On Wednesday, January 15, 2003, at 08:47 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
In a message dated 1/15/2003 7:43:47 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:Our oil heater is dying and we are researching replacing it ASAP. LookingWe went through this 3 years ago, so can give you our thoughts on it from
for opinions of people who've done it as to:
that perspective. Others may have a different experience.
I replaced mine at roughly the same time frame.
1. We had planned to convert to gas. Some people recently commented thatIf you live in Philadelphia, why subject yourself to the whims of the
they preferred oil heat. I am curious why?
Philadelphia Gas Works. You don't like your oil company, you can switch.
You don't like PGW, oh well. That was THE driving force behind our decision
not to convert.
Without a doubt this is the primary reason.
Here's one set of reasons from the Oil Dealers Association in Maine.
http://www.meoil.com/miscon.htm
It also depends on what kind of system you have -- forced air or hydronic (ie radiators.)We asked around to neighbors re who they liked, and went with an oil company2. Is it better to have a plumber put in a new system, versus an oil company, or some other party?
that many of them used. That way we had a reputable company with warranty
service, weekend coverage, etc. With complicated work like that, my personal
preference is for someone who 'specializes' in it.
HVAC work is a plumbing specialty. While many LARGE plumbing firms may also do HVAC work, your "normal plumber" may or may not have the expertise. Unless a firm does that kind of work regularly, you will likely find that you will know more about your options than they do.
Even so, if you know of a particular type of system which you want -- especially some of the newer "flash tube" style boilers for hydronic systems, you work the operation in reverse.
Find the kind of system you want, and then find out from the manufacturer, who is trained to install their units. Otherwise, you will get whatever system the contractor normally installs.
3. Master Oil quoted us $3k to put in a new boiler, including parts and
installation. Does this sound reasonable?
If that includes everything you need to heat your house (except the oil tank,Sounds reasonable. There is probably one or two days of labor for 2 or 3 people involved. Plus the particular costs (and markup) of the unit you want. Plus whatever kind of control system you want -- MINIMALLY, you do want a "set-back" thermostat of some sort.
which you hopefully don't also need to replace), then yes.
If it's a hydronic system you could go for zones. They are virtually impossible to do with a forced air system without multiple units.
BIG QUESTION -- does the price include the disassembly and REMOVAL of the old unit... especially important if you have an old coal-conversion unit. They are BIG and HEAVY.
That's basically the name of the game.You don't. You pick the installer/company that you want to work with and4. Where do you shop for a boiler?
they have catalogues, pictures, etc. If you want more information you can go
on-line to look at reliability, compare prices, get information on
appropriate size for your square footage, etc. But the folks you are working
with will do the shopping for you, unless you really are a do-it-yourselfer.
We sure weren't.
For a forced air system, it doesn't matter. But if you really are installing a boiler, you have a hydronic system.
I installed a System 2000, (Energy Kinetics, Molasses Hill Road, Lebanon, NJ, 08833)
http://www.system2000.com/
primarily because I was getting a high-velocity Air Conditioning system at the time, and my AC
vendor, ECI (Energy Energy Concepts, Inc., 2136 Bristol Pike, Bensalem, PA 19020) recommended it... after we talked about my desire for a modern "flash tube" style system.
[Master, who I get my oil from does not sell or service this unit.]
If you feel like googeling here are some words and phrases: Start with "hydronic"
Some others that might be useful...
MAPDA (Mid Atlantic Petroleum Distributors Assoc.)
PA Petroleum Association
MPAA (Petroleum Marketers Assoc. of America) � National Assoc. of Oil Heat Service Managers
T.T.F.N.
William H. Magill
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