gas or oil

humhead

I have a one pipe oil fired steam system. I am getting ready to remove my 550 gallon underground oil tank. I have to decide if i want to continue with oil or convert to NG.  New Jersey pays for the removal of the oil tank and the installation of a new above ground tank.   If i convert to NG i will have to replace the boiler.  I know oil burns hotter than gas but is more expensive.  I can now lock in a gas rate for up to three years.  My wife hates the sound of the oil burner and thinks gas is better.  Her friend has a gas fired steam boiler.  My boiler also provides hot water, but does not have a storage tank (indirect).  I would like to add that to the exciting boiler or new gas fired.  Do I convert to gas  or not? 

Steamhead

Some oil-fired boilers

can also be used with power gas burners. This can be more efficient than the usual gas boiler. Acoustic covers are available for some burners, oil or powered gas, that helps them run more quietly. What model boiler do you now have, and what burner is on it? Post some pictures if you can.



If NJ will pay for the tank swap-out, that certainly makes staying with oil less expensive.



Either fuel will work well if you have the right equipment. What I like about oil, is that you can choose your supplier. With gas, you usually don't have a choice.

humhead

gas or oil

Hear are some photo s of my boiler. it is a series 3 Weil-McLain. boiler size; A-B-466E. Gross output - 138,000 btu. I have a heating guy coming who is familer with installing gas burners. Is there any questions you think I should ask him? I am leaning towards installing an indirect tank to my boiler. I have been having trouble being able to fill my tubs with enough hot water. The water starts out hot, but as the tub fills up the water becomes luke warm. Does this mean that the hot water coil flow rate is not enough for my needs? Hot water for showers is not a problem. I have noticed that my mixing valve coming off of the output of the hot water coil is stuck. I can not adjust it.

Thanks

Emile

haaljo

naural gas is soooooo cheap

compared to oil, The new fracture and horizontal drilling technologies has quintupled domestic reserves. That means gas prices are not going up much from these rock bottom prices. Here in Boston, we are paying about the equivalent of $1.50 gallon oil. I'm converting my Mom's house to natural gas for heating and dryer. She's 88 and keeps the temperature high ( deserves it :-))

The 95% eff. new boiler is $8K installed through the National Grid program plus NG is charging $1K for the hoop up from the street. She used about 2K gallons of oil last year = way more than $6K.

Natural gas even without the efficiency gain would be $3K/year plus another $1K saved from improved efficiency.  So heating bill goes down $4K/year equals two year payback plus tax credit plus cleaner plus NO oil tank.

However, my sister is very concerned that natural gas goes boom :-)

humhead

Installation of gas gun.

Sorry last post was not complete.  Hear are some photo s of my boiler. it is a series 3 Weil-McLain.

boiler size; A-B-466E. Gross output - 138,000 btu. I have a heating

guy coming who is familiar with installing power gas burners. Is there any

questions  I should ask him?  If i can use a gas gun with this boiler, what would you recommend. 



Thanks

Steamhead

Two things:

First, what kind of boiler does your mother have now?



Second, we do not discuss pricing on this forum.

Steamhead

There are several good ones

Carlin EZ-Gas, HeatWise SU, Midco EC are the three I've used. All three could transfer to a Slant/Fin Intrepid when the time comes to replace that 4-66, but only the Carlin could transfer to a Smith G-8. 

humhead

Installation of gas gun.

Thanks so much for the info. I have someone coming today to give a quote.  I have really grown to appreciate the simplicity of steam heat.  A hundred and seventy years of refinement have produced and elegant system.  I look forward to higher efficient boilers in the future.  That is on reason I am holding out to buy a new furnace.  If I can hold out for five more years, maybe the MEGA-STEAM will be ready for gas.  

humhead

Gas gun retrofitters

Are far and few in between.  Out of four Heating contractors, only one would consider installing a gas gun, and he is retired.  The other three would only suggest atmospheric boilers.  Why the aversion to wet boilers with gas guns.  I went to Smith's website and they have one advertised. I have seen other posts with similar problems.  One contractor said he doesn't like using wet boilers with gas on smaller applications ( 150,000 BTU output).  He also said that my Weil-McClain fire box is not deep enough.  When the old timer showed up, the first thing he did was measure the depth of the fire box and said it wouldn't be a problem. Will Weil-McClain give information on gas gun installations with my boiler?  I like your idea of installing a gas gun on the Weil-McClain, and then later on installing a slant-fin or Smith.I know it seems to be the American way, but I  hate to throw fully functioning equipment out on the street.  I am trying to figure out my next move.  Just like to say thanks for your responses.