Oil vs Gas?

[MTAtech]

OK, I have oil heat. My boiler is about 40 years old.

The gas company keeps sending me mail stating that they will give me a new boiler for $95 if I switch to gas.

I figure that's a good deal since my boiler is so old unless the price of gas per BTU is more expensive than oil.

Does anyone have an opinion? (silly question)

[ben-the-slacker]

I think gas is a little expensive, but I'm not sure. I'm dont pay the bills around the house.

[The Real Bingo]

Electric is the way to go, but if you dont have the money for that, gas would probably be the best. I dont think oil is any good.

edit

Oil burners are more efficient than gas for heating water but gas is better for forced hot air, according to the plumber/HVAC guy I consulted before choosing the heating system for our new house.

Whether you choose oil or gas, the new furnaces are going to be much smaller and more efficient than your current model. Don't expect to get anywhere near 40 years out of these new units, though.

[MTAtech]

I have recirculating hot water heating not forced air.

Yes, the old unit is really solid. I'm sure they don't make things like they used to.

I have a gas hot water tank. If prefer that because in power outages (about once a year) gas hot water still works, while oil hot water doesn't because it needs elect. for the oil pump.

Also, I don't know if anyone remembers, but I put in photovoltaic cells almost two years ago.

[no1_vern]

Generally OIL heat is very efficient . It is one of the most economical means of heating your house(I think passive solar is the only thing that beats it). Weatherizing your house can save thousands off your heating bills. Before you take the gas company up on its offer find out how much they will charge to maintain the gas furnace. Thaey may be taking a page out of the printer companies handbook. Sell the initial product cheapest method possible and beat the customer out for supplies (gas), and repairs(maintenance).

While gas is more expensive and less efficient than oil you lose a several headaches that are part and parcel to oil furnaces, a large tank being one, and the smell of the oil when you are in the tank room. Also some of the new environmental laws can be a hassle if you decide to go to gas. YOU will need to get rid of the oil tank, pumps piping in an environmentally safe way.

Stay with the radiant(Hydronic) heating It is much more comfortable and less intrusive than air heat.

Top rated furnaces .

energy guidlines .

Replacing your heating plant.


Electric is one of the most expensive methods of heating a house!
Dont use electric unless you buy one of the new heat pumps and then only as a supplement to the oil heat.
QUOTE
"With gas, propane and oil prices increasing, installing a heat pump, instead of just a central air-conditioner, with your old furnace may make good economic sense. During mild fall and spring weather, a new heat pump can heat your home less expensively than a gas, propane or oil furnace"


BTW CAnt you tie the photovoltaic cells to the oil pump so it will run during those power outages?

[MTAtech]

thanks no1_vern - very comprehensive.

BTW CAnt you tie the photovoltaic cells to the oil pump so it will run during those power outages?

No, because there is no batteries for storage. All surplus electricity goes into the utility grid. If the grid goes down, so do I.

The main consideration whether to switch to gas is the free boiler. The gas company will give it almost fro free ($95). If I wanted a new oil boiler, it would be $2,000-2,500 out-of-pocket. Considering that I use only 650 gallons of oil/yr (because of thermal efficiencies I've added) the oil would need to be significantly chaeper per BTU to account for the cost avoidance of the boiler.

In order to quantify 'how much,' I need to obtain the relative conversions and estimate how much per year I could expect to pay with gas. Now, 650 gallons at $1.70/gal. is $1,105/yr.

[osprey4]

Gas has had nearly as many ups and downs as oil lately. Right now it's pretty expensive. So a strict price comparison might be difficult. But I would guess that just getting a new boiler would improve things significantly because of the higher efficiency.

[zen]

95 bucks?
Are you kidding?
No brainer here.

[thekingofpain]

How come we never used oil for heat in the west?