Conversion to hydronic from hot air by oil

Constantin

... and welcome to the Wall.

... as every system is different, any (even ballpark) pricing is pretty much meaningless. Furthermore, no pricing is discussed on the Wall, as per the wishes of the management.

However, you will find the many luminaries here quite a resource to bounce ideas off of, etc. and that is the reason I pointed you here. Try out the "Find a Pro" link up above, it may prove to be a quicker means of contacting the kinds of folk that you want to get in touch with.

alecs

Hi,
I've just moved to a house with an older forced hot air furnace fired by oil. Hot water is electric, as are clothes dryer, stove, etc. I want to convert to gas, as the local gas co. will pay for the line from the street into the house if you convert to gas heat.

I'm weighing the options between just slapping in a new gas-fired furnace, possibly adding central air, and maybe converting to hot water.

If I did hot water, I would want a condensing boiler with staple-up radiant on the first floor (floor joists all accessible in unfinished basement), and some means of getting heat to the upstairs. Upstairs would be accessible through the attic. Perhaps run hydronic up to attic with a coil/blower system and duct through the ceiling? Perhaps baseboard or radiators in the upstairs? I suppose a hybrid system with radiant on floor one and something else upstairs would create multiple temp zones, and probably would not be condensing in the winter.

Am I off my tree for thinking about converting to hot water? Can anyone give me a ballpark cost for the system I describe - as well as suggestions for the system to install? If I went to hydronic, I would want to go with some sort of gas-fired means of DHW heating as well. The house is 1910 wood frame in the west suburban Boston area, about 1900 sf on two floors, unfinished basement and attic. Any contractors in this area who would like to chat about this, plz email directly.

Thanks
Alec

alecstevens@hotmail.com

Ted_9

You are at the right site

You are on the right track Alec. Become informed and you will find great comfort.


PATRIOT HEATING & COOLING, INC.

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REF

Go with

radiant, ductless A/C or Hi-Velocity A/C and enjoy your new home. Get a great contractor that performs a heatloss/heatgain..is licensed and insured and has great references. A great mechanical system will add some value to your home, moreover, it will be comfortable.

Respectfully,
Richard Fox
Hometown H&C Inc.

alecs

cost discussion

I understand that discussion of costs are frowned upon. Is it OK to ask about relative costs? For example, would the conversion to radiant / hydronic cost 2x? 3x? 10x? the cost of just replacing the furnace with a new warm-air model? Just trying to get a sense of what I am looking at here, not getting quotes.

Ken_8

10X

If the house has to be torn assunder.

You may want consider hydro-air. A very cost effective solution that overcomes nearly all the shortcomings of plain-jane scorched air!

Condensing boilers were "made" for this application (;-o)

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Frank Dobbs

Who knows?

If it makes you feel any better, after several years of trying to figure out what to do with my 1820 rowhose, I am going the route of putting in hydronic and separate AC.

You should have some efficiency gains that add up after 10 years or so, but you have to plan to stay there for them to matter.

As far as the cost, I don't have the cost yet, but it will be staggering, as this is NYC. If you're gonna do it, you just have to look at it as non-elective surgery without health insurance.

So, you have to accept one of two perspectives:

A friend of mine who is a sporting writer, is the son of a steamfitter and installed boilers 35 years ago for minimum wage when he flunked out of Yale. He is one of my oldest chums and sometimes sensible. He says I'm nuts to care about what boiler or heating system I have because you don't see them and you don't drive them.

Today I spoke with an artistic fireplace designer/creator, a British heating engineer in Vancouver, with many years of experience in HVAC. I very much like him and respect him. He is creative, generous and works with great integrity. He said to get the best equipment you can possibly afford because it is part of your house, the mechanical system in your house.

Now the truth is that there is no right answer, mathematically speaking. I say that as a financial analyst. So I refer you to my wife, who says get in any heating system at all, she doesn't care what it is, it can even include the 6' tall british radiator that looks like stainless steel papyrus plant, if I want. Just get it in.

I hope this helps.

ed wallace

oil to gas conversion

good luck with the conversion just remember that once you convert to gas gas prices will never go down with oil you can price shop

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JeffD

Ed,

So true. Also oil has more btu's/gallon than gas does btu's/therm. In many areas oil is a lot cheaper than natural gas. Do a cost comparison by following this link to see which fuel is best for you. Hope this helps. http://www.riversidegasandoil.com/fuel_cost_info.htm