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Conversion from oil to propane

My sister lives in Belfast, ME and heats with oil for hot water boiler. While I realize most oil boilers are only certified for oil, what are the concerns if a Carlin EZ Gas for propane was installed? The have a stainless steel chimney liner.



Any idea what the comparable per BTU cost of propane is compared to oil?



Thanks.



Steve Garson

Boston, MA
Steve from Denver, CO

Comments

  • SWEI
    SWEI Member Posts: 7,356
    do the math

    Prices from her local suppliers will be necessary http://www.eia.gov/neic/experts/heatcalc.xls
  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,476
    Propane isn't cheap

    In Mass. propane is about 20% more expensive than oil on a BTU basis, a gallon of oil will produce 140,000 BTU's while a gallon of propane is 92,000 BTU's.



    I don't know what the prices are in Maine but I'll bet the differences  are similar.



    Bob
    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
  • icesailor
    icesailor Member Posts: 7,265
    Figure it like this:

    We'll call a BTU a penny ($0.01) Take two one gallon buckets. Put 91.000 pennies in one bucket (LP Gas). Put 139,000 pennies in the other (#2 heating oil).

    Compare the price of the different fuels and which bucket is the better deal.

    The efficiencies are about the same. And if you put a gas conversion burner in an oil boiler, the efficiency is usually less.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    Depends on what burner you use

    some of the older gas conversion burners weren't so good, but a Carlin EZ-Gas, Midco EC or Riello gas burner will do as well as an oil burner.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Steve Garson_2
    Steve Garson_2 Member Posts: 712
    Propane

    20% less than oil in Maine.
    Steve from Denver, CO
  • Steve Garson_2
    Steve Garson_2 Member Posts: 712
    Propane

    20% less than oil in Maine.
    Steve from Denver, CO
  • SWEI
    SWEI Member Posts: 7,356
    prices

    20% less per gallon or per BTU?
  • BobC
    BobC Member Posts: 5,476
    Not to belabor the point

    I scanned the cost of oil in Portland and it was about $3.40 a gallon and that buys 140,000 BTU's of heat. Propane is about 91,000 BTU's per gallon so it only contains 65% as much energy and you have to buy 1.54 gallons of propane to get the same amount of heat as would get out of a gallon of oil.



    If you can get propane for $2.20 a gallon you would be getting about the same amount of heat (2.20 X 1.54 = 3.39) as you get out of a gallon of oil at $3.40. just be sure your comparing apples to apples before opening up the old wallet.



    Bob
    Smith G8-3 with EZ Gas @ 90,000 BTU, Single pipe steam
    Vaporstat with a 12oz cut-out and 4oz cut-in
    3PSI gauge
  • Jack
    Jack Member Posts: 1,047
    Just a couple things

    While the straight but comparison is a part of the story, one of the great benefits of the gas conversion is you can buy some technology. The benefits of a modulating gas will deliver greater efficiency over a season. As well, you can eliminate an old chimney. One of the best things about lp is you can buy your own gas tank and get sufficient storage to make it through the season without the mis season buys. I paid $1.44 this summer and have sufficient storage to make it thru till spring. Don't recall exactly but I think ME limits you to 2 330 gal oil storage tanks and they have to be inside. You can bury your LP tank. Also, no fuel will be as sensitive to political upheaval around the world as oil.
This discussion has been closed.