Boilers

What to look for

Consider the following when selecting a new boiler:

Cost vs efficiency

It usually costs more to install a boiler and water pipes than a furnace and air ducts. However, a properly-installed "wet" heating system (whether underfloor pipes or radiators) can enable you to feel comfortable at a lower temperature and so save energy.

Proper Sizing

Make sure the heating capacity of the boiler is not too high for your home - many heating systems are substantially oversized. You can get an estimate of the furnace capacity you need in a number of ways. If EITHER (i) you have had an evaluation carried out on your house so that you can apply to a government grant scheme, OR (ii) you have reliable fuel consumption data for a full year, it is possible to calculate the heating capacity you require. Our consultant can run this calculation for you. Or you could hire an energy consultant / HVAC engineer / building physicist to estimate your heating requirement. Or ask your contractor do an accredited heat loss analysis. [Simply estimating on the basis of floor area can sometimes result in large errors.]

High Efficiency Condensing Models

The efficiency of new boilers is measured by the annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) (gas-fired) or the seasonal energy utilisation efficiency (SEUE) (oil-fired)--these indicate all-year-round performance, and could be anything from 78% to 97% for a modern boiler. The best modern units are "condensing", which means they include an extra heat exchanger to capture energy by condensing the water vapour given off as the fuel burns. Condensing boilers normally achieve 89% AFUE or higher. For this directory we set a minimum of 95% AFUE for gas-fired boilers (natural gas or propane) and 90% for oil-fired.

Do you want:

A combination boiler, directly providing domestic hot water as well as space heating? (efficient but requires a larger boiler) Or a unit which provides space heating only, and a separate instantaneous water heater? (efficient, but can be costly) Or a boiler which both provides space heating and heats a hot water tank? (generally cheaper, but tank energy losses are higher)

Government Grants

Grants are available from government programmes for efficient heating systems from provincial (Energuide for Homes) and (in some cases) federal (ecoENERGY) programmes.

The situation at present is however somewhat complex due to the phasing out of the federal government programme. For details see this announcement.

If you had a pre-assessment carried out before 2010:Mar:29, but have not had a post-assessment, then the applicable grant details (federal plus provincial) are listed here.

Otherwise, you are entitled to provincial grant funds only, listed here

Criteria

  1. Able to satisfy the criteria for EnergyStar Canada: for the purposes of this directory this is considered an authoritative source of boiler test results.

  2. Annual Fuel Utilisation Efficiency [AFUE] of over 95% for gas-fired boilers, or over 90% for oil-fired boilers. (The EnergyStar requirement is lower - 85% irrespective of fuel type - so the majority of EnergyStar approved boilers are not included in this directory).

Both combination boilers (directly providing domestic hot water as well as space heating) and boilers for space heating only are eligible for inclusion in this category.

The AFUE or SEUE should be tested in accordance with Canadian Standard CGA P.2-1991 (gas-fired) or CAN/CSA-B212-M93 (oil-fired).

Full current lists of boilers meeting our criteria are included. (The information was sourced from the EnergyStar Canada website, which for the purposes of this directory is considered an authoritative source of test results.)

