Oil Furnace Replacement Costs (house, home inspection, shop)

[Oakley7677]

Trying to throw together some numbers on a house purchase, and I am thinking that we are going to have to budget for a new oil furnace. Anyone have ballpark numbers for what one would cost, installed? It is a forced hot water system.

Thanks

[Wells5]

Figure a minimum of $4,500 to over $6,000 if you replace everything plus $1800 if you will also replace the oil tank. Just putting in a new burner unit will be a lot cheaper. But I would also consider replacing the oil furnace with a propane unit or better nat gas if you are lucky enough to have access.

[Oakley7677]

Originally Posted by Wells5

Figure a minimum of $4,500 to over $6,000 if you replace everything plus $1800 if you will also replace the oil tank. Just putting in a new burner unit will be a lot cheaper. But I would also consider replacing the oil furnace with a propane unit or better nat gas if you are lucky enough to have access.

Thanks.

No access to natural gas, so we're either going to have to stick with oil, or convert to propane, but I'm not sure propane has enough advantages over oil to convert. The house has a wood stove that I think we may convert to a pellet stove, but that is a few years down the road.

[GregW]

Why do you think you will need a new furnace instead of a complete inspection, cleaning and repair? I would avoid propane for anything but cooking fuel. It is very expensive compared to oil.
A better use of your money would be to completely inspect and reinsulate the house.

[Oakley7677]

Originally Posted by GregW

Why do you think you will need a new furnace instead of a complete inspection, cleaning and repair? I would avoid propane for anything but cooking fuel. It is very expensive compared to oil.
A better use of your money would be to completely inspect and reinsulate the house.

I don't know for sure if it needs to be replaced, I'm just planning for worse case.

I agree with you about propane.

Good point about re insulating. We'll see what the home inspection reveals.

[unit731]

Well, you can do what you wish.
It is good to budget ahead.

Unless the boiler is cracked it usually doesn't need replacement - just to be modern.
The head unit/oil burner can be replaced without replacing everything else.

If you do decide to replace all stick with main brand names. And don't go too high tech. Stick with proven technologies and main brand name.

Not always, but sometimes it is best to have your regular home heating oil company install such. If something happens to be installed incorrectly you can blame them.

But do shop around. There is a vast difference between wholesale and retail price for all units.

[xo_kizzy_xo]

We had to replace our boiler last winter. It was in the low $5000 range for the bare-bones-no-bells-and-whistles model. All boilers made nowadays have to conform to EPA regs, btw.

[thebig0]

Originally Posted by Groundpounder

Thanks.

No access to natural gas, so we're either going to have to stick with oil, or convert to propane, but I'm not sure propane has enough advantages over oil to convert. The house has a wood stove that I think we may convert to a pellet stove, but that is a few years down the road.

Pellet boilers have improved significantly over the years. Our house has a five year old oil boiler and four year old pellet stove. I would have opted for a pellet boiler and wood stove if I could do it again.

Wood Boiler | Coal & Pellet Boilers Boiler | Harman Stoves

[CaseyB]

We just had a new burner installation done last month (also forced hot water). It cost $7200 and we received estimates that were much higher.

[Oakley7677]

Home Inspection is tomorrow, hopefully we'll get a good answer!