I would appreciate hearing about anyones experience with Munchkin Boilers. I would especially like to hear about commercial installations in north central AR or south central MO.

I have one in operation in SW Missouri. A farm supply store on Hwy 65 in Buffalo, Missouri. It supplies a two zone slab on grade @ 9600 square feet.

The owners were shocked when it arrived. The small size surprised them, and blown away weeks later as it performed.

The small amount of LP used for the season surprised them as they are commercial metal building contractors and used to suspended unit heaters fuel consumption.

We started that 140 yards of concrete @ 560,000 lbs worth at 39°F. Two days later it was warm to touch!

hr

Thank you HR.

quote:

Originally posted by hr:
I have one in operation in SW Missouri. A farm supply store on Hwy 65 in Buffalo, Missouri. It supplies a two zone slab on grade @ 9600 square feet.

The owners were shocked when it arrived. The small size surprised them, and blown away weeks later as it performed.

The small amount of LP used for the season surprised them as they are commercial metal building contractors and used to suspended unit heaters fuel consumption.

We started that 140 yards of concrete @ 560,000 lbs worth at 39°F. Two days later it was warm to touch!

hr

How does this munchkin compare to the Wel- McCleen boiler for heating and durability. And can it compare to the Wel's efficience at low temp water heating of 98%. I'm putting in the Wel and I know the munchkin is cheaper. We have not heard of this brand much around here. Thanks in advance

From what they say at Heat Transfer Products, it will do more that 92%.

What's a few %s between friends

The Munchkin has a bit longer track record, Stateside, than the Weil. Although both HXs have former lives across the pond.

The Weil is an aluminum block, while, or Weil, the Munchkin has a coil type stainless steel hx. Gas valve and inducer motors look similar, perhaps the same manufacture.

I think the Munchkin with the various Vision control options trumps the Weil control.

The jury is out on the longevity of stainless vs aluminum.

With either keep an eye on water quality. Aluminum is ph sensitive,stainless has a narrow chloride range. The manufacture installation manuals are, or should be, clear on the water or treatment needs.

Same with glycols. Make sure it is blended safe for aluminum and stainless. Dow, Nobel, and a few others now have multi metal glycols on the market.

hr

B][/QUOTE]
Okay, I replaced a 1934 coal converterted gas hog, with a 199M. It might as well be a commercial unit, because of the Victorian house,(old and cold), it now heats. I have 13 zones, yes 13 pumps and thermostats. You talk about saving gas, I was running close to $$$900.00 a month to heat this barn.

The only thing I salvaged in this installation, was the victorian radiators. I ditched all the old pipes,(gravity flow 2 & 3"), and installed new 3/4" copper throughout the basement.

You only get out of these systems, what you put in them. Don't skimp on your control systems and piping, and you'll have a magnificant system

*Good luck*

As far as the efficiency goes, the Munchkins 92% is @ 180*F water. Efficiency goes up as water temps go down. Weil's literature is a little misleading (although not lieing) on their efficiency.

In my part of the country, the Munchkin outsells the new Weil a minimum 10 to 1. I don't see you going wrong with either boiler though, just depends on how much money you have and what kind of support you have in your parts.

We have a couple hundred Munchkins running with great success. I love them . They are my boiler of choice. We have them heating car washes, 6 story apartment bldgs. 14,000sq. foot houses, snowmelt systems, garages and everything in between. They just plain old work great. The vision control packages put them ahead of anything else out there.

I am new to boilers of all kinds. The Munckin I have is just three years old and the combustion blower assembly went bad. $600.00 plus later should fix it. I hope I do not have any other type repairs. Warranty is only one year on this part and it is truly a Mfging error not usage. I am currently trying to get some satisfaction for replacement but have had no success yet.

Hmmmm. I just replaced a blower and was told the blowers have a 3 year warranty. They had a few problems with them early on.

I have a Munchkin boiler in my home and the blower fan just went bad. I contacted Muchkin's tech support as well as their warranty person, and found out that the blower is covered by a 3 year warranty. Mine has just entered it's 2nd year, so is covered by warranty. From what I've heard in talking to others in the know, these Muchkins are extremely reliable. I'm having the Vision I system installed with a new blower tomorrow.

I would suggest looking at your supplyer befor you buy. I am in the middle of a mess with munchkins Oregon distributor, for two weeks they could not make a decission as to what to do about shipping dammage and whether the boiler could be changed over to propane. It was ordered propane but shipped natural gas now they want a 25% restock and this was bought through a large name supplyer. I am not done with this one, but the point is what ever brand you go with make sure thay provide good support, now, durring warrenty, and down the road. Oh and for me, I won't be using munchkin again unless something changes with their OR reps. good luck!

Yeah, they had a couple of hiccups at first, but name me a boiler/furnace that didn't. The newest Munchkins come with a NG/LP gas valve that requires no kit. Isn't that sweet! The older Munchkins have an LP kit that takes about 5-10 minutes to install.

Sucks for you about your rep. You're missing out on a good boiler.

Google Search : Munchkin problems. Go ahead!

This boiler is still a beta unit IMO and the people who have them in their homes are unfortunately beta testers. It's NOT an American made boiler. Global thinking: Yes. American materials: No. New thinking? Certainly not. Affordable? Yes. ROI: Only time will tell.

Sure costs less than the proven "de-bugged" euro-condensing boiler technology out there though.

Google search: Ford Taurus, Chevy Cavilier, Jeep Grand Cherokee, ANY vehicle out there. Come on now, lets be fair.

All I can tell you is we have a lot out there, and they are doing great. Way more affordable than anything I've seen in their class. Just what exactly is wrong with importing a board from Europe? I thought Europe was leading the way in high efficieny boilers? People don't seem to mind giving their money to European tubing manufacturers (or owners, at least).

Gary,

I'm confused. First you say that it's NOT new technology, then you say that the Munchkin is a "beta test" boiler. Which is it? Just EXACTLY where is it made if it's not made in the US? Which are you saying is better, US made high eff, or European high eff? Again, I'm confused.

And the other guest has a point. You can type any manufacturer in a google search and get all kinds of complaints. Try typing something like "bad radiant heat jobs". Must mean radiant heat doesn't work, I'll wait until the beta tests are done.

I have to admit that during installation I had a few issues, but the rep and Munchkin tech support helped out and the unit is operating as well as can be exected. I hate the way that Munchkin does not give vision control access out to regular ppl that buy their product, but that is the way it goes. Couldn't buy a comparable unit for anywhere near the $$$. Now that it is installed it is going great. I have the unique oportunity to build an identical house with same floor plan, north south oriention and heat loss, a block away. This home will have a conventional plain radiant system with standard water heater vs. the munchkin w/ ORC and an indirect. Both systems run on propane. I finally will get definitive numbers. I might even build another one of these "test samples" with all variables the same only altering the heating and cooling system by going with a combo roof top propane fired heater/cooler. We will have to see how this turn out.

Greg.

Since I first posted this topic back in August I ended up installing three Munchkin 199's on a job. They are working wonderfully. Couldn't be more pleased.

I want to thank all that replyed to me early on. Without your feedback, I doubt I would have had the courage to risk this project on such a cutting-edge product. Theowner is very please.

Now I'm fixin to install a Munchkin in my house!

I'm interested in installing a Munchkin oiler, Vision computer and Superstor in my home in upstate NY. Who sells them to homeowners in the NE? Thanks