Oil Heating

Hi,   I just recently purchased a house with a full tank of oil – 100 gallons.  I would like to eventually convert to gas but would rather use up all the remaining oil before conversion as not to be wasteful. How long with the 100 gallons of oil last to heat up a 2 family home? Also, does anyone know how to turn it on? My familiarity is really with gas systems. I’ve never had any experience with oil heating. Thanks so much.

wistletown

in Heating 12 years and 8 months ago

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anna53en | 12 years and 8 months ago

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You should look into replacing the burner and using a dual fuel system. When demand for gas is high NatGrid will give you major discounts for switching your gas heat to oil. We have this system in a few mulit-families and it has been very effective. I would suggest waiting until after the winter to do anything, the process takes much longer than it should.

Master Plvmber | 12 years and 8 months ago

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If you’ve got sufficient gas in the building, as most people do because the meters tend to be oversized, then the process can be quick. We replace boilers in emergency circumstances all winter long because boilers seem to know to fail at the worst possible moments, after all. As of October 1st every year, licensed plumbers can do the replacement with a simple notification to the DoB rather than wait for a proper filing to process, providing there is follow-up with all the right paperwork shortly afterward.

bobjohn | 12 years and 8 months ago

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How long the conversion will take? (you need to get permit, run gas line, line chimney, take care of asbestos, replace boiler, remove the old oil tank).I would be careful with trying it in the midle of the heating season. Maybe it makes more sense to spend this winter with what you have and then convert it next summer. BTW, Before I converted to gas, I also tried to use up all oil from the tank. I attached timer to the burner circuit and measured daily oil consumtion as function of oitside temperature. I even had the excel with all the stats. But the system stoped working two weeks before the end of the heating season because the bottom sediment cloged everything. I ended up paing for service and to the tenant, etc. I guess the moral is not get too involved with using up all your oil especially with math expectation of 50GL left.

argylerd | 12 years and 8 months ago

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I’m paying a locked in rate of $.48 a therm for gas from North Energy plus the delivery charge from National Grid, about 20% less per therm than last winter.  I figure that heating with gas is close to half the cost of oil.

Bklnite | 12 years and 8 months ago

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The cost of some leftover oil is one part of the conversion you have to deal with, along with boiler instalation and removal of the tank. I wouldn’t buy the “not worth it if the boiler’s newish” argument. Gas costs about $1.80 a therm. Oil costs about $4 / gal. The theoretical conversion rate for unit of heat is 1.4\. At current prices gas is about 40% less per unit of heat. It’s worth getting a quote on the conversion and see what payback period would be. Gas prices may go up and oil prices may go down, but I wouldn’t bet on a move towards a break even point any time soon.

daveinbedstuy | 12 years and 8 months ago

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There should be a gauge on the top of the tank that tells you roughly how much oil is left.

RunJoe | 12 years and 8 months ago

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Call a professional..  Before you do, make sure that the emergency shut-off switch to the boiler is not in the off position.  It ‘supposed’ to be in a red box, in an accessible area as you enter the cellar and one on the boiler itself.  When i first moved in, i had the same problem.  I was totally embarassed when the technician flipped the switch and everything started up.

wistletown | 12 years and 8 months ago

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Thanks, I made adjustments on the thermastat but it didn’t work. I was thinking there’s some sort of latch or control on the tank that I need to turn on.

RunJoe | 12 years and 8 months ago

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You will need more by Thanksgiving.  Just like gas systems, you control it via a thermostat.  Set the temperature on the thermostat and change the setting to Heat.  The heat should turn on.  If it doesn’t, call an oil supplier and get a technician in to check your system.(Even if you do figure out how to get it started, you should still call a professional and get it checked out.)