Oil boiler VS propane furnace VS propane boiler

11 years ago

I am renovating a house built in 1977 in Ohio. I have too many choices to make and my head is swimming with all the different options.

The central A/C needs replacing, so we are getting a heat pump. With the heat pump, we would also need an air handler, but I was told that a furnace also functions as an air handler. So for just an additional $200-300 more I could have a propane furnace?

Currently the heat is a Smith oil boiler with baseboard radiators. I've heard this heat is great, but every house I've ever lived in has had forced air heating, so I have no experience. I have no idea how old the boiler is or how efficient it is.

The way I see it I have 3 choices:

1. For only $200-300, get a propane furnace. Scrap the oil boiler, radiators, and oil drums.

2. Replace the oil boiler with a propane boiler. Estimated cost would be $6-8k. I'm sure a new propane boiler would be more efficient than the current oil and I would save in upkeep.

3. Keep the oil boiler, but I would have to pay for cleaning, tune-up. I would also have to pay to re-run the flue (the current one is corroded, so the previous owners had been basically venting the boiler to the attic, surprised no one died)

Any suggestions?

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Comments (4)

neohioheatpump
11 years ago
IF you have vents you have the right idea with getting a heatpump instead of straight A/C.

Get a good high efficient single stage heat pump with demand defrost. This will handle a big majority of your heating. 15 seer would be good. I would want one that is one the quiet side since it will be running alot. Having a compressor blanket is a must.

The propane option sounds nice, but propane is not cheap either. You would probably be better off with straight electric element as backup (probably just as expensive as oil or propane).

The nice thing about the water heat is it is very even, quiet, and produces no dust. But you won't be using it very often since you will have the heatpump. Its up to you if you want to keep the oil base-board, get rid of the base-board altogethor. I'm not sure what the point of switching from oil to propane would do for the baseboard.
cttrobough
Original Author
11 years ago
I'm going with a 3.5 ton 15 seer heat pump.

Good point on the heatpump running all the time. I was considering the pros of the water heat for the entire winter, but with the heatpump, I would only be using water heat maybe 1 month a year.

If I was starting from scratch, I would have no problem just going with a heatpump and propane furnace, but I just feel guilty about tearing out installed water heat.

What is a compressor blanket?
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I just recently posted this on another thread. It was about new houses but the same might apply to new furnaces... No one should use propane to heat a home. Unless you are looking to flip the house I guess. If you have no NG (and I'm sure you don't), then geothermal or straight air source heat pump with wither electric back up or propane back up. Now I guess you might be using wood which changes the situation altogether. What do you do with old oil tank? Is it buried? Do you mind having a propane tank or are you going to pay to have it buried? Neither propane or oil can compare to geothermal. Get a quote and I'm sure they'll remind you of the 30% tax credit. I'll bet your contractor has never done geothermal....
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Thanks for the replies ... Since I live in a rural area, propane is used by most homes for something. I actually changed propane suppliers a couple of years ago when I was doing some remodeling, and it was very painless. Wish I could say the same about the oil companies ... I can't tell you all what the BTU's would be on a new oil boiler since I am still waiting a week later for my oil company to call me back about a new boiler. It's getting to the point where I might just switch to propane because I get great service from the company that currently supplies my propane. They are working up an estimate for me to replace the oil boiler. I switched oil compnies 2 years ago because the local oil company I used was no longer servicing boilers, they only wanted to deliver oil. The new local oil company admitted to me last year, they now have too much business because of that. So their service is awful. I'm getting tired of dealing with them, so this might be a real easy decision. If they ever call me back, and I get some real numbers on what they propose as a replacement, I'll let you know btu's, etc.
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Deb: Compare the cost of 1 million btu's of heat. I'll use your average costs. Oil at $2.73/gallon, 80% efficient furnace (your old oil furnace may be less efficient): (1,000,000 / 139,000 btu per gallon) x 2.73 / .8 = $24.55 Propane at $2.57 per gallon, 80% efficient furnace: (1,000,000 / 91,000 btu per gallon) x 2.57 / .8 = $35.30 Propane, 95% efficient furnace = $29.72 Heat pump w/electricity at $.15 per kw-hr delivered, C.O.P. = 3.25 at 35F ambient: (1,000,000 / 3414 btu per kw-hr) x .15 / 3.25 = $13.51 Straight electric resistance heat: = $13.51 x 3.25 = $43.90 The heat pump produces the same 1 million btu's of heat at more than half the cost of the 95% efficient propane furnace, and almost half the cost of the 80% oil furnace. Note that the cost of a heat pump defrost cycle is not included in the above calculation. As ambient temps increase from the 35F example, the C.O.P. increases, and the heat pump is even cheaper to run. The C.O.P. was taken from my 3-ton 14 SEER / 9 HSPF Goodman heat pump at 35F ambient. The heat pump needs auxiliary heat for when the ambient temps fall below the balance point of the home. That aux heat can be a propane furnace, oil furnace, or resistance electric strips. Using the heat pump as primary heating, with a gas/oil/propane furnace as auxiliary heat is called a dual-fuel system. These systems have a lot of advantages. Take care.
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I encourage you to consider "convenience" factors as well as fuel cost. Basically, propane is clean and easy. Basically, oil is smelly, dirty, and trouble-prone. I've had both at different locations. From those experiences, my opinion is that I'd pay a significant premium for propane if that's what it took.
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neohioheatpump
11 years ago
Better outdoor heatpump/ac units have a blanket around the compressor which makes it quieter. I think its important to have a good heatpump since it will be running alot. That means having demand defrost and a model that isn't too loud.
weedmeister
11 years ago
Propane backup for the HP is not a bad idea. But the cost of usage could be the same as electricity.

Is this area prone to power outages in the winter? If so, then having propane (and a generator to run the blower) will keep you warm.

Fuel oil may cost you $4-$5/gal this winter and beyond.

the baseboard heat is even and quiet.

I would not do a propane boiler.

Have you checked on the disposal price of the oil equipment? The tank is not just something you toss in the trash (assuming it is above-ground).

Oil boiler VS propane furnace VS propane boiler

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neohioheatpump

cttrobough
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Oil boiler VS propane furnace VS propane boiler

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neohioheatpump

cttroboughOriginal Author

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cttrobough
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