Heating oil to Gas conversions

[forest beekeeper]

A conversation about the Hallowell Acadia system:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/7182002-post20.html

[tallguylehigh]

I just recently converted from oil to gas, so I will give you my impressions.

I had an old oil boiler and an above ground tank. We had gas in the house, and our HWH and dryer both use gas.

The reasons why we decided to switch to natural gas (some of these are my impressons)

+ Natural gas is cleaner than oil
+ Never-ending supply, dont have to worry about fill-ups, etc
+ Less volatile price- sure, oil may be cheaper now, but oil price is infamous for painful spikes
+ Lower maintainence

Now I will say that my gas bill went up substantially, and I am a little curious/concerned to see what it will be this month, but I attribute that more to lack of insulation than anything else (something I will fix when it gets warmer).

I am happy with natural gas- it doesnt have the smell, or residue (soot) from oil and I dont have to keep my eye on the price of oil and worry about locking in rates, and will it go up or down, yadda, yadda, yadda.

[wileynj]

Originally Posted by tallguylehigh

I just recently converted from oil to gas, so I will give you my impressions.

I had an old oil boiler and an above ground tank. We had gas in the house, and our HWH and dryer both use gas.

The reasons why we decided to switch to natural gas (some of these are my impressons)

+ Natural gas is cleaner than oil
+ Never-ending supply, dont have to worry about fill-ups, etc
+ Less volatile price- sure, oil may be cheaper now, but oil price is infamous for painful spikes
+ Lower maintainence

Now I will say that my gas bill went up substantially, and I am a little curious/concerned to see what it will be this month, but I attribute that more to lack of insulation than anything else (something I will fix when it gets warmer).

I am happy with natural gas- it doesnt have the smell, or residue (soot) from oil and I dont have to keep my eye on the price of oil and worry about locking in rates, and will it go up or down, yadda, yadda, yadda.

How does it compare to what you were paying for oil or what you would have paid for oil? Suggestion for you and it does work! I wrapped my water heater at the old house and my propane bill went down nearly 20% as a result! Water heaters, stoves and dryers are the biggest gas hogs!
One more suggestion...down the road, you may want to consider installing a boiler mate vs. the HWH?

[tallguylehigh]

Originally Posted by wileynj

How does it compare to what you were paying for oil or what you would have paid for oil? Suggestion for you and it does work! I wrapped my water heater at the old house and my propane bill went down nearly 20% as a result! Water heaters, stoves and dryers are the biggest gas hogs!
One more suggestion...down the road, you may want to consider installing a boiler mate vs. the HWH?

wiley-

Great point about the oil- when I was filling it myself (long story) I think I was using between 30-50 gallons a week, which is pretty crazy, especially if heating oil was $3/gal (not unreasonable).

I remember you telling me that, I will have to do that! As for the boiler mate, when the HWH goes I will probably consider that, but the HWH is so new, I dont think its worth it yet.

[wileynj]

Originally Posted by tallguylehigh

wiley-

Great point about the oil- when I was filling it myself (long story) I think I was using between 30-50 gallons a week, which is pretty crazy, especially if heating oil was $3/gal (not unreasonable).

I remember you telling me that, I will have to do that! As for the boiler mate, when the HWH goes I will probably consider that, but the HWH is so new, I dont think its worth it yet.

Another idea for you... programmable thermostats! I didn't see what you have but I'm assuming they are the old style ones? This will save you alot of money. You can even install them yourself... very easy item for a DIYer!

[tallguylehigh]

Originally Posted by wileynj

Another idea for you... programmable thermostats! I didn't see what you have but I'm assuming they are the old style ones? This will save you alot of money. You can even install them yourself... very easy item for a DIYer!

Yeah we have the old rotary Honeywell's. Programmable thermostats are definitely in the mix- I installed an old touchscreen Lux in my old house and loved it.

I just gotta pony up for 7 thermostats.

[wileynj]

Originally Posted by tallguylehigh

Yeah we have the old rotary Honeywell's. Programmable thermostats are definitely in the mix- I installed an old touchscreen Lux in my old house and loved it.

I just gotta pony up for 7 thermostats.

They aren't too expensive... depends on the make - home cheapo or lowes sells decent ones. If you want the "high end" models, let me know and I can get them for you at our cost... typically 20 to 40% less than what they would charge a homeowner vs. a contractor

[cleanNGreen]

forest that is a bit out of hand.
First of all there's no conversation, secondly
those claims are not typical and thirdly- why no mention of previous oil costs
that a heat pump eliminates?Of course electric goes up(not like that though), but oil bill disappears!
With these new heat pumps your electric bill will be less than what your combined
electric/oil bill would have been had you not gotten rid of your smelly oil.

That person must be running on emergency mode backup 100% of time,
and even then it's hard to believe.

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by cleanNGreen;

forest that is a bit out of hand.
First of all there's no conversation,

Well it is a post about the recent installation of a Hallowell Acadia system, within a conversation of home heating.

... secondly those claims are not typical

Well, they seem to be typical of that post.

They seem to be typical of one poster's experiences.

I did not say they were typical.

... and thirdly- why no mention of previous oil costs
that a heat pump eliminates? Of course electric goes up(not like that though), but oil bill disappears! With these new heat pumps your electric bill will be less than what your combined electric /oil bill would have been had you not gotten rid of your smelly oil.

You are directing these questions at me?

I have no idea why some other poster would post his opinions.

Or why such a poster would leave out things that you many months later would deem important.

... That person must be running on emergency mode backup 100% of time, and even then it's hard to believe.

Okay fine.

A little defensive are we?

Touch a sore spot so you want to shoot the messenger.




I listen to 'Hot and Cold' on the radio. A talk show hosted by two local experts in the field. 103.9 Mhz on Saturday mornings.

From their radio guests, and discussions, they seem to be pretty sure of themselves and the opinions on home heating.

Many people try to make heat pumps to work here. These radio show hosts commonly rattle off a long list of contractors who try, as well as university studies. You convince them, and then you have done something.

[cleanNGreen]

I lost track of thread, but when I saw that link,
I didn't think it was fair to manufacturer.

Heat pumps have advanced to where they can
and are being used in NJ. Google the 2000+ Acadia
unit deal in Fort Dix. There are also new cold climate
heat pumps in the works from other manufacturers,
so the technology is catching on and likely improving.

Solar is also improving. I personally know people in NJ
with solar panels and Acadias who have no energy
bills, and may even sell excess energy back.

Future cap and trade carbon tax will have many in NJ giving
heat pumps a long look soon, and discovering that
clean energy independence is possible today!