Recommended models

Input rating BTU/hsort icon Fuel
WBN050 Knight 45000 Natural gas or Propane
WBL050 WBL051 Lochinvar 45000 Propane
T50M Munchkin 46000 Natural gas or Propane
PF-50 PB Heat 46000 Natural gas or Propane
MC-50 Munchkin Contender 47500 Natural gas or Propane
WBN050 Knight 50000 Natural gas or Propane
WBN050 WBN051 Lochinvar 50000 Natural gas
T50M Munchkin 50000 Natural gas or Propane
PF-50 PB Heat 50000 Natural gas or Propane
MC-50 Munchkin Contender 50000 Natural gas or Propane
SOLO60 Prestige 54000 Natural gas or Propane
SOLO60 Prestige 60000 Natural gas or Propane
WB2B-19 Viessmann 61000 Natural gas or Propane
FCM070 Burnham Hydronics 63000 Natural gas or Propane
BWC070 Crown Boiler 63000 Natural gas or Propane
ALP080 Burnham Hydronics 63000 Natural gas or Propane
WB2B-19 Viessmann 67000 Natural gas or Propane
E75C-P Rinnai 69000 Propane
FCM070 Burnham Hydronics 70000 Natural gas or Propane
BWC070 Crown Boiler 70000 Natural gas or Propane
PO-70 PB Heat 70000 Oil
PO-70A PB Heat 70000 Oil
ULTRA80 Weil-McLain 71000 Natural gas or Propane
KBL080 KBL081 WBL080 WBL081 Lochinvar 72000 Propane
KBN080 WBN080 Knight 73000 Natural gas or Propane
PF-80 PB Heat 73000 Natural gas or Propane
WB2-6-24-P -24C-P Viessmann 73000 Propane
80M T80M Munchkin 74000 Natural gas or Propane
E75C-N Rinnai 75000 Natural gas
GB142/24 Buderus 75000 Natural gas or Propane
NT080 Laars 76160 Natural gas or Propane
Q85S-P Rinnai 78000 Propane
ALP080 Burnham Hydronics 80000 Natural gas or Propane
ULTRA80 Weil-McLain 80000 Natural gas or Propane
KBN080 KBN081 WBN080 WBN081 Lochinvar 80000 Natural gas
WB1-8-24 Viessmann 80000 Natural gas
KBN080 WBN080 Knight 80000 Natural gas or Propane
PF-80 PB Heat 80000 Natural gas or Propane
80M T80M Munchkin 80000 Natural gas or Propane
NT080 Laars 80000 Natural gas or Propane
GB125BE/22 Buderus 81000 Oil
WB1B-26 Viessmann 83000 Natural gas or Propane
ALP105 Burnham Hydronics 83000 Natural gas or Propane
PO-84A PB Heat 84000 Oil
PO-84 PB Heat 84000 Oil
GB142/24 Buderus 84800 Natural gas or Propane
WB2B-26 Viessmann 85000 Natural gas or Propane
Q85S-N Rinnai 85000 Natural gas
SOLO110P Excellence 110P Prestige 87000 Propane
WB1B-26 Viessmann 91000 Natural gas or Propane
WB2-6-24 -24C Viessmann 91000 Natural gas
WB2B-26 Viessmann 93000 Natural gas or Propane
KBL105 KBL106 WBL105 WBL106 Lochinvar 94000 Propane
ULTRA105 Weil-McLain 94000 Natural gas or Propane
MC-99 Munchkin Contender 94248 Natural gas or Propane
KBN105 WBN105 Knight 96000 Natural gas or Propane
MC-99 Munchkin Contender 99000 Natural gas or Propane
WB1-8-30 Viessmann 100000 Natural gas
NT105 Laars 100065 Natural gas or Propane
E110C-P Rinnai 101000 Propane
PF-110 PB Heat 101000 Natural gas or Propane
WB2-8-32-P Viessmann 101000 Propane
KBN105 KBN106 WBN105 WBN106 Lochinvar 105000 Natural gas
ULTRA105 Weil-McLain 105000 Natural gas or Propane
KBN105 WBN105 Knight 105000 Natural gas or Propane
NT105 Laars 105000 Natural gas or Propane
ALP105 Burnham Hydronics 105000 Natural gas or Propane
FCM120 Burnham Hydronics 107000 Natural gas or Propane
BWC120 Crown Boiler 107000 Natural gas or Propane
