FAQ

Electro-Boiler®

Q: I have a 68,200 Btu/h gas boiler. How do I convert Btu/h into kW?

A: There are 3,413 Btu’s in a kW of electricity. Simply take the total Btu/h and divide this by 3413 (example, 68,200 Btu/h ÷ 3413 = 19.98 kW).

Q: How often should I have my Electro-Boiler serviced?

A: Electro-Boilers are designed to provide worry-free operation for many years. Since the system is electric, no tune-ups or combustion safety services are required. At installation, we recommend having a professional verify field wiring connections are secure and properly torqued to prevent premature component failure.

Q: What are the advantages of using an electric boiler over a gas boiler?

A: There are numerous benefits electric boilers offer:

      • Electric boilers are proven to be much safer to operate because there is no combustion (carbon monoxide emission) so venting is not required
      • Electric boilers 100% efficient – every dollar spent on electric boiler heating is put into heating the system (unlike gas boilers that provide only a portion of the dollar into heating)
      • Electric boilers integrate with renewable energy sources such as solar and wind
      • Electric boilers initial investment is less expensive, lower installation and purchase costs

Q: Does the Electro-Boiler require primary/secondary piping?

A: No, Electro-Boilers have no minimum return water temperature requirement, and very low internal pressure drop. Primary/secondary is typically only a concern with gas/oil boiler installations.

Q: Can I install a smart thermostat to your Electro-Boiler?

A: Yes, smart thermostats can be used to control your Electro-Boiler.

Q: Can I purchase directly from the factory?

A: We do not sell direct; however, Electro has Sales Representatives throughout the US and Canada along with a network of wholesale distributors selling our products. Select “Find A Dealer” or “Contact” at the top of this page for assistance locating a dealer near you.

Q: Where should I mount the outdoor sensor for my Electro-Boiler?

A: We recommend mounting the sensor on the north or east side of the building and above the average snow depth for your area. We also recommend keeping the sensor away from dryer vents, air conditioning line sets, or other devices that give off heat that may provide false temperature readings.

Q: What wire gauge does my Electro-Boiler require?

A: We recommend contacting a licensed electrician or electrical inspector to determine the wire gauge size. There are variables that determine the size needed such as amps and distance from the electrical panel to the electric boiler.

Q: Can I use antifreeze in my Electro-Boiler to protect it from freezing and, if so, how much?

A: Use only polypropylene glycol types. Car antifreeze can be damaging to the boiler and associated parts. The amount of glycol should never be more than a 50% glycol to 50% water mix. Depending on the region of the country you should be able to reduce this ratio to a normal 30% glycol to 70% water to mix. Remember, the more glycol used the lower the Btu output of the boiler.

Q: What is the warranty on your residential Electro-Boilers?

A: The heat exchanger (vessel) and the heating elements carry a 20-year warranty, all other components have a 2-year parts warranty.

Forced Air

Q: Which plenum heater do you recommend installing to work with a horizontal furnace application?

A: For horizontal application we would suggest using our downflow plenum heaters, EM-WD models. They incorporate two high limits so they can be used in either right to left or left to right airflow applications.

Q: What does the blinking power light mean on the plenum heater?

A: During normal operation this LED will remain a solid green color indicating power to the control board. A blinking green light indicates a problem with either the outdoor temperature sensor (OT) or the supply temperature sensor (ST), or both. If there is detection of incorrect wiring or inoperative sensor, this LED has a blinking or pulse mode. By checking the pulsing pattern, the appropriate sensor can be identified.

      • OT sensor – 1 blink every two seconds
      • ST sensor – 2 blinks every two seconds
      • Both sensors – 3 blinks every two seconds

Q: The yellow LED light is not on, what does this mean?

A: The yellow or amber LED when lit or active indicates the system is in electric mode. When the LED is off your system may be controlled by a power company’s load management or off-peak program. Most systems will be connected to a gas backup that should provide heat during this managed period.

Q: Where should I mount the outdoor sensor for my plenum heater?

A: We recommend mounting the sensor on the north or east side of the building and above the average snow depth for your area. We also recommend keeping the sensor away from dryer vents, air conditioning line sets, or other devices that give off heat that may provide false temperature readings.

Q: What is the warranty on your plenum heaters?

A: The heating elements carry a 20-year warranty, all other components have a 2-year parts warranty.

