Water heater& oil tank

[capecod]

Hi,
I learned this week (my trusted plumber confirms) both are suspect and need replacing . The oil tank was put in in 1984 , when the house was built, the water heater is 13 yr. old.I have forced hot water and for 5 years, thru my Harman P68, have only used oil to heat my hot water..I will need to use oil as a back up, for the times on Cape Cod that I lose power.
Was thinking a replacement oil tank with (use oil only when necessary) ...I am a single girl so I couldn't handle a generator....but I was wondering if I should get a tankless hot water heater, or if I even could. Any suggestions or advice would be welcomed. I'd like to be informed before I speak to my plumber.
Thanks,Marina

 

[maple1]

What kind of water heater do you have now? Sounds like an indirect tank?

If your boiler can stand being shut down except for when you need it (i.e. it doesn't leak when it goes cold), I would just replace the indirect tank (if that's what you have) with a cheap & simple 'regular' electric hot water heater.

Do you have a good idea how much you spend on oil to heat your hot water?

 

[moey]

My opinion unless you have natural gas or limited space, a electric hot water tank is your best option. A tankless running on propane would probably be no cheaper then a electric hot water tank.

 

[Justin M]

I will need to use oil as a back up, for the times on Cape Cod that I lose power.
Was thinking a replacement oil tank with (use oil only when necessary) ...I am a single girl so I couldn't handle a generator....

How are you going to use oil as a back up for when you lose power with out using a generator?

 

[capecod]

I use approximately 2-(275) gallon tanks per year for water...at 3.50 per gallon, roughly $1,500 per year. I have an indirect tank.water boiler (Top performer plus) . I have forgotten,, when I lose power, I don't have any heat at all and just pray that I don't lose power for too long...

 

[moey]

One person and a electric hot water heater would probably run you $300-$500 a year to operate. I would highly suggest that route.

 

[Justin M]

I use approximately 2-(275) gallon tanks per year for water...at 3.50 per gallon, roughly $1,500 per year. I have an indirect tank.water boiler

That seems like way too much. I use less than half that amount of oil with an indirect setup to make DHW for a family of four. I'm going to install a heat pump hot water heater this year and shut down the boiler for good.

 

[Lousyweather]

I agree with Justin- I have 2000 square feet, heat my home with my P61, and use roughly 250 gals oil per year for myself and two kids at home. I also have a tankless hot water heater......maybe I just take less showers, I dunno.....

 

[maple1]

I use approximately 2-(275) gallon tanks per year for water...at 3.50 per gallon, roughly $1,500 per year. I have an indirect tank.water boiler (Top performer plus) . I have forgotten,, when I lose power, I don't have any heat at all and just pray that I don't lose power for too long...

I got rid of my wood/oil boiler this past fall. It had a tankless coil in it, rather than using an indirect tank, so we're not exactly apples to apples here - but I went from about 200 gallons oil/year (in the non-heating months only) to electricity at $30/mo. with a new 80 gallon electric hot water heater. We are a family of 5. You would see huge savings in moving to an electric hot water heater - if you can shut your oil boiler down until you might need it.

 

[hoverfly]

I am a little confused on the age of the HW oil set up, how old is the boiler?

 

[capecod]

The boiler is a 2003, and I just found out it is within warranty and I can get it replaced for $50.

 

[raybonz]

The boiler is a 2003, and I just found out it is within warranty and I can get it replaced for $50.

For $50.00 to replace it I would replace it.. I have a tankless coil on my oil FHW boiler and recently made adjustments to the aquastat that dramatically reduced how often the boiler runs by changing the DIFF setting from 10 degrees to 25 degrees and lowering the Low setting from 160 to ~135 degrees.. No change in hot water output but boiler cycling went from ~30 mins. up to every ~2.5 hours.. I am going to try lowering the Low setting to 130 degrees next.. My only other question is are you saying you need to replace your 275 gallon oil tank too? Oh welcome to the forum too and where on the cape do you live?

