oil to gas conversion

Fender

Hi everyone - i'm new to the board.  I'm sure this has been asked and answered somewhere on this site.  I'm planning on converting from oil to gas and was just wondering if there was anything I needed to be aware of with this type of conversion.  I'm going to have a contractor handle the job of course.  I already have gas coming into the house (stove, dishwasher).  i just kind a wanted to hear what some of the experts have to say about preparing for a job like this. Thanks.

Unknown

Oil to Gas

Hi- You didn't mention what sort of heating system do you have now- Steam, Hot Water, Radiant, etc. ?  While you may already have a gas line for stove etc., it may not be large enough to supply gas to your modified heating system. You might want to take a look at the "Find a Professional" section at the top of this page. Scroll down to your State and see if there is a heating pro located near you. (the Zip Code function is new and sometimes doesn't work properly)  There are some very good Heating Pros listed there and they could take a look at your present system and make recommendations.

- Rod

Steamhead

Have you checked

the cost per BTU of the two fuels? What you find may surprise you after you add in all the taxes and fees that the gas company doesn't want you to know about...............



Also, what type of system do you have? What make and model is your boiler (or furnace)? What burner is on it?

Fender

conversion

I have a steam system with an A.O. Smith Water heater & Arcoliner oil burner (I think it's the original unit) Unfortunately there aren't any professionals on this site who service my area. How would I go about comparing the btu's for gas/oil?

billtwocase

conversion

If you do stay oil, Steamhead would work wonders with it by updating the burner, chamber, and baffle the passage ways. Those boilers are tough as nails. Perhaps a Megasteam would do you better

Leo

A Pig with a Dress

Those boilers are bullet proof but they are fuel guzzlers be it oil or gas.  To swap to gas to save money is no comparison with oil given this boiler.  You can change the burner and tune it to perfection but you still have a pig, you have just changed it to a pig with a dress.  I am biased because I am an oil tech but again even swapping this boiler to gas still won't be the ultimate savings.  If the budget allows swapping both the boiler and burner no matter what the fuel is the best way to go.

Leo

Steamhead

Where are you located?

There has to be someone close to you......



I agree on the Arcoliner- it can be baffled if you really can't afford a complete replacement, but it won't be as efficient as a new boiler- especially if it's the dry-base version. Post the model numbers of that unit and we can tell you for sure what you have.

Fender

conversion

Steamhead - i'm in hackensack, nj (northern nj). I couldn't totally make out the model number info for the Arcoliner but here is what I could make out: No 0154T, 2BT J3 series. I have an A.O. Smith FSG 40 gal. gas water heater for cooking, dryer and hot water.

the proposal I got from one contractor says they would install a Carrier (125,000) BTU gas fired boiler. (any thoughts)

Leo - I thought about upgrading the oil system. From what I have seen so far upgrading to a new oil system might cost more than the actual conversion, according to the quote I received.

Steamhead

That was the last Arcoliner series

probably dates from the early 1960s. 



I think Carrier boilers are made by Dunkirk. There are better choices than this atmospheric model. The pictured Slant/Fin Intrepid and Smith 8 series (called G-8 in gas trim) offer better thermal efficiency than any atmospheric boiler. As a bonus they are approved with both oil and gas burners.



If you stay with oil, the pictured Burnham MegaSteam is the boiler to have. I think this boiler is reason enough to stay with oil. At the moment it isn't offered with a gas burner, but they know we want it.

Fender

Megasteam

thanks, Steamhead.  I researched the megasteam and/or Burnham online after reading one of the posts in this thread and Burnham was getting KILLED with negative reviews.  I'm not sure if people were unhappy with the megasteam, but they were definately upset with Burnham.

Steamhead

Burnham had some issues

with the V-7 and V-8 series. Haven't heard anything bad about the MegaSteam (and MPO) series, so I wouldn't worry about them. And I don't worry- we have several MegaSteams out there. Our customers love them. 

HomeOwner34

Oil To Gas Convertion Kits Needed

Hello I am looking for a Oil to natural gas conversion kit for a Burn Boiler Model

# MST629SL-LL If some one can please help me with this that would be great. I need to have this conversion done quickly.



Thank you