Oil to gas conversion

helaine

I’m new to all of this and just started my research and getting estimates. I’m located in Nassau county Long Island. I have ability to convert to gas as it will be coming to my street. I currently have a slant fin high efficiency oil boiler that is only 8 years old at 79,000/85,000 BTU. I have a split level approx 2200 square feet. Basement/ lower level has baseboard which we never need to use. 5 zones of in floor hydronic radiant heat and another zine of forced hydronic air via the air handler. We only put that on when it’s less than 45 degrees usually as the floor heat keeps the house qiluite comfortable. I keep the house set at 68 mostly.
I have a 45 gallon HTP superstore ultra indirect that is 7 years old.
HMy house is a all brick 4 bed 3 bath split that was completely gutted 8 years ago. My current system has no problem keeping up even when below freezing outside.
Have had 2 estimates so far
1. Burnham series 205 130,000 BTU
-This company says I need a new indirect water heater or a Bradford white water heater. Says a HE boiler not necessary that this model is a workhorse.days can’t use current indirect.
2. Burnham ES25. 140,000BTU. This co. says I can use current indirect with it and all our current hook ups are perfectly fine. He said just an easy swap out of the boilers.
I questioned why so big and he told me about house square footage and this size is appropriate.

Both of these bids the boiler is so much bigger than what I have now that is having no issues, it’s just we want to convert to gas. Both companies are respected and do tons of conversions in my neighborhood but I am uneasy. Getting additional quite today but who can I call for central Long Island for another quote that will sell me an appropriate sized system? Am I missing something?
I know about the heat loss analysis but my system was installed brand new 8 years ago into a basically rebuilt home that is well insulated. No changes since then
Thanks for any help

helaine

Both these installers are national grid preferred. To national grid installers only want to install Burnham? I know it has debate but I’m open to better options

Steamhead

What model Slant/Fin do you have?

flat_twin

Sounds like neither of these contractors actually did a heat loss analysis. Who installed the 85k btu boiler eight years ago? Have you talked to them?

helaine

Have no idea who installed 8 years ago. Our home was a foreclosure bought by a builder and renovated and soldd to us.
I wish I kbew

helaine

EC 13P slant fin model

Steamhead

A Eutectic! That's a better boiler than either of those Burnhams.

Carlin makes a gas burner that will go in that boiler. This will run more efficiently than the ones National Greed is pushing. Try our Find a Contractor page- there are plenty of guys on LI who could put it in for you.

Robert O'Brien

Steamhead said:

A Eutectic! That's a better boiler than either of those Burnhams.

Carlin makes a gas burner that will go in that boiler. This will run more efficiently than the ones National Greed is pushing. Try our Find a Contractor page- there are plenty of guys on LI who could put it in for you.

A conversion burner would be superior to a new 82% atmospheric boiler in your case

Steamhead

@helaine , one real good LI contractor just spoke up.

@Robert O'Brien , that's a spec EZ-Gas for that particular boiler model. Details are in the Carlin OEM Spec guide.

helaine

Thank you very much!

helaine

I will call Bob today to make an appointment!

Lance

In the conversion burner situation make sure the installer is licensed for gas conversion burners. I hold such a license, most do not. There is a difference between combustion space and btu burner outputs. You are redesigning a manufactured product! Gas has a lower BTU capacity per cubic inch of combustion area. You may only be able to get 75-85% BTU of the oil capacity. If unit is over sized it can be done. Varies depending on positive pressure or natural draft and type of burner. Adjusting for NPP is critical.
This was common to convert in the days when combustion chambers were larger. If done right, a conversion burner is the way to save money. Otherwise if it can't be done than a replacement unit will be required to switch to gas. Good luck.

Steamhead

@Lance , the burner I mentioned is set up specifically for the OP's boiler when you buy it. Carlin has already done the engineering. Of course it has to be tuned with an analyzer, but that's true of all burners.

cutter

Steamhead said:

@Lance , the burner I mentioned is set up specifically for the OP's boiler when you buy it. Carlin has already done the engineering. Of course it has to be tuned with an analyzer, but that's true of all burners.

Steamhead, I am wanting to convert my oil to gas. Wayne supplied the oil burner so I called them and they have a gas burner that works for my boiler. That will be the unit I buy when I do the conversion.

Steamhead

Which burner did they recommend for your VP?

I'm not fond of the P250/P265/SC80 burners, as they are not true flame-retention units and therefore don't duplicate the flame pattern of your M-SR. If I were going to put a Wayne gas burner in your boiler I'd use the HSG-200. But I'm more likely to use a Carlin EZ-Gas or Midco EC-200.

cutter

Steamhead said:

Which burner did they recommend for your VP?

I'm not fond of the P250/P265/SC80 burners, as they are not true flame-retention units and therefore don't duplicate the flame pattern of your M-SR. If I were going to put a Wayne gas burner in your boiler I'd use the HSG-200. But I'm more likely to use a Carlin EZ-Gas or Midco EC-200.

Steamhead said:

Which burner did they recommend for your VP?

I'm not fond of the P250/P265/SC80 burners, as they are not true flame-retention units and therefore don't duplicate the flame pattern of your M-SR. If I were going to put a Wayne gas burner in your boiler I'd use the HSG-200. But I'm more likely to use a Carlin EZ-Gas or Midco EC-200.

Steamhead, She suggested the P265 Fbb

Steamhead

cutter said:

Steamhead, She suggested the P265 Fbb

Never had decent combustion from that type of burner (including the Midco Economite E20 as well) unless it was in a huge old boiler with a lot of combustion volume.

We had a customer with an E20 in an older Burnham steamer (I believe it was a V-34), and it always needed a lot of excess air to keep the CO down. The flame lacked the compactness of a flame-retention burner and impingement (hitting the refractory or cast iron) was a serious problem. When the motor in the E20 quit, we upgraded to an EC-200, whose flame pattern matched the firing zone nicely, allowing for much better combustion.

I think that P265 would perform as badly in your boiler. I stand by my recommendations.

D107

With such conversions aren't there issues with lower flue temperatures with outside chimneys since gas burns cooler than oil? We looked into it with our family's Buderus G115/21 and even though the chimney is stainless steel-lined and insulated with Thermix, we were advised against it. Even with oil breech temps rarely get over 275º; gas would be lower. Also I was told efficiency would decrease from 86% to about 82%. At the very least baffles would have to be removed.

Steamhead

Not if they are done right. And, Buderus was offering conversion burners for these boilers as of a couple years ago. We converted one and the stack temp and other factors were fine.