GB125BE/30 Buderus 108000 Oil
WB1B-35 Viessmann 108000 Natural gas or Propane
SOLO110 Excellence110 Prestige 110000 Natural gas
E110C-N Rinnai 110000 Natural gas
PF-110 PB Heat 110000 Natural gas or Propane
HSE-125-P Super Hot Intergas 112000 Propane
WB2B-35 Viessmann 114000 Natural gas or Propane
WB1B-35 Viessmann 118000 Natural gas or Propane
Q130S-P Rinnai 119000 Propane
FCM120 Burnham Hydronics 120000 Natural gas or Propane
BWC120 Crown Boiler 120000 Natural gas or Propane
ALP150 Burnham Hydronics 120000 Natural gas or Propane
HSE-125 Super Hot Intergas 124000 Natural gas
WB2-8-32 Viessmann 124000 Natural gas
WB2B-35 Viessmann 126000 Natural gas or Propane
140M Munchkin 129000 Natural gas or Propane
Q130S-N Rinnai 130000 Natural gas
PF-140 PB Heat 130000 Natural gas or Propane
GB125BE/35 Buderus 131000 Oil
KBL150 KBL151 WBL150 WBL151 Lochinvar 135000 Propane
BWC151 Crown Boiler 137000 Natural gas or Propane
KBN150 WBN150 Knight 138000 Natural gas or Propane
WB2-11-44-P Viessmann 138000 Propane
140M Munchkin 140000 Natural gas or Propane
PF-140 PB Heat 140000 Natural gas or Propane
ULTRA155 Weil-McLain 142000 Natural gas or Propane
LX150E Trinity 142500 Natural gas or Propane
NT150 Laars 142800 Natural gas or Propane
GB142/45 Buderus 143000 Natural gas or Propane
WB2B-45 Viessmann 146000 Natural gas or Propane
ALP150 Burnham Hydronics 150000 Natural gas or Propane
KBN150 KBN151 WBN150 WBN151 Lochinvar 150000 Natural gas
BWC151 Crown Boiler 150000 Natural gas or Propane
KBN150 WBN150 Knight 150000 Natural gas or Propane
LX150E Trinity 150000 Natural gas or Propane
NT150 Laars 150000 Natural gas or Propane
SOLO175 Prestige 154000 Natural gas or Propane
ULTRA155 Weil-McLain 155000 Natural gas or Propane
WB2B-45 Viessmann 160000 Natural gas or Propane
GB142/45 Buderus 160900 Natural gas or Propane
Q175C-P S-P Rinnai 161000 Propane
ALP210 Burnham Hydronics 169000 Natural gas or Propane
SOLO175 Prestige 170000 Natural gas or Propane
WB2-11-44 Viessmann 172000 Natural gas
Q175C-N S-N Rinnai 175000 Natural gas
199M 199VWH Munchkin 183000 Natural gas or Propane
Q205S-P Rinnai 189000 Propane
KBL210 KBL211 WBL210 WBL211 Lochinvar 190000 Propane
FW95-200M Freewatt 190000 Natural gas or Propane
OQ95M-200 Olsen 190000 Natural gas or Propane
WB2-15-60-P Viessmann 191000 Propane
PF-210LP PB Heat 192000 Propane
KBN210 WBN210 Knight 193000 Natural gas or Propane
WB2B-60 Viessmann 194000 Natural gas or Propane
199M 199VWH Munchkin 199000 Natural gas or Propane
FW95-200M Freewatt 200000 Natural gas or Propane
OQ95M-200 Olsen 200000 Natural gas or Propane
NT210 Laars 200240 Natural gas or Propane
EL-220 Elite Heating Boiler 202998 Natural gas or Propane
Q205S-N Rinnai 205000 Natural gas
ALP210 Burnham Hydronics 210000 Natural gas or Propane
KBN210 KBN211 WBN210 WBN211 Lochinvar 210000 Natural gas
PF-210NAT PB Heat 210000 Natural gas
KBN210 WBN210 Knight 210000 Natural gas or Propane
NT210 Laars 210000 Natural gas or Propane
WB2B-60 Viessmann 212000 Natural gas or Propane
GB142/60 Buderus 214800 Natural gas
EL-220 Elite Heating Boiler 220000 Natural gas or Propane

