How to Convert from Oil to Gas

Thanks again Master Plumber!

basementbound

in Boiler Repair 11 years and 9 months ago

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basementbound | 11 years and 9 months ago

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I plan to renovate 3800sqft multi-family townhouse to a 2 family. The heating is currently forced hot water with old radiators that work & seem to retain heat for a long time. I want to change from a oil boiler to gas. What do we need to file with DOB to make this conversion? Can this be part of the mechanical plans when we file for alteration? Who files it? Master plumber, architect, engineer? What size gas line to house is required to do this? What model boiler is recommended for forced hot water? Recommended water tanks? Pitfalls of converting to from oil to gas? Many thanks for any ideas or comments!

Master Plvmber | 11 years and 9 months ago

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A plumber can file for your conversion. I don’t know of any pitfalls of converting to a cleaner heating fuel used by quieter, more efficient equipment aside from a possible additional cost of updating your chimney situation. All of your other questions are job specific.

basementbound | 11 years and 9 months ago

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Thanks Master Plumber for your response. Updating the chimney? What are the prerequisites there? Lining?

Master Plvmber | 11 years and 9 months ago

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It depends on the type/efficiency of the boiler you’re going with. The City disallows venting into brick-and-mortar now. You either need a terra cotta or metal liner if using a standard-efficiency boiler. High efficiency boilers require stainless steel or CPVC, or a few other types of plastic flue materials. It’s a lot to get into here.

basementbound | 11 years and 9 months ago

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Will talk to chimney company about lining. Can you clarify the difference btw Standard Efficiency & High Efficiency boilers? What constitutes high efficient boiler? Sorry if this is obvious but to a layman like me, but I assumed that by converting to gas I would have the most efficient boiler possible. thanks very much

Master Plvmber | 11 years and 9 months ago

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Well, most people ask for the “the most efficient boiler” possible, but then see the price tags associated with installing such sophisticated pieces of equipment and settle for products more practical for them. “Standard efficiency” is something like 80%-84%, while “high efficiency” is generally 90%-96%. There are some mid-efficiency products in the 85%-89% range, but not much for hydronic (water based) heating units. Mid efficiency is mostly a warm-air product idea, except for handful of things like this: https://file.ac/FUfmEoU3ogE/esc-product-data-sheet.pdf Most standard efficiency stuff is made of cast iron and cannot tolerate condensation in the combustion process. Therefore we call them non-condensing boilers. Like this one:http://www.weil-mclain.com/en/assets/pdf/EG-Brochure-Series-5.pdf http://www.lochinvar.com/products/default.aspx?type=productline&lineid=17 High-efficiency, condensing stuff here: http://www.lochinvar.com/_linefiles/KBN-09.pdf http://www.weil-mclain.com/en/weil-mclain/pd-ultra-series-s3-ct-gas-boiler/ The bottom line is that what is commonly the ideal situation in attached homes is to have the old chimney used as a chase for new, smaller venting pipes of the high efficiency boilers. Ask your chimney guy if that can happen and then you can open the conversation to what boiler choices are available to you.

eman134 | 11 years and 9 months ago

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There is no point in addressing your chimney until you decide what kind of boiler you are going to get…