Patent ID: 8251297

Claim:
A method of operating a multistage modulating boiler system, the multi-stage modulating boiler system including two or more stages of modulating boilers, the multi-stage modulating boiler system adapted to provide heat to a circulating fluid heated by the multi-stage modulating boiler system and to maintain a first temperature setpoint, the method comprising: receiving an indication that a stage of the multi-stage modulating boiler system should be activated and whether the stage is currently a first stage of the multi-stage modulating boiler to be activated; receiving a normal firing rate for the stage, the normal firing rate is based on an error signal that is related to a deviation between the first temperature set point and a temperature of the circulating fluid in the multi-stage modulating boiler system; activating the stage at the normal firing rate if the stage is not the first stage of the multi-stage boiler to be activated; activating the stage at a first firing rate if the stage is the first stage of the multi-stage boiler to be activated, wherein the first firing rate is less than the normal firing rate; maintaining the first firing rate for a period of time unless a predefined condition that is related to a system temperature occurs during the period of time; and activating the stage at the normal firing rate after the period of time expires.