Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by paleface on January 21, 2012 at 10:01am

 Thank You

Permalink Reply by Ann Ticopa on January 21, 2012 at 11:13am

Brian D. will have to answer to be sure, but imo he was referring to venting combustion gas out. Still, preferably, combustion air for a heating appliance will come from outside ... being absolutely sure there is no way the pipe/vent can become clogged. 

A disadvantage of unvented space heaters approved for occasional indoor use is that the water produced by combustion stays in the house. 

Permalink Reply by Ann Ticopa on January 21, 2012 at 10:18am

If you were asked to quote replacing an oil furnace with a new one (rather than with gas), wouldn't you also refuse to hook it up to an unlined chimney?  And to clarify, wouldn't a clay chimney liner in good condition be adequate; it wouldn't literally have to be lined with "at least single wall pipe"?

 Also, when switching from oil to gas, what "other utilities are brought in"?  Understood that probably few jobs are the same, except perhaps for new construction developments, so it's difficult to estimate costs. 

Permalink Reply by Brian Day on January 21, 2012 at 5:18pm

Sorry folks, i don't monitor this site quite as much as some of you perhaps.  Yes, in HVAC lingo, venting refers to moving the exhaust gases out of the house.  i mean the same as a chimney for you old wood burners.  Lynn is partialy correct in that on a %90 or higher furnace fresh air is usually brought in for combustion of the natural gas via another plastic PVCC pipe, which is usually twinned with the exhaust PVCC pipe.  The combustion air pipe is not always technically required.  If codes in the locality of the furnace installation require fresh air be brought in, then it must.  If the furnace is in a very confined space, especialy if a gas hot water heater is also present, then additional fresh air for combustion must be provided.  This sounds more complicated than it really is in most cases.  In fact, next time that you are out travelling you might spot two plastic pipes or a plastic oval with one hole in it sticking out of the side of some houses.  You may see one large odd looking plastic pipe sticking out of the roof.  these people probably have %90 gas furnaces.

Answering Ann's question above, yes it would be quite possible that the oil furnace contractor would insist upon lining an old masonry chimney, or at least thoroughly inspecting it.  Again, this issue depends on any local code requirement.  other utlilities would not only include piping gas into the house or bringing in a propane tank, but also running gas pipeing on the interior of the house to the location of new furnace.  On a %90 gas furnace, condensate water is produced because the exhaust gases run so cool that water vapor cannot escape as steam.  this condensate water must be drained away.  this also is generally not a complicated process at all.  i have never dealt with oil burners before so my imput is limited on their benefits.  i think generally a new gas furnace is going to be a great deal smaller than the old oil burner that it replaces.  I don't know how big a new oil burner is going to be.  Also, the old oil tank goes bye-bye.  If that is in your cellar, you get more space.  I suspect a new gas furnace is cheaper than a new oil furnace, but I may be wrong on that.

Permalink Reply by Ann Ticopa on January 21, 2012 at 6:37pm

Thank you for replying.  For just the furnace, oil runs maybe 20% more. 

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