Ray

 

[maple1]

The boiler is a 2003, and I just found out it is within warranty and I can get it replaced for $50.

You're replacing the boiler? Or do you mean one of the other things? Don't think you mentioned something wrong with the boiler before.

 

[capecod]

I am replacing the water heater and the oil tank.

Ps I am lucky enough to live in YarmouthPort, Cape Cod.
Thank you for the help.

 

[smwilliamson]

If you keep the boiler or get it replaced, you are going to have to go the tank route cause it won't work without fuel. Since the oil system will not work without power and neither will an electric storage tank...to start the weaning, I would get an electric tank. I have an electric tank that we put in when we started weaning from propane. My only regret is that we didn't install a larger one...everybody in my house takes showers until the thing is empty. (not really empty but full cold)

On demand gas systems are terrific, but unless you have those services running to the house natural gas style, propane is very expensive. As much or more than oil in some cases. We do not have natural gas in my part of town but we have a trunk supply line that cuts across my road to supply all of the towns north of me...go figure.

 

[raybonz]

I am replacing the water heater and the oil tank.

Ps I am lucky enough to live in YarmouthPort, Cape Cod.
Thank you for the help.

Yes it is nice there but the summer traffic and tourists can be a PIA.. I did some traffic and street lightingin a few places on the cape and the traffic was always a concern since we worked in the road often..

Ray

 

[Pellet-King]

For $50 keep what you got, dont know why you need a new oil tank mines from 1952 and still good, i guess there thinner and cheaper built back in the '80's

 

[moey]

We do not have natural gas in my part of town but we have a trunk supply line that cuts across my road to supply all of the towns north of me...go figure.

Don't you love being taunted? We have one very close to us as well.

 

[capecod]

The oil tank is rusted in some spots and leaking in others.

 

[maple1]

For $50 keep what you got, dont know why you need a new oil tank mines from 1952 and still good, i guess there thinner and cheaper built back in the '80's

Your insurance company is OK with a 60 year old tank?

Up here they make us replace them on a regular basis whether they need it or not.

 

[moey]

Your insurance company is OK with a 60 year old tank?

Up here they make us replace them on a regular basis whether they need it or not.

Many insurance policies in the US do not cover a tank spill so they are fine with it.

 

[maple1]

Many insurance policies in the US do not cover a tank spill so they are fine with it.

Talk about different attitudes & situations.

An oil tank spill could end up a much worse loss than a house burning down (assuming no injuries, of course) - I've read about lots of horror stories from oil spills & widespread contamination & mega bucks to clean everything up again. Maybe that's why many don't cover it - it's too expensive. Not sure I'd want to be not insured against it though. Some glad I got off the oil...

 

[raybonz]

Talk about different attitudes & situations.

An oil tank spill could end up a much worse loss than a house burning down (assuming no injuries, of course) - I've read about lots of horror stories from oil spills & widespread contamination & mega bucks to clean everything up again. Maybe that's why many don't cover it - it's too expensive. Not sure I'd want to be not insured against it though. Some glad I got off the oil...

Yup and when things go wrong with gas your house just blows up lol..

Ray

 

[moey]

Talk about different attitudes & situations.

An oil tank spill could end up a much worse loss than a house burning down (assuming no injuries, of course) - I've read about lots of horror stories from oil spills & widespread contamination & mega bucks to clean everything up again. Maybe that's why many don't cover it - it's too expensive. Not sure I'd want to be not insured against it though. Some glad I got off the oil...

Often oil companies offer programs to insure the tanks and they come out and inspect the tanks yearly. Newer tanks are double lined and I believe some come with a lifetime warranty/insurance coverage against leaks. I'm having both my tanks removed this week cant wait to free the space up. We have a geo system half installed at the moment cant wait for the central A/C and heat from it.

 

[moey]

Yup and when things go wrong with gas your house just blows up lol..

Ray

Easier to clean up