Replies

1. 
   Tim | Feb 17, 2010 02:10pm | #1

   You can compare the relative costs, but you need the fuel costs and the efficiencies of the units. If one costs less to operate, but costs more to buy, you can estimate "payback" with HDD (heating degree days) for your area.

   What reason does the contractor give for his recommendation? There are some very nice, very efficient oil boilers out there (i.e. Viessman). What type of system do you have, hot water or steam? With a steam system, the process limits the efficiency no matter the fuel.

   Personally, I prefer LPG. Not really affected by temperature, not as messy, tank is outside. thousands of NG products that can be easily converted to LPG.

2. 
   gusfhb | Feb 17, 2010 11:59pm | #2

   There is no number at which propane works out. '

   a gas furnace should be cheaper up front, but will cost more in the long run.

   I just installed a 92 percent Buderus oil, so I have done the math.

   I too wish I had gas in the street....

1. 
   rjw | Feb 18, 2010 11:51am | #3

   >>There is no number at which

   >>There is no number at which propane works out. '

   It depends on where you are - for the OP, SE Mass is likely stay oil=centric for a long time to come.  In many parts of the country, I believe residential oil is no longer cost competitive

   >>a gas furnace should be cheaper up front, but will cost mre in the long run.

   Including maintenance?

   E.g., One never has to replace jets on a gas combustion device

   Including life expectancy?

   Including producing hot water?

   IS there a reason far more parts of the country use gas rather than oil?

   I don't know the answers to these questions, but think they are worth considering.

1. 
   gusfhb | Feb 18, 2010 09:53pm | #4

   Gas yes, propane no

   just do the math

3. 
   GaryGary | Feb 19, 2010 08:32pm | #5

   Hi,

   You can calculate which is cheaper easily using this calculator:

   http://www.builditsolar.com/References/Calculators/Fuels/FuelCompare.htm

   We use propane -- the price around here for propane is very volatile.  It was 80 cents a gallon when we started 10 years ago and is not about $2.20. 

   Spend your money on more insulation :)

   Gary

4. 
   jroy | Feb 23, 2010 02:01pm | #6

   Thanks for all the thoughts on this subject as Ive decided to stick to oil for heating.  My hvac guy has suggested using a Biasi B10-5 w/Superstore s.s indirect water tank for a replacement heater.  I like the Buderus BE125, but the price is too steep.

   The reason Im looking to switch (from a furnace) is two fold...I cant run ductwork into parts of my new addition & my furnace is over 25yrs old, oil fired water heater 12yrs old.  I have a air handler in the attic which runs off the water heater to provide heat to the bedrooms and Ive never liked having it run off the water heater.  So changing to a boiler will allow me to use the air handler for the bedrooms, run hydro air in the ductwork I have (along w a/c)and run baseboard to the areas of the addition where duct work isnt practicle.

   I would appreciate your thoughts on a good quality, efficient boiler that is reasonably priced.

   thanks,

   JRoy

5. 
   Maybejoe | Nov 16, 2017 06:41pm | #7

   There are a host of other considerations in switching to propane

   Courses should be offered regarding the host of considerations when switching from oil-fired boiler to propane.  However, when you contact a qualified, known contractor, and they do not disclose everything you should have known prior to installation, what recourse is there, unless you have $10,000 laying around to switch it back.

   Oil is so much more straightforard.  It is what it is.  It is far less likely to explode.  I'm sure that oil burns much more cleanly than this mercaptan-scented propane.  The sole reason for the switch was that the furnace cracked, and every contractor brought in swore that there was no way to get another oil-fired furnace, and holding tank inside the house.  (And, I'm in your neck of the world).  So now?  The money is gone, and I've got some kind of eye/neuro problem I did not have... It is highly likely that the flue vent to the outside was placed too close to a window, and that the tanks themselves, placed directly under a window, is a very bad thing.  But do you think the company - the highly-reputable company will do anything about this.  If it wasn't freezing, I'd shut the entire operation down in a second, and I surely will do so the moment the weather is warm again.

   I hadn't known I would have eye/neuro irritation, nor that the "vapor" - such a benign-sounding word, isn't it? - would be so effusive, and, I'm thinking it will warp the side wall shingles.. I did not know that the tanks should not be directly underneath a window...

   I mean, I'm considering that I now shouldn't mow anywhere near the propane tanks, for fear of sparks from hitting a stone.  I've had rather severe eye irriation in one section on the first floor of this small old house, since the installation.  The vapor vent to the outside produces remarkable amounts of vapor, and I have to wonder if I'm being exposed to Carbon Monoxide gas in that area of the house.  But I'm not even close to being an expert in chemistry, or physics, or HVAC functioning.  Nonetheless, I'm having a rapid-blinking response, even though my eyes are overly moist.

   Then, there is the entire retrofit problem should, down the line, one want to switch to something else.  All the copper piping would have to be tossed.  And the expense which in no manner will compensate for any alleged "energy savings" - not that that is why this boiler-condenser was purchaed. 

   Frankly, I feel like there ought to be a way to have the purchase refunded and the entire mess removed on the basis of insufficient information being provided by the experts, and, quite likely, improper placement.  Fat chance.

1. 
   DanH | Nov 16, 2017 07:48pm | #8

   We had propane in this house for two years, before natural gas came available again.  (There was a moratorium on NG connectrions in 1976.)  Never caused a problem, once I fixed the gas leak.  (You could smell gas whenever you got close to the furnace room.  The leak was a tiny spot in one joint -- a quarter turn with a pipe wrench fixed it right up.)

   I would suspect you have a leak.

6. 
   junkhound | Nov 17, 2017 02:29pm | #9

   aha Easter time again early, -- aka another ressurection

   OP HVAC guy must be a fossil fuel fossil,

   Unless yu are in the froen north, mini-split HP cheaper both purchse and opertional,  you can diy jmini-split