Make-Up Air

Q: I have a 3-speed kitchen hood fan that requires Make-Up Air, do I install the current transformer (CT) in the electrical panel or in the kitchen hood assembly?

A: It depends, if the kitchen hood also has halogen lighting, we recommend installing the CT on the fan motor of the kitchen hood. If the kitchen hood has no lighting, installing the CT in the electrical panel is acceptable.

Q: What MERV rating is the filter in your Make-Up Air unit?

A: This filter is actually a mesh filter and is designed to allow air to easily flow through the Make-Up Air unit, but stop larger particulates such as cottonwood or bugs. It can be washed out and used for the lifetime of the unit.

Q: Can I purchase directly from the factory?

A: We do not sell direct; however, Electro has Sales Representatives throughout the US and Canada along with a network of wholesale distributors selling our products. Select “Find A Dealer” or “Contact” at the top of this page for assistance locating a dealer near you.

Q: Can I install the Make-Up Air unit in my attic?

A: No, the unit was designed to be installed in a conditioned space only. Installing the unit in the attic can lead to condensation issues that may ruin insulation and building materials.

Q: Can I use more than one current transformer (CT) to automatically activate the Make-Up Air unit?

A: Yes, you can use multiple CT’s. For example, one each for the kitchen hood, dryer, and bathroom fan(s).

Q: I have limited space in my mechanical room, can I mount the Make-Up Air unit in a vertical position?

A: Yes, as long as the inlet side of the unit is facing down.

Q: What is the purpose of the blue knob on the control board?

A: The blue knob is a potentiometer, and it is used to slightly adjust the blower speed of the Make-Up Air unit.  Reducing the fan speed will also provide a larger temperature rise.

Q: I am concerned that using the Make-Up Air unit in the summer will cause overheating of my home whenever the kitchen hood is used, should I turn it off in the summer?

A: The unit should be left on at all times to ensure no depressurization of the home when exhaust fans are operating. The unit is designed not to provide heat output when the inlet temperature is above 55°F.

Q: I have concerns with installing the required 10” round duct to the outside of my home for Make-Up Air, can I just reduce this to 6” or 8”?

A: No, this can not only lead to problems bringing in the required amount of air, but also can cause static pressure issues. Please follow the installation manual for the proper duct work sizing of both the inlet and outlet of the Make-Up Air unit.

Q: I can hear slight noise or vibrations when the Make-Up Air is turned on, what can I do to reduce the noise?

A: We recommend installing rubber or cork isolation pads to reduce noise or vibration.

Q: What is the warranty on your Make Up Air unit?

A: The elements carry a 20-year warranty, all other components have a 2-year parts warranty.

NorAire® Heat Pump Boiler

Q: Can I use a mini-split system and pair it with the NorAire Air to Water Heat Pump Boiler?

A: No, NorAire requires 4-wire communication to work with the heat pump. We recommend most single stage and variable speed heat pumps to pair with this unit.

Q: Does Electro Industries manufacturer a heat pump that needs to be used with NorAire or can my contractor use their own brand?

A: Electro Industries does not manufacturer the heat pump outdoor unit (ODU). The contractor can use their own brand of heat pump. To ensure compatibility, please have them call or email us to verify the heat pump will work with NorAire.

Q: How many zones of heating can I connect to with NorAire?

A: The NorAire unit has two-zone capability that can control either pumps or zone valves. If additional zones are required, we recommend utilizing one of Electro’s zone controllers, but other manufacturers’ controls can also be used.

Q: Is the NorAire unit capable of heating domestic hot water?

A: NorAire was designed to provide low temperature hot water delivery. The requirements of domestic hot water are higher than what NorAire can deliver throughout the year. Although this unit can help supplement hot water systems, we highly recommend pairing it with an additional electric water heater to meet the correct temperature required.

Q: Where should I mount the outdoor sensor for my NorAire unit?

A: We recommend mounting the sensor on the north or east side of the building and above the average snow depth for your area. We also recommend keeping the sensor away from dryer vents, air conditioning line sets, or other devices that give off heat that may provide false temperature readings.

Q: What is the warranty on NorAire?

A: The heat exchanger (vessel) and the heating elements carry a 20-year warranty, all other components have a 2-year parts warranty.

Q: Can the NorAire Air to Water Heat Pump Boiler also do air conditioning?

A: Yes, our NC-FE models do both heating and cooling.