Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Carlton
I'm in your exact situation and am pondering your exact scenario.
I'd like to take a look at the 90% condensing gas boilers. I don't think any of them approach 95%. I did install one of them in a rental house with hot air and it did an excellent job.
If you find any good one's please advise or post on the thread. With oil at about 2X the cost of gas, there really isn't much of an option..........have to make the switch. Shouldn't cost more than $2K...........plus another $500. for a hot water heater.
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I worked out a spread sheet and none of the options pay for themselves until 3-5 years down the road. I figured in oil prices climbing from $4 to $5, and gas increasing by 20% each year. The most expensive after 3 years is still the condensing gas boiler. In my case I have to consider the $700 loss of the oil in the tank (you can barely give the stuff away around here) and $1500 to have the tank cut up, cleaned, and removed. I liked the idea of keeping both oil and gas systems, but I don't have the room.
The cheapest solution is switching to a retention flame burner on the existing boiler. I might even be able to do this myself. Next cheapest overall is the regular 83% efficiency gas boiler. As a rule, you pay a steep price up front for the best efficiency. Of course my calculations could all mean squat if fuel prices go on another wild roller coaster ride.