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Oil to Gas Conversion

Sam1975
Sam1975 Member Posts: 7
<span style="font-size:12pt">I leave in north NJ and thinking about converting from Oil to Gas. I have baseboard heat and my oil boiler is 10 years old Peerless which runs really well.   Also need to run about 30-35 feet of gas line in the house. I have below questions : </span>

<span style="font-size:12pt">1) Cost of gas line and boiler conversion (the oil to gas burner) and new water heater is about $7,000</span>

<span style="font-size:12pt"> 2) Cost of new boiler and water heater is about  $10,000 to $11,000 and Gas line. </span>

<span style="font-size:12pt">With this high cost in both options, I am thinking about just changing the hot water tank  (40 galleon , hot water comes from the oil boiler) that I have currently to a new Gas Water Heater (50 Galleons) and install the gas line with the option to change to Oil Boiler in future. This way I can keep my working Oil boiler for few more years and same some money. </span>

<span style="font-size:12pt">Do you know this a good option and will I see any saving in my oil cost by just changing my water heater?  Also what is an average cost of gas line installion? I am going to bring the gas line to kitchen and dryer about 30 to 35 feet. Thank you. </span>

Comments

  • Tim McElwain
    Tim McElwain Member Posts: 4,612
    We do not discuss prices

    on this site.



    Your boiler would be good candidate for a power gas conversion burner due to its age. That would cost less than a boiler or other possible solutions.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    edited April 2014
    And the hot-water tank

    which is either an indirect tank or a booster tank depending on how it's built and hooked up, is a great way to generate hot water. No need to replace it.



    What are the model numbers on the boiler and tank? Also, where in North Jersey are you located?
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Snowmelt
    Snowmelt Member Posts: 1,405
    Outdoor reset

    With oil you should have they cal outdoor reset, did you run the gas yet ?

    Also I would put an indirect water heater.



    I'm in nj also.
  • HomeOwner1
    HomeOwner1 Member Posts: 134
    less expensive options out there

    Sounds like you need to shop around some more.



    We faced a similar situation.



    We went with a combi boiler and it works fine. Does heat and hot water in one unit.



    There are many out there. It came down to Navien and Triangle Tube for us since support is local in our area. Navien won out due to lower cost of unit and better hot water capabilities. Works fine for over a year now. We had ours installed for significantly less than your conversion mentioned with PVC exhaust going up the existing chimney. We figured why keep old equipment when we could get a high efficiency condensing and modulating unit for the same budget as a 80 cast iron traditional unit. We already got our money back at this stage in fuel savings. Less than two years, but our old setup was REALLY oversized and oil. You save around 40-50% off the bat with just going with gas roughly with fuel cost differences.



    Another viable option to consider since you need both hot water and heat anyway. Hope this helps.



    Shop around and do what is best for your family, budget and circumstances.
  • Sam1975
    Sam1975 Member Posts: 7
    power gas conversion burner

    My Peerless boiler # is WBV 04-100-WPCI

    So you are suggesting to keep the existing indirect hot water tank and just change the oil burner to a power gas conversion burner? What are the good brands of the power gas conversion burner would work well with peerless oil boiler model wbv 04-100-WPCl. One contractor told me to change the whole boiler and with  power gas conversion burner I am not going to see any savings. Thank you.
  • Tim McElwain
    Tim McElwain Member Posts: 4,612
    Yes I am suggesting the

    power gas burner as the least expensive option and keep the indirect, or go with a gas storage water heater 30, 40 or 50 gallon depending on your needs. The Carlin EZ Pro would be ideal for that boiler. What is your location in NJ? There are folks in the area that are very good at doing conversion burners.



    You will end up with efficiency at least equal to what you have with oil and maybe a little more.



    The cost to get gas into the house depends on the utility the contractor does not do that. You would then need to get a quote on the burner plus cost to run the piping inside the house from the contractor. Make sure the contractor is versed on installing gas conversion burners and will also run a combustion analysis when the burner installation is complete.
  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,476
    Convert the present boiler and add a gas hot water heater?

    I think your boiler is a very good candidate for conversion to gas using a gas power burner like the EZ-Gas because it should have a lot of life left in it and could last longer burning gas rather than oil. Your chimney might need a liner but that would be true with any boiler burning gas.



    If your hot water needs are modest a stand alone gas water heater might be a good idea. My 40 gallon gas hot water heater only uses 5-6 therms of gas a month when the heat isn't running, it's awful hard to think anything would be much better than that.



    Bob
    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
  • Kakashi
    Kakashi Member Posts: 88
    edited April 2014
    Money/efficiency

    7k for all the work and supplies won't change your efficiency, I would only recommend going to a gas burner for an EK only.



    Spend the extra 4k for a 90+ or something similar to a weil-mclain 97+. Call around and get prices...unless you are happy spending 7k for something that is 80-85% efficient.



    If you have tank insurance and it is an underground...read the fine print.
  • JStar
    JStar Member Posts: 2,752
    Conversion

    Either the burner or new boiler is a good option. We do a lot of both. At 10 years old, the existing boiler still has a good amount of life left in it. Add on the outdoor reset control and you can see a big savings. You would save even more with a 95%+ boiler, but the price needs to be justified with a quick return on your investment.



    Agreed that you should keep the indirect tank. That is your most efficient way to make hot water.
  • STEVEusaPA
    STEVEusaPA Member Posts: 6,506
    another option

    use the money to upgrade insulation, building envelope. Keep the oil, upgrade the control to ODR
    steve