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New Gas Conversion

Hello everyone.



I live on Long Island and have an old boiler with oil heating. My house is 3125 sq feet with base board heating I am looking to switch over to gas. I was wondering what everyone would recommend. I have several contractors come through and they all have different recommendations. Some contradicting the other. One contractor recommended a condensing boiler(95% efficiency) with and indirect water heater. Other contractor say that a condensing would be a waste of money for me because I have base board heating so the boiler would be operating at 85% efficiency. Another contractor recommended and Burham es25 boiler and and Ao smith water heater. Another recommeded an Burhman es26 boiler and an indirect water heater with an out door reset. Another recommended a Burhman Series 2 Model 206 with an indirect hw. Any opinions on what the best option for me would be greatly appreciated.

Comments

  • SWEI
    SWEI Member Posts: 7,356
    Baseboard works fine with a mod/con

    http://www.fcxalaska.com/PDFs/AshraeCondensingTechnology.pdf



    Did any of your prospective contractors perform a room-by-room heat loss and a survey of existing radiation?  Both of these should be done before any equipment decision is made, much less a contract signed.
  • Harper111
    Harper111 Member Posts: 26
    Burnham products are an excellent choice

    It is not permitted to convert existing Burnham oil boilers to gas. The conversions will fail inspection since it is not certified by the manufacturer. The Gas conversion manufacturers may tell you this as well, as they should not be permitted the manufacturer to sell conversion products. If a conversion installer or company tries to tell you different, you may want to ask to speak to their insurance company and ask if their policy will assume all liability if something should go wrong.



    The newer Burnham products are wonderful and if your budget can support the newer technology, you will not be disappointed.
  • SWEI
    SWEI Member Posts: 7,356
    Read before you reply

    There has been no suggestion of using a conversion burner here.
  • knotgrumpy
    knotgrumpy Member Posts: 211
    edited February 2014
    It's a little creepy

    What do you do, wait for the words 'gas' and 'conversion' to appear in the same sentence?

     



    Creeps me out.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    edited February 2014
    Harper111

    is so predictable.



    Even after I posted pictures of conversions we did that passed inspection (and we have NEVER had one that didn't), he hasn't changed his tune.



    Is this an example of "being in denial"?
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Jacobchemical
    Jacobchemical Member Posts: 5
    edited March 2014
    Correct me if I am wrong

    I read the material in link and it says that the condensing boiler work based on the temperature of the return water. In one of the diagrams is shows that a condensing boiler works in Non-condensing mode(Only at 85%)if the return temperature is greater than 130 and that baseboard heating return water temperature is greater than 130. So the condensing boiler would be a waste of money for me. Is this correct or did I miss something.
  • Jacobchemical
    Jacobchemical Member Posts: 5
    This is a new boiler

    I am not converting an Oil boiler to a gas boiler. I am getting a new boiler
  • Jacobchemical
    Jacobchemical Member Posts: 5
    edited March 2014
    Its a little creepy Is this a joke?????

    I dont get this post.
  • jonny88
    jonny88 Member Posts: 1,139
    Jacob

    There is a member here when he sees oil to gas he automatically assumes the plumber is going to take the oil burner assembly of and replace it with a model that is gas fired.As Steamhead has said when done Properly there is no issues hence the word properly as many guys cant do it right.Repost on the main wall,you might have more luck.
  • j a_2
    j a_2 Member Posts: 1,801
    questions

    What kind of baseboard c/i or copper?

    How many zones?

    Did you get a whole house heat loss?

    Age of people living in home?

    Did anyone check the gas service size and pressure,as well as a load check..



    I understand you want a new boiler and not a conversion kit….FYI not all of Burnham boilers are NON convertible,as I recently learned, in fact when I contacted Burnham engineers,they thanked me for bringing up a situation and hence had the boiler manual reworded to include it could be converted….All to my surprise….
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,796
    Which model

    was this?
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • gennady
    gennady Member Posts: 839
    Correction

    In order for boiler to condense you do not need water temperature below 130. Boiler can condense at 160F return water temperature. Also, when using outdoor reset, water supply temperature usually around 160F at average long island winter outdoor temperature.