Boiler parts and pieces

[nwomatt]

I purchased a vigas 60 back in the winter and plan to get it up and running sometime this winter. I have a road trip planned from northwestern Ontario crossing the border in international falls Minnesota and trucking all the way to Washington, D.C. This will happen mid nov. parts and pieces are almost twice the price on my side of the border. Since ill be in the US for a week or so ill be allowed a fair amount of goods back to Canada duty free. I still need lots of parts. Pretty much everything but the boiler. There has to be good supply stores on that route. Was just wondering if anyone out there has any info that would be helpful to me? Would be willing to go out of the way a bit too.

 

[maple1]

I would stick with getting the stuff that is on the pricey side and that you KNOW you will need. Like maybe pumps/valves/controls/copper pipe?

Sucks paying more than south of the border - but I was back & forth to the supplier here constantly, exchanging stuff that I ended up not needing for stuff that I did. Mainly fittings. No exhanging stuff you buy down there. Maybe I just wasn't organized enough...

 

[mikefrommaine]

Pex supply is hard to beat on price unless you have an account at one of the supply houses and run tens of thousands through them a year. Even then pex supply is hard to beat.

 

[heaterman]

Well if you cut across the U.P and come down I-75/127 you'll only be about 20 miles from me.

Just keep in mind that November 15 is opening day of deer season............just sayin

 

[Coal Reaper]

X2 on pexsupply.
Aint it getting pretty cold up there in november? I would think i would want to be up and running and proved out before then...

 

[VT_Bubba]

X3 on Pexsupply ! I have an account at a major US wholesale supplier, where I have negotiated 5 price tiers down, and pexsupply beats them everytime and sometimes by as much as 20%.

BTW: I love Northern Ontario, it's large woods, and the wonderful people we have met there. I'm not going to make it this Hunting Seasonr, but definitly heading back up for the 2014 Hunting Season.

VT_Bubba

 

[jebatty]

I think you can get away with posting a list of the parts you want and then invite others who might have the parts to start a private conversation with you. For example, I likely have some parts you will want and I live a little north of Brainerd, which could be close to your route through MN.

 

[Coal Reaper]

that'll work too. i have several 1-1/4" fittings leftover, but i am in NWNJ.

 

[arbutus]

Pex supply is hard to beat on price unless you have an account at one of the supply houses and run tens of thousands through them a year. Even then pex supply is hard to beat.

My local parts house is very competitive with Pexsupply.
A few higher dollar items were near half the price at the parts house.
I am a homeowner and they know it.

 

[dogwood]

PexSupply states on their site they won't ship outside the U.S. No idea why.

 

[Medman]

I am in Ontario too, but on the border with Michigan at Sault Ste. Marie. I use a local UPS outlet that allows Canadians to ship goods, then charges me $4.00 to receive and hold the items. They email me when the shipment arrives and I go over and pick it up. I declare the items at Customs going back into Canada and pay the taxes if required. This way I save the brokerage fee and extra shipping. If you can find a similar setup near you (international Falls?) it is really worthwhile. I order everything this way - Ebay, Amazon, PexSupply, Harbor Freight etc. My brother in Hamilton does the same in Buffalo, NY for items he orders. The savings are significant.

 

[700renegade]

nwomatt, why spend the time and fuel driving to pick up the boiler personally. You could have it freighted to someone like jebatty in MN or me here in NE Wi for $500 and save 2/3 of your driving, and probably as much in gas money. I can't speak for the other members, but I'd have no problem helping out by storing it for a bit till you get here. Most of us will have a skidsteer or other means to unload it and a corner to store it.

Seems there are alot of members here from northern MI if you wanted to come around thru the Soo instead.
If a couple boxes of parts were UPS'd to whomever got the boiler in advance of the pickup, that should make no difference either.

Heck, arrange the right fishing and hunting trip and you might get someone to bring it to your door!

 

[nwomatt]

I can have stuff from pex supply shipped to MN and pick it up there only if they accept Canadian credit cards ill have to look into it. I already have the boiler at my house.

 

[nwomatt]

My house is only minutes from the border. I'm going to get on a parts list soon. One other question. I'm replacing my water heater in the house and plan to heat with boiler ( in shop) I need to get one that I can run when there is no fire in the boiler. I'm planning to get an electric one and was just wondering if there is any that are setup better for my application. Just want to get the right one the first time.

 

[nwomatt]

Funny you mention the hunting/fishing thing renegade. I own/operate a resort on lake of the woods.

 

[mustash29]

Sounds like you need a DHW tank that has an indirect coil heated by the boiler and electric back up elements too. They make them, as well as tanks with a 2nd coil for solar input. Worst case you can use a standard electric tank with a side arm HX.

 

[Coal Reaper]

What is this company with electric and two coils?

 

[BoilerMan]

What is this company with electric and two coils?

Heat Flo.

Mine is just the two coil version w/o the electric elements, but they are an option. All of their tanks are 100% 316L stainless, coils and all! I bought mine on ebay, and have been very impressed with the build quality, mine was relabled as an Oventrop tank, but the Heat Flo tag was also on it.

TS

 

[Coal Reaper]

they look awesome but the $$$!

 

[700renegade]

I can have stuff from pex supply shipped to MN and pick it up there only if they accept Canadian credit cards ill have to look into it. I already have the boiler at my house.

My apologies. I interpreted your first post as you were picking up the boiler in November on route to DC.

Sounds like you have it handled, but if not, look back in your guest book and find a guy close to your route to ship the parts to. He'll be glad to be a drop point for the UPS shipment I bet.

 

[VT_Bubba]

Heat Flo.

Mine is just the two coil version w/o the electric elements, but they are an option. All of their tanks are 100% 316L stainless, coils and all! I bought mine on ebay, and have been very impressed with the build quality, mine was relabled as an Oventrop tank, but the Heat Flo tag was also on it.

TS

I like the SS HeatFlo tanks, but don't waste your money on the two coils, as two tanks with 1-coil is the same price as 1-tank with two coils and the 2-Tank Solar Design is much more efficient than 1 tank with 2 coils. It's all about the Delta-T during the winter months.

VT_Bubba

 

[Coal Reaper]

I like the SS HeatFlo tanks, but don't waste your money on the two coils, as two tanks with 1-coil is the same price as 1-tank with two coils and the 2-Tank Solar Design is much more efficient than 1 tank with 2 coils. It's all about the Delta-T during the winter months.

VT_Bubba

Great. Another justification to spend money on a tank with an electric elemet as i can add the second tank at a later date when i am ready for the solar. Really, thanks a lot for that. Now where can i dig up some more coin from? Lol

 

[BoilerMan]

I got the 119gal dual coil tank for $1,200 on ebay. I'd have got a single coil tank as well but all the listings were for 80 gal or less. The dual coil is pretty much a waste unless you have an oil boiler you want to use in the summer. I have the bottom coil for wood only, the top coil for my Toyotomi boiler in the summer only. If I had the electric backup, then it's just be wood and electric. You can also use a flat plate and effictively add a second "coil" for solar as well and just get the 119 gal tank.

As a side note, I've thought of piping the two coils together for almost doudle the surface area. Feed the top first then the bottom for ultra high delta t for solar.

TS