Vendors

Free listings, sorted by location.

W&P Plumbing & Heating Ltd Canora, SK (306) 563-6540
Rempel Plumbing & Heating Carrot River, SK (306) 768-3603
Blackstrap Heating Dundurn, SK (306) 492-7577
Johnson Plumbing & Heating Ltd Estevan, SK (306) 634-5172
KC Plumbing & Heating Ltd Hepburn, SK (306) 947-2019
Humboldt Plumbing & Heating Humboldt, SK (306) 682-2044
M N M Plumbing & Heating Humboldt, SK (306) 231-9514
P&J Plumbing & Heating (1988) Ltd Kamsack, SK (306) 542-2898
Kee Sheet Metal Plumbing & Heating Kindersley, SK (306) 463-2432
D&J Warrian Mechanical Inc Lanigan, SK (306) 365 2852
Glenn Liepert Plumbing & Heating Leader, SK (306) 628-3777
McKinnon's Plumbing & Heating Ltd Lumsden, SK (306) 522-9993
Maple Plumbing & Heating Ltd Maple Creek, SK (306) 662-2666
Martensville Plumbing Martensville, SK (306) 934-0688
Ron's Plumbing & Heating (1980) Ltd Meadow Lake, SK (306) 236-5625
Main Plumbing & Heating Melfort, SK (306) 752-2392
Teeger Plumbing & Heating Milestone, SK (306) 436-4888
C & E Mechanical Moose Jaw, SK (306) 693-6722
Discount Plumbing & Heating Moose Jaw, SK (306) 694-4100
J&J Air Conditioning & Refrigeration North Battleford, SK (306) 445-7400
P&W Mechanical Plumbing & Heating Contractors (1993) Ltd North Battleford, SK (306) 446-2770
Eston Sheet Metal (1981) Ltd North Battleford, SK (306) 446-3573
Unger Electric Osler, SK (306) 239-2187
Westside Refrigeration Heating & Air Conditioning Inc Pense, SK (306) 345-2460
Stormy's Mechanical & A/C Pilot Butte, SK (306) 539 1688
Thorpe Brothers Limited Prince Albert, SK (306) 763-8454
General Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Inc Prince Albert, SK (306) 763-6776
Edco Plumbing & Heating Ltd Regina, SK (306) 721-2056
Arrow Plumbing & Heating Co. Ltd. Regina, SK (306) 525-2324
Comfort Mechanical Ltd Regina, SK (306) 352-0544
Chuck's Heating Service Ltd Regina, SK (306) 543-6664
Builders' Plumbing & Heating LTD. Regina, SK (306) 565-8805
MacKenzie Plumbing & Heating Regina, SK (306) 522-0777
Town & Country Plumbing & Heating Regina, SK (306) 352-4328
Metz Plumbing, Heating Air Conditioning Ltd Regina, SK (306) 359-6389
Budget Plumbing, Heating & A/C Ltd. Regina, SK (306) 359-6688
Sterling Plumbing & Heating Regina, SK (306) 586-5050
Aabco Plumbing & Heating Ltd. Regina, SK (306) 775-2661
Meyer's Mechanical Ltd Regina, SK (306) 569-9132
Porter Mechanical Services Ltd Regina, SK (306) 789-1727
All - Premium Plumbing & Heating Ltd Regina, SK (306) 539-9568
Nu-Trend Industries Inc Regina, SK Saskatoon, SK (306) 525-8521
Prairie Alternative Energy Solutions Saskatoon 1 306 221-6378
Newestern Developments Saskatoon SK 1 306 221 3531
J.O.B. Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. Saskatoon, SK (306) 683-4328
Efficiency Heating & Cooling Saskatoon, SK (306) 384-4328
Rutherford Controls Saskatoon, SK (306) 222-0117
Flow Right Mechanical Saskatoon, SK (306) 220-7100
Heating Engineering Installations Saskatoon, SK (306) 242-5556
Nickel Plumbing & Heating (1985) Ltd Saskatoon, SK (306) 653-1899
McGill's Mechanical Services Saskatoon, SK (306) 664-3050
Sears Canada Inc. Saskatoon, SK 306-653-2060
Kjargaard Mechanical Consulting Corp. Saskatoon, SK (306) 229-4448
L&L Heating & Cooling Ltd Saskatoon, SK (306) 934-7464
HVAC Services for Less Saskatoon, SK (306) 290-4960
J&A Heating Saskatoon, SK (306) 934-8252
Gibbon Heating & Air Conditioning Saskatoon, SK (306) 343-9576
Cypress Sales Partnership Saskatoon, SK (306) 242-3333
SaskWest Mechanical Ltd. Saskatoon, SK (306) 244-2941
Gord's Plumbing & Heating Saskatoon, SK (306) 651-0617
Ball & Sons Heating Co Ltd Saskatoon, SK (306) 244-6160
D&R Plumbing & Heating Spiritwood, SK (306) 883-2800
St Walburg Plumbing & Heating St Walburg, SK (306) 248-3435
Len's Plumbing & Heating (1981) Ltd Swift Current, SK (306) 773-8400
Speedy's Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning Ltd Wynyard, SK (306) 554-3533
Hancock Plumbing Ltd Yorkton, SK (306) 783-3028
M L Plumbing & Heating (1976) Ltd Yorkton, SK (306) 783-8506