   
      
   https://thermodynamicsboiler.com/oil-boilers/dry-base-s-series-oil-boiler/   
      
   . . . it looks to be reasonably efficient (well, 'up to 86%', whatever that   
   means), but not at the expected 90%+ of a modern condensing boiler.   
      
   Personally, I'd get is serviced and run a stress test. If all well then wait   
   for it to fail, but get some quotes and be prepared. I'm not sure what counts   
   as a decent brand in the US. I think Bosch are generally regarded as a good   
   balance of value/engineering - not sure if you can get those in the US, or how   
   tariffs are affecting things.   
      
   In the UK we're variously incentivised to fit Air Source Heat Pumps to replace   
   traditional oil/gas boilers. They convert heat at roughly a factor of 4 -   
   1kW/hr of electricity produces 4 kW/hr of heat. Very much in theory - some   
   installations work well, some don't.   
      
   --   
   Cheers, Rob, Sheffield UK   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)