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Many say the cost to convert from oil to gas (as long as a gas line is out at the street) is in the ballpark of $8k. We already have gas with an older gas boiler/water heater but we're getting quotes of $8k-$10k to get new equipment in along with new circulators/pipes, etc. Why does this cost almost the same if not more? Does oil to gas conversion retain existing pipes that they just hook up to a new gas boiler? Or something else I'm not thinking of?
You will need a new exhaust venting system.
You live on Long Island.
we have a new direct vent to the outside as part of our whole house renovation a couple years ago. We just didn't replace the boiler/hot water tank at the time. Any new system will hopefully use the same direct vent - contractors were quoting us with that in mind (looks like this: pic). Is this a reason why the whole thing costs more? Don't think that's the case. Half of the $8k figures to be labor. Not sure why it's pretty much the same or more than a full conversion.
^ boiler is from 1989. We've gotten no less than 5 quotes and only 1 of them was willing to do just a straight up replacement of boiler & water heater ($5500) while everyone else wanted to replace all the pipes/circulators ($8k+) - and we now agree that's probably the best route.
I'm comparing my price against oil-to-gas conversion pricing because there is more work with a new hook-up to a gas line outside - digging, hardware, etc. yet the pricing is nearly the same???
Nobody can answer if the pipework at the boiler is re-used when people do that conversion - thus possibly saving some money, vs. us wanting new everything?
A boiler is boiler, there is no difference between any of them in how the pipe work is configured. Generally there should be no need to replace most of the pipes or the pumps at the boiler end. Assuming you have multiple zones there is going to be one pipe leading from the boiler to a manifold, that is either going to use multiple pumps or valves to send heat to the different zones. There should be another manifold that collects the return water from the zones that has a single pipe going back to the boiler. At most you should only need to replace or reconfigure those two pipes between the boiler and the manifolds.
If it's single pump it's going to be between the boiler and the manifold, if it's old you may want to consider having it replaced but tell them you want the old one. Replacing a pump is a fairly easy DIY fix and when the new one fails you'll have it right there ready to go.
I'm also on LI and converted back in November. It cost be about 7k before rebates. I had the line run from the street to the house ( free ), and lines run to boiler/dryer/stove. We changed the boiler, circulator/zone valves/piping in the boiler room. I left my old indirect tank as it was still working fine.
Close by in New Jersey.... oil to gas, and no line to house.
So may be repeating some of this.
1) Gas line from street to house. FREE. Gas company is happy to have a new customer, cause unless we go solar they have a customer for life. Our house is about 100ft off the road and still free.
2) Duct work is 100% reusable.
3) New Boiler will go in same exact spot, so it minimizes duct work changes
4) Chimney will not be used... PVC piping out the side. We in fact will be removing the chimney.
As others said... 99% of the cost is in the boiler/Air. the only extra costs for conversion is:
- 20ft of gas pipe
- Valve
- 20ft of pvc pipe (x2) outside.
that cant be more than a couple 100 bucks.
for comparison...
We are getting new heater and air (heatpump)... dual fuel/hybrid.
its a top-of-the-line Amana system with fancy integrated thermostat. 10yr full warranty
its part of a NJ clean energy program, and includes a house air-sealing insulation component (about $2k)
The total cost is about $14500...
BUT.. with the NJ state program there is a $5000 rebate
so for $9500 we will have a super efficient new heater and air conditioner, with the added bonus of high efficiency heat pump and the air sealing insulation.
Only 1000-2000 more than your boiler only quote?
Bonus/Bonus... state offers $10,000 0% financing.
So our total cost is about $20 a week.
I share all this extra info.. one because this covers your question I think, but 2... make sure you look at any clean energy programs that NY may have cause you may have some free money or cheap financing avail
Last edited by bellmark; 02-18-2014 at 08:33 AM..
Reason: spelling/grammar
Many say the cost to convert from oil to gas (as long as a gas line is out at the street) is in the ballpark of $8k. We already have gas with an older gas boiler/water heater but we're getting quotes of $8k-$10k to get new equipment in along with new circulators/pipes, etc. Why does this cost almost the same if not more? Does oil to gas conversion retain existing pipes that they just hook up to a new gas boiler? Or something else I'm not thinking of?
National Grid pays for the cost of running the line from the street to the house/meter which is on the house. So if you had "new" gas, the only extra cost from what you currently have is the cost to run the line from the meter next to the house, to the boiler, which is minimal or similar to running it from where you have it, to the boiler.
Basically as long as a person isn't paying extra to run it down the street, you're basically going to be in the same ball park.
You should be able to hook up to existing pipes and be good to go. actual labor shouldn't cost too much really, 2 guys should have it done in 2 days max. If there is other work being done, obviously that will cost additional. I probably would put in a new circulator at that time if it wasn't done very recently. as far as new pipes... I'm not sure what you mean, the existing piping from the heat should be reused, unless there is something wrong with it.
I've heard as low as 5-6K and as high as 12-15K online in the LI forum. Have you tried an independent plumber, as opposed to the large Burner King type places?
are you getting the quotes in the dead of winter? that probably will play a little in to it.
I did mine as part of a second story addition and full remodel where we replaced all the plumbing (supply, waste and heat) in the house, so I don't have a good number.
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il equipment is more expensive 
