system cost

[racinrick]

Hey all, I'm looking into installing either a tarm or econoburn boiler with 600 gallons of storage in my new house. I've gotten a price from a local mechanical contractor (who I work with a great deal as an architect) and the system is running in the $18k range before boiler purchase. I've already run all of the radiant tubing for two floors and the lines to the second floor (for a couple of pieces of baseboard for "radiant dump" as he called it) so there is no manhours for them on those items, they'd simply be setting up the boiler, tanks, controls and tuning the system. To me, the price seems high but having never done one of these systems before I really have no idea what to expect. Before we started, I had roughly expected $18k as the total cost, not the $28k we're currently looking at.

Please let me know what you think!

Thanks.

 

[stee6043]

WAY high, in my opinion. Self installed systems with 1000 gallons of storage including the boiler and all components should be in the $15k ballpark. And that includes a $7k boiler.

Having a pro install a system as you describe, in my opinion, should cost somewhere around the $18-19k price range if it were to include the boiler and everything else needed.

 

[racinrick]

that's what I thought, I guess I need to get another price.

 

[flyingcow]

I have a Tarm Innova, the price at the time(and the price is lower now) was about $7000, i can't remeber exactly. The tank was anywheres from 4 to $6,000. The piping and controls was quite a few more thousand. Install price maybe about 3 to $4,000. Haven't got my total bill yet. $18,000 should get it bought and installed, maybe a little more. Now that i add it up and put it in front of me, damn that was a lot.

 

[racinrick]

I'm ok with (but not thrilled about) the 18-20k range but 28k really makes me swallow hard. I'm just thankful that I've been able to build the house myself so that now I'm even considering a nut this large because my social and economic standing definitely are at odds with the price tag.

 

[flyingcow]

If you've built your own place, you could build a storage tank your self. Also poke around this site, do some searching, good chance you'll find the resources here to do a self install, or a good part of it. Many different ways to do layout, will affect the price greatly. This site has an incredible amount of resources from DIY guys, engineers, installers all willing to help. If anything you'll get a really good understanding of what your wanting to install. Might even be able to find one of us locally, so you could put your eyes on the actual layouts. What part of Maine you in?

 

[racinrick]

I'm building in Edgecomb which is in the wiscasset/boothbay/damariscotta area. I'm sure I could build one of the storage tanks but once it comes to plumbing and wiring I'm completely lost (those are the only two areas that I hired out). A local company has do-it-yourself storage tank kits for semi-do it yourselfers like me which I might try (waiting for a call back from them now) but I will not touch the controls side of things.

 

[flyingcow]

Solartechnics( I think that's their name) in Stockton Springs makes the tank that I have. Works nice. Worth the call. I can't find the number now. I'll try to send you the contact info soon.

 

[DaveBP]

(broken link removed to http://americansolartechnics.com/softank.html)

 

[flyingcow]

(broken link removed to http://americansolartechnics.com/softank.html)

Click on the 820gal tank. That's the one I have.

 

[Singed Eyebrows]

Too high? I almost fainted reading it. My boiler will be $3500(Atmos DC32GS) 750 gallon pressure storage tank custom made $725.00, Laddomat $400.00 + etc. I hope to have my entire system in for around $6000. I will say though that my radiators were in already. Randy

 

[oilbegone]

Tarm Solo 30 with 620 gal STSS storage tank installed was 19,000. The tank is bout 15 feet from the boiler and the installation also included hooking up oil fired backup that I already owned. That was what it cost last fall in a small town 20 miles north of Boston MA. It was about 3,000 more than I had planned for but the system is awesome. The Plumber did a nice neat install and the Electrician did an excellent job with all the required switches and controls. Cut my wood use in half from the old wood furnace and I used only 30 to 40 gallons of oil since last October.