converting from fuel oil to propane
#1
12-30-05, 11:37 AM
converting from fuel oil to propane
I live in Minnesota where winters can get pretty cold and the cost of fuel is very high this year.
I have a fuel oil furnace, tank outside, and i'd like to convert ot propane since propane is close to half the cost of fuel oil here (fuel oil is over 2.25 gallon and propane is only 1.40 per gallon).
Can I use the same furnace for the switch or would I need a different furnace. I know i'll need a different tank and all but I didn't know if the furnace is ok to use for anything(fuel oil, propan, gas).
thanks
jimco
I have a fuel oil furnace, tank outside, and i'd like to convert ot propane since propane is close to half the cost of fuel oil here (fuel oil is over 2.25 gallon and propane is only 1.40 per gallon).
Can I use the same furnace for the switch or would I need a different furnace. I know i'll need a different tank and all but I didn't know if the furnace is ok to use for anything(fuel oil, propan, gas).
thanks
jimco
#2
12-30-05, 01:44 PM
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What kind of furnace do you have? Some are convertible, some are not. In most cases you should be able to retro the oil gun to a gas gun.
One thing to keep in mind, although the cost of propane is cheaper (per gallon), you can't compare cost alone gallon per gallon. For every gallon of fuel oil you burn now, you will use approximately 1.5 times as much propane to get the same amount of heat.
One thing to keep in mind, although the cost of propane is cheaper (per gallon), you can't compare cost alone gallon per gallon. For every gallon of fuel oil you burn now, you will use approximately 1.5 times as much propane to get the same amount of heat.
#3
12-30-05, 03:32 PM
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Jimco
Hankhill is exactly right. Oil has 140,000 btu/gallon where propane has only about 90,000 btu/gallon. Unless you are getting some kind of special price for using a large quantity for drying grain or something else, I suspect the price you were quoted is a bait price. Once you are a regular customer the cost per gallon will go up substantially. In my area, propane is the same price per gallon as oil or more.
#4
12-31-05, 05:26 AM
Well that makes a big difference in deciding to switch or not. I have two houses, one is fuel oil heated and the other propane.
I did notice the propane heated house went through the propane faster than I expected but I thought it was due to having to check the insulation but it makes sense now.
As far as prices, those are the actual prices I pay. The propane heated house has the same supplier it had before I bought it but with propane burnung more to give the same heat I can see why it's cheaper.
So looks like i'll keep fuel oil in the one home. I can't convert the other to fuel oil as the propane tank is under ground which is common in that town.
thanks for the responses.
Jimco
I did notice the propane heated house went through the propane faster than I expected but I thought it was due to having to check the insulation but it makes sense now.
As far as prices, those are the actual prices I pay. The propane heated house has the same supplier it had before I bought it but with propane burnung more to give the same heat I can see why it's cheaper.
So looks like i'll keep fuel oil in the one home. I can't convert the other to fuel oil as the propane tank is under ground which is common in that town.
thanks for the responses.
Jimco
#5
12-31-05, 07:33 AM
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Hi Jim,
Where in MN are you? I think I recalled my parents paying around $2 a gallon for propane..
How old is your current furance? I'd maybe give it a good tune up to make sure it is working at it's peek.
Where in MN are you? I think I recalled my parents paying around $2 a gallon for propane..
How old is your current furance? I'd maybe give it a good tune up to make sure it is working at it's peek.
