Our oil burner is over 30 years old and we’re trying to decide whether to convert to gas when we get a new one. Is there any reason to stick with oil?


Comments

  1. 7:29am, my coop is small, and run by several architects, a public policy person, and other smart people who, in addition, have a very smart managment guy/co retained. Don’t be so sure about the economics; and believe me, I would be the first to prefer gas to oil.

    By the way, I find it hard to believe that the replative competitive oil fuel delivery market would support corruption.

  2. I believe you can get a new Carlin oil burner for as little as $500 and have it installed for another $500. Maybe it’s worth trying, but I’ve never regretted spending the big bucks on a gas system.

  3. Coops are a disaster. Imagine ten people sitting at a table, none of whom know the slightest thing about boilers, trying to come to a concensus on whether or not to buy a new gas boiler.

    Of course, they chose the less expensive, ultimitely worse option.

    Though I admit I don’t have the stats to back up my claim, I’m convinced that oil delivery companies are running a racket and overcharging up the wazoo. I don’t get the feeling the gas companies are run by the mob and not having to worry about oil delivery is a major bonus.

  4. Just as a caution, my coop (10 units) ran the figures, and concluded that, at least with New York State incentives available, switching to gas wasn’t worth it;

    And you need to contrast the “smelly” old system with a new oil system; not just the old oil system with a new gas one.

  5. I thnk it was midwood plumbing- but keyspan sent several licensed guys to give quotes- call keyspan and ask about the free boiler program. I realized after it was done that the they didn’t give us the most efficent boiler- but after checking around I foudn that the more efficient ones often have problems..as they are more complex.
    we didn’t have any asbestos issues that I knew about.

  6. I am also planning to switch from oil to gas for all of the reasons mentioned – but I have received quotes from 8K to 18,000 (not a typo!) who did you use for your conversion. they seem much more reasonable. did you have any issue with asbestos around the old oil burner?

  7. we switched- keyspan sprang for the boiler- and the install was about 4 grand- it’s much quieter, and cleaner and I think quite a bit cheaper. runs about 2 grand a year as opposed to 3-4

  8. we switched to gas from oil- keyspan will probably spring for the boiler and the install is around 4-5 grand- our bills are considerably lower- we don’t get that oil stink on delivery days- and the boiler is much quieter…

  9. we switched to gas from oil- keyspan will probably spring for the boiler and the install is around 4-5 grand- our bills are considerably lower- we don’t get that oil stink on delivery days- and the boiler is much quieter…