New Boiler ( oil, propane ??????? )

[waynecub]

I look forward to reading all the things on the forum. ( thank you )
I use about 400 gal. of oil in my boiler a year. The boiler needs to be replaced. All winter i use my wood boiler, so the oil is for spring and fall and our domestic hot water in the summer. Looking at boilers the HB Smith looks like a great boiler for about 2,000.00. The Badaris oil boiler is a lot more efficient but is about 3,000.00. Its there new new one. Or should i change over and use propane???????? Should i spend the money and buy the more efficient oil boiler when i only use 400 gal. a year.
Marcus

 

[mtaccone]

At $4.50 a gallon for oil in the summer time it doesnt seem to me that $1000 more for a higher efficiency boiler is that bad. The way fuel prices are I would be as efficient as possible. Are you installing yourself? A friend of mine put in a high efficiency boiler made in italy that has saved him quite a bit on fuel last winter. and the boiler itself cost about $2000 at the supply company. Personally I would stick with oil over propane it all is going up in price. If i recall the website of the company that makes this boiler is pensotti-pna.com.

 

[Anything Plumbing]

I burn propane and love it. The pros are you don't need your boiler to be cleaned every year, price per gallon is a dollar less than oil (for now), and it typically has a quieter opperation than oil. A truthful con is that you get less BTU's out of a gallon of propane than you do a gallon of oil. It is not a large difference but the loss in BTU's gains you a much cleaner burn and depending on what kind of propane boiler you get the efficiency could be as high as 95%. Those 95% efficient boilers are expensive and you will have to factor in the new propane line and tank. If you have oil already its a hard switch cause with the oil tank and line your 1 way there.
I install and service both oil and propane boilers. I have come across a few Smith boilers they are not efficient enough in these times for me to say go for it. If anything buy a Buderus it will pay for itself. Also the burner is a big part of the opperation. I reccommend Carlin for a lower efficient boiler and Riello for a high efficient boiler.