Help with home heating question

[dieselkelly]

We are told that we have to get rid of our 20 year old oil tank by law. Our oil furnace runs great so the technician tells us. The home fuel heating companies are pushing us to go to propane, but we hear from neighbours and friends that it has cost them more to heat, not to mention the cost of converting to a gas furnace. There is very little info to help us make a decision. We could just buy a new oil tank. Our furnace burns at about 86% efficiency.

 

[Jstpssng]

"If it ain't broke don't fix it". It's a lot cheaper to buy a new tank than a new furnace... and unless you also buy your own propane tank it's a lot more difficult to switch providers, especially in the middle of heating season.

 

[CADplans]

It takes WAY MORE gallons of propane to equal the heat of a certain number of gallons of oil,,
I heat with propane,, but, I am in Virginia,, we could heat with a half dozen candles,,, :laughing:

Oh, yea,, when did you EVER hear of a house blowing up because of a minor oil leak!!?? :confused2: propane can not say that,,,

Buy a new oil tank,, if your furnace looks like it could last more than 3-5 years,,,

 

[CADplans]

,,, and unless you also buy your own propane tank it's a lot more difficult to switch providers, especially in the middle of heating season.

I own my propane tank,, 1000 gallons,, we fill it every three years,,, I use ~200 gallons per year.

That broad of propane acquire time always lets me get the propane when it is low in cost,, :cool2:
I just purchased 555 gallons because the propane company emailed me a SUPER Summer offer,,,

In the 20 years that we have used propane,, I have used 5 different providers,,
" The NEW guy always offers the lowest price,,, for a year, or two,,, "

 

[teejk]

Have owned houses with both propane and fuel oil. I'd never go back to oil. Annual service (nozzles/filters/winter additives etc.) is required whereas a properly running gas unit can go for years with no problem. Outside of the northeast US I'd guess it is now "rare". You don't say how old your heating equipment is.

 

[teejk]

The first thing I would do is confirm that this 20 year replacement law is true and that it will apply to your situation. I know that the governments are getting more picky on oil tanks. Years ago, Michigan started a requirement to register all tanks over 1,000 gallons. I had a 1,000 gallon underground tank. At 23 years, I decided it was time to remove it. When they pulled it up, it just started to go drip, drip drip.

Yes, LP is usually more expensive in the states, especially with a "keep full" plan. LP has a lower BTU content, so it's more expensive to heat with it. If you replace your oil tank, how much longer will your heat exchanger last? I believe that warranties on oil burners are typically shorter than any gas unit. This is why I decided to replace my furnace at the same time as I pulled the oil tank.

OP is in Canada. They have some funny laws up there.

 

[jaxs]

I would recommend looking into the law to see if there's a provision for having tanks recertified. They recertify tanks for material much more volatile than oil (propane,acetylene,oxygen to name a few).

 

[RNeumann]

If it’s costing your friends and neighbors more l, don’t switch to propane. The real progress has been with the heat pumps. But if electricity is expensive and or quickly escalates with tiers then that may not be a good option. But I wouldn’t switch your FAU until your tech says you need to- just do the new tank.

 

[Industrial Toys]

That would be the last fuel on earth I would go to for home use. But, that's the "IN" thing and all the lemmings are going that way.

I personally don't like the idea of not having options and alternatives for many things. Always have a backup plan. Not much you can do, if you run out of propane and there are market issues or bad weather/emergencies. I guess, what I am saying is that I don't like to be dependent on outside entities to the reasonable extent that I can achieve that.

 

[RalphVa]

Guess you have no NG? Otherwise, I'd continue with the oil. I don't like propane; worked with it for 31 years as a chemical engineer. Went with a diesel whole house generator (12.5 kw gem) rather than put in propane.

You might want to check into ductless heat pumps, whether they're offered and will work in your area. They work more efficiently than almost any heating/cooling system, and here in Virginia anyway, do not require any emergency backup. Could back them up with oil heat; bet that would work. Put in a ductless system for our basement.

Ralph