automatic damper on raypak vent stacks?

[Waxman]

a plumber noticed yesterday i had no dampers on my vent pipes for 2 raypak boilers at my wash. 1 for floor heat 1 for production water.

for those of you with this setup, do you have automatic dampers on the furnace vents?

thanks!

 

[I.B. Washincars]

None of my Raypak boilers have them. My conventional style water heaters do.

 

[Waxman]

None of my Raypak boilers have them. My conventional style water heaters do.

plumber seemed to think it'd create quite a cost savings by keeping more heat in boiler.

 

[I.B. Washincars]

It is my understanding that that is what the intention is, but I can't see that it would be much. I think it is more to work on your head and to pacify the tree huggers a bit. Just my 2¢

 

[ToFarGone]

I have them an all three boilers at my location. However I have Therma-Stack Heat Reclaimers on mine. (think a radiator laid flat over the stack with water running through it to scavenge exhaust heat) I didn't have dampers and it got cold enough that it froze that exchanger solid. Not a good deal. So I have them more for that reason than anything. Pretty sure this didn't help much but that is what I see as the best reason.

 

[MEP001]

Having a damper on a water heater is more important than having one on a boiler that circulates through a separate tank.

 

[wash4me]

a plumber noticed yesterday i had no dampers on my vent pipes for 2 raypak boilers at my wash. 1 for floor heat 1 for production water.

for those of you with this setup, do you have automatic dampers on the furnace vents?

thanks!

Essentially you are extending the time it takes to reduce the temperature of the water that's left in the boiler. You are also saving heating the make-up air that comes into the building to go up the flue while the boiler is not operating. I would guess that you're better off to bank this money and put it toward a more efficient heating set up when the day comes. I've seen 5% savings but I don't know myself.

 

[Ric]

Be careful with the therma-stacks. If you pull to much heat from the vent you will no longer have a good "draw" to exhaust the gases up the "chimney". This will result in excess condensation forming in the boiler and lead to premature failure. Don't ask how I know...

 

[2Biz]

I know!!! But the previous owners didn't! This is what condensation does when when you don't run a boiler hot enough...

Then you can put in a high efficiency unit, vent with PVC, and not worry about boiler temps.