Oil boiler to hot/cool air in house
Hi All, We currently have an oil boiler (water baseboard), which needs repair. Basically a new one. When OIl was maxing out @ $5 a gallon, we started to use our pellet coal stove all winter long. Although its very cheap, its cons are; its dirty, dries out the house and people who live in it, and its work to get the coal into the house, into the stove and dump the ash. Our house is a split level, no basement. We have thought about getting quotes for a system we can get forced air, 2 zones. We live in West Chester PA. I’ve heard heat pumps, and geothermal mentioned and them slim units that hang on the walls. Unfortunately, natural gas is not offered in our area. We figured in 10-20 years solar would be an option to charge up the house and hopefully the forced air unit, which would run off electricity. Expensive to run it currently off electricity? Any thoughts from experience would help. and happy new year to all.
Replies
If natural gas isn't an
If natural gas isn't an option, probably the lowest operating cost would be geothermal, but installation costs are high. An air-based heat pump is somewhat more expensive to operate, but considerably cheaper to install. But either might require upgrading your electric service. Propane is the other obvious option, but likely as expensive as oil where you are.
Do note that heat pumps (ground and air) are available to run hot water systems, though the output temp is lower, so not as efficient as forced air.
Your electric utility will likely have some information on operating costs in your area.
Thanks, good advice. I'll get
Thanks, good advice. I'll get some pricing on my options.
Mark
Maybe consider a pellet fired furnace? Just requires a bit of on-going feeding of the hopper and it removes it from the space.
Ground source heat pumps CAN be expensive, but that depends a LOT on site conditions, so you really need to investigate first.
Electric heat historically is VERY expensive (relatively speaking); often double that of e.g. gas. Solar heat is not likely very attractive ... in your climate/location.
Really look at a variety of options for furnace replacement. I advocate an informed decision that is often based on lots of information. You are buying it for 15-20+ yrs, so you might as well make it worth it, IMO.
interesting, Pellet fired furnace. Like wood pellets?
I did speak w/ a construction guy last night at a party and he was telling me how well his house is insulated from the high density foam he had sprayed in his house. His thinking was insulate well first, than look into heating options.
Oil and delivered gas is about the same amount, as far as cost. I'm sure what ever option i go with, it has to be better efficiency than what we have now.