Gas boiler is dead Gas VS Oil
#1
02-01-05, 01:01 PM
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Gas boiler is dead Gas VS Oil
Just had two techs to my house to inspect what I already knew. My 20 yo Gas boiler is cracked in several places. Question is it will cost me $1885 more to convert to Oil. I have had mixed messages saying converting to oil will not pay for itself...I only know that I am sick of the $500 monthly gas bills. So the question is do I go for the Oil or stay with the Gas. I plan on staying at this home for at least 10 years. I have a rather large home and it was requested I get a boiler of 255,000 btu
#3
02-01-05, 02:29 PM
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The steel plate in the back is cracked and there is a lot of soot and corrosion. There is also seperation of the plates on the sides and you can see flames shooting out. I am runnining it at only short intervals and keeping a close eye on it. I shut the system down when I sleep and am at work..I am lucky to have an old stove in the kitche that is furnished with a heater. I just bought the place this fall and after I took off the outer shield I noticed how poorly maintained it was. The techs both said it just rotted out
#5
02-01-05, 02:46 PM
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Gas vs. Oil
Let preface my remarks by telling you I am partial to oil. With that out in the open, are we talking about natural or LP gas? Check the cost of oil in your area. Compare the cost of oil (140,000 btu/gallon) to the cost of gas (LP= 90,000 btu/gallon, natural gas = 1,000 btu/cubic foot). Before asking for a specific size boiler, unless you or someone else has sized the radiation, determine how much heat you actually can get rid of via the attached radiation. An oversized boiler is a waste of money in equipment & operating costs.
#6
02-01-05, 02:58 PM
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The size was recommended by both techs. As for cost of gas I'll tell you what it says on my bill. I used 356 CCF.....364 total therms....cost of gas 1.045 X 364=$380 plus $107 in delivery charges. Oil has ranged from 1.60 to 1.80 per gallon...but I can get it for as low as 1.35 in the summer
#7
02-01-05, 03:44 PM
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kiver1
By my calculations you are paying the equivalent of $1.87/gallon including the delivery charge. A few things I like about oil are: (1) once the tank is filled, that oil is yours, bought & paid for. (2) Regardless of what happens up the street (gas line shut down for one reason or the other) you still have heat. (3) You can shop around for a supplier. (4) You can change suppliers for whatever reason you wish. (For example your company has decided to paint their trucks red & you don't like red trucks). (5) You will find your local oil dealer easier to deal with.
#9
02-01-05, 05:16 PM
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Oil does burn hotter than gas but that is not why you use less. Most gas boilers are of the dry base design. Picture a pot of water sitting on the stove. That is dry base. Many, if not most, oil fired boilers are wet base. The flame is surrounded by water on all sides except the front. More surface area exposed to the heat. More surface area=better heat transfer. Because of the dry base design, gas fired boilers are more prone to deposits building up where the flames hit. Deposits=insulation=poorer heat transfer.
Did either of the techs actually measure the radiation? A site you might want to check is www.heatinghelp.com These guys live & breathe steam.
Did either of the techs actually measure the radiation? A site you might want to check is www.heatinghelp.com These guys live & breathe steam.
#10
02-03-05, 02:40 PM
Go over to http://www.warmair.net this will let you compare fuel cost for oil gas and electric for heat . this will tell you how to go . Its all in the cost of fuel where you are.In what you should use for heat.
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