Least expensive way to heat a house?

Jen_3

Hi - I just posted about my collapsed combustion chamber, and were told we had to replace our gas boiler. We received one quote for 5800 and another for 6800 to replace our natural gas boiler - I would really appreciate any advice on if there are other heating systems we might try that could provide heat in a less expensive manner. We live in the suburbs just north of Boston, MA. Our house is a two story 1800 sq foot home with forced hot water baseboards throughout. We have no existing duct work in the house, all duct work would be entirely new. What about replacing the baseboards with electric baseboards? Forced hot air systems? Changing to an oil boiler? Any other options? The bottom line question is this: Is it at all likely that I will be able to change to a different type of heating system for less than $6000? Thank you very much for your help!

Plumbob

unfortunately...

Unfortunately, you can't save money on a new system except maybe if you go with electric heat, and then you'll be paying through the nose for daily operation.

Boilers are much more expensive than forced-air furnaces, but as you have realized, putting in ductwork is a major one-time expense.

One is not supposed to discuss specific prices here, but if you don't need major plumbing or other work, just a changeout, and if there is no asbestos on your old boiler or any exceptional situation, you should be able to get a boiler replaced for significantly less than what you were quoted. It won't be the most efficient or quietest system or give you the most even temperatures, but it will work. (It will never be as cheap as a cheap forced-air furnace.)

DanHolohan

Perspective

Jen, even if you go with the higher price here, and assuming you'll keep the boiler for 20 years (and you'll probably keep it longer than that), you'll be spending about 94 cents per day for the installation. Not bad, when you consider how hard it's going to work to keep you comfortable for all those years.

Now compare that to a car. Suppose you buy a new car for $20,000 and keep it for six years. You'll be spending about $9.00 per day (or ten times as much as you'll spend on the boiler), and that doesn't include the interest on the car loan.

When you put it into perspective the heating system's really not such a tough investment to make. You buy it and it serves you for a generation at least. It's just that it came along all of a sudden, and no one likes that. It's an unexpected expense. It always is. Good heating systems are so reliable, and they provide such great comfort, that most folks don't notice them or give them much thought. Until moments like these, of course. But compared to other consumer products, a boiler is a pretty cheap investment all in all.

Best of luck to you. I hope you make a decision that's right for you and your family.

DaveGateway

Get more quotes

Maybe your gas company has some kind of rebate program.
You might be able to find a wall hung boiler installed for less then that.

Jen_3

more info and thanks!

Thank you so much for your advice. I do appreciate that the system would pay for itself over time, but unfortunately we are definitely leaving the house in 4 years, and I'm skeptical of the likelihood that the sale price of the house would increase by $6,000 just because it had a new boiler. I will definitely get more quotes and ask about the wall hung boiler - any other advice on how to request the less expensive boilers? The quotes were to replace everything including the pumps, air compression valve, etc.... can I safely get away with not replacing those parts and replacing only the boiler? I am not aware of any asbestos or any other exceptional situation. I apologize for breaking the don't discuss prices rule! - Jen

DanHolohan

Jen,

if you were buying a used house, would you hire a home inspector to check out the place before you put down any money?

sootmonkey

Cheap Heat

The cheapest heating system, would be passive solar. If thats not in the cards for you, then Dan has you on the right track.

Robert O'Connor_7

Jen

You could consider checking your homeowners insurance, some companies (depending on policy) pay for cracked boilers. I would check your policy for details. It is a long shot, but hook or by crook, your gonna need to change that boiler before it gets too cold out there anyway. Get a few more prices and or see if someone would finance it. Unfortuate for you, but you have to pay for comfort, and everyone has their price. On the up side, a new boiler CAN increase resale value (depending) as much as 10 grand..Robert O'Connor/NJ

Waylon Lowery

$6800 sounds like a

great price to me. Most of the boiler changeouts we do are usually quite a bit more than that.

We also change out the expansion tanks, pumps, etc. These are components that typically have a limited life , and it is usually a good idea to replace the miscellaneous system components at the same that you replace the boiler. Just replacing the boiler itself is similar to putting in a new engine in a car without replacing the fuel pump. You know that the old fuel pump will die before the new engine, so why not bring the entire system up to date with new replacements.

It is usually a matter of "Pay me now or pay me MORE later." Meaning that you can replace the pump now at a good price, or when your old pump fails on christmas eve you can pay me a lot more to replace it then.

Robert O'Connor_6

Thanks

Dan for that analogy/perspective

Regards

Robert

ME

J.C.A._3

Psssst......

Hey Jen, I got some friends up here that could heat that place for about a buck ninty-nine. A gallon of the petrol and a match and badabing....heat!

Just kidding! Dan made a very good point. The "guts" of the house are unseen, and therefore not thought of in terms of the job that they do.

The new car/SUV you drive off the dealers lot loses more in deperciation than the cost of a heating system in that instance.I know the neighbors won't ever see the heating system like they would a new ride, but you can have a good giggle everytime you get a fuel bill knowing that the neighbors are paying MORE than you are. Sly and smart! Go for it. Chris

DaveGateway

A small 80% efficent gas boiler

from Crown or a copperfin tube Raypak boiler should not cost that much. There's a few cheap wall hung boilers made in Asia that probably won't last more then a water heater but for a few years this might be enough for you. Some of these cannot use a chimney and must be direct vented out the side wall of the house.

Chuckles_2

lowering cost

I'm just a homeowner so I don't have to sell you on how the prices you've been quoted are such a good deal. They're not, unless something unusual or premium is being offered. There are wide variations in quotes, shop around, get at least six quotes. Tell them you want a low price above all. Also ask if the pumps or pressure-reducing valve or whatever can be reused.

Dave Yates (PAH)

Selling is an art

You can go for cheap and pay through the nose over time or you can pay the up-front costs for a modern high-efficiency appliance and reap the rewards - starting on day one of operation.

When four years rolls around, you'll have either a track record worthy of display where fuel savings are concerned, or you'll have a mundane and ordinary run-of-the-mill heating appliance that inspires no one and won't be worthy of mention. If fuel costs continue to rise at current paces, a relatively new boiler of lower efficiency might just be seen as a negative worthy of price point negotiations.
Given the current state of affairs where rising fuel costs are concerned, I'd be darned concerned about doing this the right way. Spend an extra two or three grand now and recoup not only the savings on fuel usage, but the return on investment you'll see when you can clearly show a perspective buyer your home will save them an extra mortgage patyment or three every year (tax free too) over what they'd be paying for fuel with the other homes they're considering.

Over four years, you can save a good deal of the price difference, which is an excellent ROI. Even in its hayday, the stock market never held such promise.

You've nothing to lose and lots to gain.

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Ted_9

Wow, $5800.00 is not low enough for you. I cant wait to see what you get for less. Please keep us posted all winter and for the next 10 years. Let us know how a $3,000.00 dollar install works out for you.....

PATRIOT HEATING & COOLING, INC.

jim lockard

your home

May or may not be worth more with a new heating system. Without a heating system in Boston it will be worth a lot less when its time to sell.