Ascent Combi and Ascent Plus Combi Gas – January 2024 7
ASCENT AND ASCENT PLUS COMBI BOILERS
IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO HOMEOWNER/USER: These instructions should be carefully read and kept for future
reference to gain the best performance from your Ascent boiler.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PURCHASE OF THE ASCENT BOILER with its highly efficient low mass hydronic
heat exchanger, the Energy Converter. It is the product of years of engineering and advanced design, which brings
together in a single system all elements needed to provide efficient home heat and hot water. This operation and
maintenance information has been prepared so that you may better understand and use your Energy Kinetics Ascent
Combi Boiler and Heating System.
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
The Ascent Combi Boiler comprises a heat source, the energy converter, circulating water, and an on demand
domestic hot water plate heat exchanger. The Ascent Plus Combi Boiler additionally includes an expanded heat transfer
surface and extended flue pass with a power venter that uses dilution air to allow polypropylene venting.
The Boiler maintains a minimum temperature (in stock configuration, see “advanced settings”) until a heating zone or
zone controller (supplied by Energy Kinetics or sourced locally) signals a call for heat, or the domestic water flow switch
signals hot water flow in excess of about ½ GPM. The Ascent Hydrostat control receives the call for heat or hot water and
turns on the heat and/or hot water/bypass circulators, and turns on the burner if the boiler is not hot enough to satisfy the
demand.
The Ascent Converter is the product of advanced thermal engineering. It is designed with two separate passageways,
coiled around each other. Water travels along one passageway from your home toward the center of the unit and heated
gases travel from the unit center toward the vent. This is a “forced circulation counter-flow” design and it provides very
efficient transfer of heat from the burning fuel to the circulating water. The superior insulation of the boiler minimizes heat
losses to the surroundings, resulting in directing heat to your home in an efficient and quiet manner.
The Ascent Combi and Ascent Plus Combi have high annual efficiency because they are very well insulated low
mass designs with a moderate amount of water so excess heat is not wasted as is commonly found in cast iron and steel
boilers. They are also designed to produce domestic hot water at much lower temperatures than those required in tankless
coil boilers, allowing significantly lower idle temperatures and lower heat loss in standby mode.
Your Ascent boiler begins to supply heat and hot water almost instantly. This rapid response means that your rooms
can be heated quickly to temperature. The Ascent can heat water with up to 175,000 BTU/hr (150,000 BTU/hr for the
Ascent Plus Combi) input, enough for two simultaneous showers in a typical house with standard flow fixtures. With the
factory installed backflush and cleaning ports, the boiler and plate heat exchanger may be easily serviced to keep peak hot
water production for the life of the system.
The Ascent Boiler is designed with a hinged front cover that allows full access to the inside of the boiler for inspection
and cleaning. All access for pressure vessel service is from the front, so the boiler can be placed near a wall or into a
closet.