Oil to Gas Conversion

Smith19

Hello all -

I have posted about this system before. The time has come to sell the family place and deal with the 1986 Peerless JO series as the oil tank has developed a case of incontinence. Recently, a gas generator was installed, so we now have gas on the property. Converting the system to gas (new boiler, plumbing, controls, flue, and labor) would easily run beyond $15,000 even with rebates offered. (Massachusetts offers rebates of up to $3000 for boilers up to 96% AFUE if I'm correct). That kind of cost doesn't make sense for selling the house. As such, I am considering a power gas burner conversion for this boiler. The thinking is that buyers would see the oil tank removed from the basement with the opportunity of upgrading the boiler easily in the future. Some questions:

The Peerless JO/JOT series is known for being a tight boiler. We have had issues with clogging and our trusty tech has had to break out the saw to clean the sections. Would the tightness of the heat exchanger pose an issue for a gas burner in any way?

What considerations have to be taken with the flue? It looks like we would need a special MG-1 type damper with a spill switch. Is a costly lining installation required? The flue is in pretty good shape.

Could this boiler support a sixth zone for a sidearm tank? We can't keep the two burner arrangement as is seen in the photo - it makes no sense. I don't know what the boiler's rated for but it doesn't look super deep. House is roughly 3,000 sqft.



Thanks!

STEVEusaPA

You should either put in the new boiler w/indirect, vent it thru the wall to improve the selling price of the home, or leave it as is and let the prospective buyer take the costs off the selling price of the home.
Just putting in a gas power burner, if that boiler would support it, requires a chimney liner, running gas pipe, permits, an indirect tank, removing the oil tank, etc.
I doubt a prospective buyer would feel very comfortable with that arrangement and figure the boiler needs replacement, and will probably ding you on the price anyways.

Smith19

STEVEusaPA said:

Just putting in a gas power burner, if that boiler would support it, requires a chimney liner, running gas pipe, permits, an indirect tank, removing the oil tank, etc.

The problem is the oil tank is leaking so we will have to do something. Replacing just the tank seems silly if there is already gas available.


The neighbor's house was recently renovated. This is what they pulled out after over a decade of trusty service, so there is a precedent for this on a JO boiler:

EBEBRATT-Ed

I would put in a gas hot water heater. You could make another zone and use an indirect but if you selling a water heater is probably less expensive. Flue liners are not that expensive or hard to install (usually)

I see no reason not to convert that boiler to gas with the right technician.

Ma rebates are for 96% + not up to 96%

ratio

Did you grab the burner when you had the chance? That would make the decision easy!

Smith19

ratio said:

Did you grab the burner when you had the chance? That would make the decision easy!

Haha would've fit right in!

HVACNUT

Replace the oil tank and let the buyer decide how they want to proceed.
Replacing the system. Converting to gas. Monetarily it doesn't make sense to spend X thousands when it wont increase the home value by much. Definitely not enough to recoupe your out of pocket costs. And you wont even be there to see the savings from converting. On the other hand, if you like throwing money at people, PM me.😁

EdTheHeaterMan

I prefer OilHeat myself, BUT... I tell my customers that are selling their home, Converting to natural gas will increase the chances of getting a buyer. All things equal the gas heat house will sell faster than the oil heat house.

The listing agreement for selling your home has a check mark for heating system. You only get to check GAS.

So spending 15,000 for a really efficient GAS heat system will get you no more for the house than spending less than $5000.00 on a power burner, atmospheric water heater and an aluminum chimney liner (they are cheeper then stainless steel).

The new gas pipe and burner, new water heater and some elbow grease on the old Peerless will impress most buyers. Remember, most buyers are not HVAC experts, but will be looking at the Kitchen and Bathrooms.

Go for the low price and get rid of the oil tank.

EdTheHeaterMan

Follow Up:
that Bock 32E looks fairly new, Put that on crags list and get a few bucks for it.

Steamhead

EdTheHeaterMan said:

So spending 15,000 for a really efficient GAS heat system will get you no more for the house than spending less than $5000.00 on a power burner, atmospheric water heater and an aluminum chimney liner (they are cheeper then stainless steel).

NEVER use an aluminum chimney liner. Any chimney that has operated with coal and oil will have a lot of sulfur deposits. These will eat up an aluminum liner. We've had at least one customer who had aluminum but it disintegrated, and they had to get a new liner- stainless steel, of course.

Sure, stainless costs a bit more than aluminum, but far less than doing the job twice or facing possible legal action from a subsequent owner.

EdTheHeaterMan

Never heard that before. Aluminum liners were the rage 20 years ago, I think I would have run across a failed liner

There is a first time for everything and you learn something new every day. @Steamhead has more time on here than me, so I Yield to the more experienced

Smith19

EdTheHeaterMan said:

Follow Up:
that Bock 32E looks fairly new, Put that on crags list and get a few bucks for it.

That Bock tank is not what you think. It's from 1998 and has a massive rust hole in the firebox. Also being only 30 gallons it's not too good for a house this size. It's beyond me why the builder didn't install an indirect when the house was built in 1986.

Smith19

Thanks for all the comments - we are exploring quotes for the power gas burner switch. A new gas boiler is just too expensive, and keeping an oil tank in the basement doesn't make sense when gas service is readily available and is something that buyers will want. A sooty boiler with a 30+ year old burner and oil tank will get an inspectors attention, but a cleaned up system with a massive DHW tank, new pumps, and a gas burner would be more appealing to buyers. If they want to ditch the old boiler for a mod-con, then so be it, but it helps hold the sale together.