What's up with New Horizon in regards to Eko boilers

[SciGuy]

The New Horizons web site has shown the Eko 25 and 40 on sale for a very long time and also says "Commercial use" for each of them. I'm wondering if the boilers are being phased out as well as are they only being sold to those who will use them in a commercial setting. The prices are pretty attractive but not if they don't intend to support the units into the future.

Any insights into these boilers moving forward?

Thanks,

Hugh

 

[TCaldwell]

I believe it’s a way around phase 2 compliance

 

[SciGuy]

I believe it’s a way around phase 2 compliance

Thanks Tom,

I assume the cost of certification is a stumbling block even if the boilers can easily make the standard. I'd hate to invest $$$ and then suddenly find that my boiler was no longer legal, or supported for that matter.

Hugh

 

[BoiledOver]

I cannot speculate concerning certification but can say the Eko 25 sitting here is an above 80% efficient appliance. It is almost 6 years since going online and has not had a failure. Within the first month it did have an electrical speedbump in the blower wiring box, during assembly a wire had been pinched in the wiring box cover and eventually shorted. Zenon (the New Horizon guy) shipped out an entire assembly immediately at no charge to me.

The Eko boilers are very basic with 3 concerns of failure: 1) RK-2001UA Controller 2) Blower 3) Inner and outer water jacket. The blower is currently priced at $155 and the controller at $225, I have a spare of each on a shelf.

The secondary refractory pieces were short lived due to what I would call poor R&D. The new design which is available at a current price of $109 for the 25/40 models is a big step up. These here are on their 4th year with a couple years left in them. Consider them consumables, they take a real beating. The nozzle (refractory cement between the primary and secondary fire boxes) could also be considered a consumable. However it looks good here as I have placed a 1/2" stainless steel overlay to protect it. Door seals are considered replacement items too although I don't see a need yet.

Overall satisfaction with the Eko here is very high, we stay warm.

If I were to do it over I might look to other manufacturers today. At the time though it was the low cost that swayed me from other models in the hunt. I see the Vedolux 30 can now be had for $5125 and is rated a bit higher at 33kW, my Eko is 25kW.

The BIG selling point of the Vedolux is the cleanout process. The Eko requires a modification from the start to allow true cleaning of the exchange tubes. Once the mod is done, the cleaning procedure includes pulling a skin panel and an access hatch that wasn't designed for regular use. Then to clean the tubes requires working down into an exhaust chamber, kind of a pain and a little messy. The Vedolux has a door on the front of the unit to access the exchange tubes for brushing and removal of the ash, much easier. Another plus over the Eko is the blower of the Vedolux is on the back end which allows opening the firewood chamber without smoke rolling out, although I do not know for sure as I have not seen one in person.

If you are seriously shopping, do not rule out the Eko boilers. They will go the distance.

 

[E Yoder]

Current EPA regs have exemptions for coal and commercial boilers. The cost of testing is prohibitive for smaller manufactures, I hope the EPA builds some more flexibility in soon.
I hate to see good units get pinched like this, it's kind of a "blunt instrument" situation, it seems to me.

 

[SciGuy]

I cannot speculate concerning certification but can say the Eko 25 sitting here is an above 80% efficient appliance. It is almost 6 years since going online and has not had a failure. Within the first month it did have an electrical speedbump in the blower wiring box, during assembly a wire had been pinched in the wiring box cover and eventually shorted. Zenon (the New Horizon guy) shipped out an entire assembly immediately at no charge to me.

The Eko boilers are very basic with 3 concerns of failure: 1) RK-2001UA Controller 2) Blower 3) Inner and outer water jacket. The blower is currently priced at $155 and the controller at $225, I have a spare of each on a shelf.

The secondary refractory pieces were short lived due to what I would call poor R&D. The new design which is available at a current price of $109 for the 25/40 models is a big step up. These here are on their 4th year with a couple years left in them. Consider them consumables, they take a real beating. The nozzle (refractory cement between the primary and secondary fire boxes) could also be considered a consumable. However it looks good here as I have placed a 1/2" stainless steel overlay to protect it. Door seals are considered replacement items too although I don't see a need yet.

Overall satisfaction with the Eko here is very high, we stay warm.

If I were to do it over I might look to other manufacturers today. At the time though it was the low cost that swayed me from other models in the hunt. I see the Vedolux 30 can now be had for $5125 and is rated a bit higher at 33kW, my Eko is 25kW.

The BIG selling point of the Vedolux is the cleanout process. The Eko requires a modification from the start to allow true cleaning of the exchange tubes. Once the mod is done, the cleaning procedure includes pulling a skin panel and an access hatch that wasn't designed for regular use. Then to clean the tubes requires working down into an exhaust chamber, kind of a pain and a little messy. The Vedolux has a door on the front of the unit to access the exchange tubes for brushing and removal of the ash, much easier. Another plus over the Eko is the blower of the Vedolux is on the back end which allows opening the firewood chamber without smoke rolling out, although I do not know for sure as I have not seen one in person.

If you are seriously shopping, do not rule out the Eko boilers. They will go the distance.

Thanks so much for the highly detailed reply including the information about the Vedolux units. I read their owner's manual last evening and found it very useful. It's a high end problem to have several attractive units to choose from.

 

[SciGuy]

Current EPA regs have exemptions for coal and commercial boilers. The cost of testing is prohibitive for smaller manufactures, I hope the EPA builds some more flexibility in soon.
I hate to see good units get pinched like this, it's kind of a "blunt instrument" situation, it seems to me.

That's completely understandable.

Thanks for the confirmation of my intuition,.

Hugh

 

[brenndatomu]

Current EPA regs have exemptions for coal and commercial boilers. The cost of testing is prohibitive for smaller manufactures, I hope the EPA builds some more flexibility in soon.
I hate to see good units get pinched like this, it's kind of a "blunt instrument" situation, it seems to me.

So what would you propose?
I hate to see small manufacturers being put out of business as much as the next guy...and it is ridiculous that the testing process costs so much...but based on history, many/most of the OWB company's have no intention of cleaning up their acts unless their feet are held to the fire...so to speak. And each month that passes with them being able to sell more "smoke dragon" models due to a loophole, means probably a hundred(s) more new units out there for 10-20 more years, smoking up the whole neighborhood.
I know not everybody runs 'em that way...but waaay too many do!
I would have more compassion for these manufactures if they were at least trying to come up with some clean burn designs, instead of just continuing to crank out the same old "campfire in a drum, inside of a water tank" units (and then call 'em "coal" models...or "commercial use only" wink wink )

 

[E Yoder]

I agree, in an ideal world I'd envision a simple affordable test that would then be enforced vigorously.
I can dream anyway...