with the 3 points lined up, you're covered, as long as you're willing to do the legwork if there are problems and don't feel the need to place a call to make a problem go away instantly. You would have access to replacement parts, you'd have a warranty, and the big invisible issues are covered in the initial analysis.

so with those 3 points... go nuts. no problem. it may not be troublefree but you're covered.

without the 3 points covered, you're jumping without a chute and i would reconsider my heat source selection. Cast iron with a reset control and maybe a buffer tank can do pretty well.

jumping without a chute? Rediculous

Chute = check

Bought the spare parts kit direct from Triangle Tube ($500 off after taking the class)
Supplier stocks parts

I took the class this week, a good portion of the installers that took the class had never used a combustion analyzer.

"good portion of the installers...had never used a combustion analyzer."

i've found that to be true with half of the 'hydronic pros' i've contacted in my area as well. plenty of excuses
why, but high prices still.

i've had good help from TT AS WELL.

many do not use combustion analysis. that, as far as I am concerned, is a definite reason to exclude the "pro" from service. If you're going to go high efficiency, you need to know it is in fact burning at high efficiency.

chtucker, you've got the parts. Now do you have a CA-trained tech and a warranty?

UpstateNY guy, I'm still very interested in why you won't lay your bias on the table and say where you come from professionally. and maybe I should have said "backup chute".

Rob.... call me aj.... or j... not guy.... rob guy ok?... ok.

As to parachutes... now you are in my area of knowledge... I own 4 parachutes. I am a pilot, have built 12 aircraft, have test flown many more for their first flight. I know a bit about risk and risk taking. I have built a home that at times had fall hieghts up to 80'. I have rebuilt docks that entailed 3 weeks of all day long diving 3hrs at a time down. Am a raft guide, kayak instructor, from class 1 to class 5-6 rivers... the Upper Hudson being my main run.

What I am saying is this Rob... putting in a factory built mod con is a piece of cake compared to building, and test flying your own plane along with actually using a parachute verses your use of the word, and I didn't just build one! The first home that I was contracted to build, I put in all systems, no subs Rob... yes... some learning but the learning is a major part of the fun, the challenge. The house still stands just fine (it's right there for me to see everytime I run the Hudson.)

You make out installing a modern boiler as way more difficult than it is. And your telling people to rely on "pros" is totally rediculous too if they want to do it themselves. I use subs these days and also love to chat with those in the trades and I rarely run into someone that is a superstar knowledgewise especially as to being up to date.... ie mod cons.

I build homes residentially Rob. I build planes, I challenge water, air, and mountains, and people like you.

aj

So here is my recap... Hire a pro for whatever... check them out as best you can... We all agree of course to this. But if any one desires to do the work themselves great... have at it. It is a risk... and time will tell how all turns out. And this board is just fine to use to seek out some of your knowledge from people like you Rob and me. I have learned how to do many things in my short life, so have you Rob, and this is where I disagree with you... I believe there are many out there that can learn how to install a mod con or whatever... and I AM NOT AGAINST IT. I AM ALL FOR IT!!! YOU ARE MISTER CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION! FINE. WE WILL HAVE TO AGREE TO DISAGREE AND MOVE ON.

Life is a risk and no matter how much caution one takes death is at the end of it all Rob. Have a nice day, I am going paddling.
peace

I am "caution caution caution" because the steps you need to take to ENSURE success are not that hard. but they do need to be taken and most DIY'ers just think "oh, how hard can it be", go buy a boiler, and then a good chunk of them find out how hard it can be if anything goes wrong... hopefully noticing, in the first place, that something has gone wrong.

I'm an adrenaline junky myself, but I draw the line at gambling with other people's homes, lives, and pocketbooks. You engage in flying and kayaking, I presume, with adequate safety equipment and training to ensure as much as possible that a problem won't kill you. the adequate safety equipment here are simply the 3 steps I outlined. Part Supply, Warranty, Combustion Analysis by someone trained in the usage of the equipment. You wouldn't encourage someone to jump out of a plane with one chute, navigate rapids without a life vest, or fly a plane without a safety check, right? Those may be more immediately life and death, but the fact is you can do all those things without taking basic safety precautions and if you're good and smart you'll probably get out ok. But why do it?

Doing less is possible. It just isn't smart. I don't have any problem with someone DIY'ing as long as they are smart about it. I do have a problem with people minimizing the potential issues here. they may not kill you (or, in some cases, they may), but they can very easily eliminate all the value of DIY'ing in the first place. I know because I've seen it happen.

I'm going to go back to helping DIY'ers install really good systems, since that's a good chunk of what I do for a living. You go paddling.

Has this horse been whipped enough yet?
Dan

if it keeps coming back for a whipping, it takes a very, very long time for my arm to get tired.

Exactly... five pages of whether we should let all in on the secret handshake.

"The sky is falling and I didn't do all in my power to save my neighbor from himself!.. How could I ever live with that. It's my job you know."

Can I buy a vowel?

Who would like to go rafting? The river is up... dangerously up... and of course.. it is now at a fun height!!! I'm there... join me all yee risk takers...

Mod Con installer and advisor day of Easter peace
gone skiing... enjoy all
aj

gone surfing for easter morning, but the boiler was humming quietly when i checked.  the lower temp is taking care of the load just fine and all the bunnies in the house are warm and happy as i'm leaving.  thanks again rob, for the help.

go?

always gettin' there. I've had a grand total of one solid day to work on only the boiler, so it's been a here-and-there proposition. My mother-in-law is in town this weekend, so probably more of the same.

I'm to pressure-testing the piping, gotta finish the gas run, flue & flash and install the outdoor sensor then I'm up and running! Will post pics soon . . . I like that I'm nearly done as the weather starts getting into the 70s.

charlie