Changing heating for my house

[malibuguy79]

I hope this is the right place to ask this.

I need some perspective.

I live in a 1947 brick house. It has an oil-fed boiler. Its currently down due to a busted pipe in the wall. We primarily use space heaters (even when the boiler works). Only to use the big heat when temps dip below 25⁰. We also have a typical fireplace.

I have a classic wood stove I bought years ago but never implemented. I was considering putting it in the basement directly below my living room. That would however require removing the oil tank thats in the same location thus permanently disabling the boiler.

The boiler is old...and seemingly every year something needs to be addressed.

Whats the hives opinion...convert to wood heat or fix the boiler?

 

[JohnnyG]

I don't think woodburners are a great option for your primary heat source. Need constant attention, a good supply of free wood, and lots of storage space.
If you can manage those 4 things, a better choice would be to put the woodburner outside, run your boiler water through that, and manage the transitions with thermostats.

Fix the tank.

 

[JavierH19]

If I was this in situation i'd have someone that's well regarded in oil heaters look at it to see if it's worth get it overhauled and made reliable again so it's mostly just a nozzle replacement every year. If it can't be made reliable enough with an overhaul just bite the bullet and have it all replaced with a gas furnace or another oil furnace if there's reason though my gas furnace has been absolutely bulletproof to me after 20 years in my home as it has required nothing. Darn thing just works forever and has never not made heat when commanded. I can't recall having replaced anything on the gas furnace itself just the capacitor on the blower motor but that only stopped the ac from cooling. If I wasn't planning on staying for longer i'd leave it for the next owner to have fun with. But if you like the home and area then having it replaced or overhauled if possible if the only real solution.

 

[PontiacHO]

Don’t let anyone talk you into a heat pump.

 

[Panda87]

Don’t let anyone talk you into a heat pump.

Based on what premise? We don’t even know OP’s location to estimate climactic conditions.

 

[Variant_S]

I'm with @JavierH19. Ask your insurance company what your rate will be if you switch to using your wood stove. How comfortable are you with monitoring your flue temperature when it's in use?

 

[FZ1]

I hope this is the right place to ask this.

I need some perspective.

I live in a 1947 brick house. It has an oil-fed boiler. Its currently down due to a busted pipe in the wall. We primarily use space heaters (even when the boiler works). Only to use the big heat when temps dip below 25⁰. We also have a typical fireplace.

I have a classic wood stove I bought years ago but never implemented. I was considering putting it in the basement directly below my living room. That would however require removing the oil tank thats in the same location thus permanently disabling the boiler.

The boiler is old...and seemingly every year something needs to be addressed.

Whats the hives opinion...convert to wood heat or fix the boiler?

Fix the Insulation that caused the pipe to burst, then fix the boiler. Review whole house insulation and weather stripping. Upgrade where necessary. You could switch out LED bulbs for incandescent bulbs for cold weather. Less is more.

 

[Nessism1]

Surely there are HVAC companies in your areas offering packages to convert from oil to gas or electric. Wood may be a good supplement, but no way I'd use that as primary.

 

[JavierH19]

Good catch Variant. I forgot about home insurance caring about what type of heating system is installed in the home since I never mess with mine. They usually hate wood stoves and if one tells them they use that they will drop you if you don't pay the new amount or won't cover you if they find out the house burned due to the wood stove they didn't know about.

 

[PontiacHO]

Based on what premise? We don’t even know OP’s location to estimate climactic conditions.

Based on the premise that a natural gas or oil furnace will offer better heating than a heat pump except for maybe living in Florida. OP is in Maryland.

 

[JavierH19]

Based on what premise? We don’t even know OP’s location to estimate climactic conditions.

He's in maryland. We don't know where exactly but it's colder there and for a lot longer than in the south. Here in the south a good modern heat pump system wouldn't be a dog but where it's very cold they can be a dog. In texas it's only below 32f for a week or two during the whole year. In maryland it's below 32 for usually 2-3 months of the year on average sometimes 4 months from what google says.

 

[The_Jeff]

Don’t let anyone talk you into a heat pump.

You should get a heat pump. It's more efficient than your space heaters and works as a great AC in summer too.

BUT, keep the oil heat as a backup. Cold spells make heat pumps less efficient and that's when you need them the most.

 

[walterjay]

I would look into refurbishing the boiler if possible. Stay away from propane heat. It is quite expensive.

 

[Ausfahrt]

Our primary heat source since retiring here to Vermont has been a Harman pellet stove. There are a lot of variables and I can't speak to your particular situation but if you are looking at it from a cost, efficiency, maintenance and just easy to live with standpoint then It's hard to go wrong with a pellet stove aside from the initial cost.

 

[Fitter30]

Boiler original? That boiler new was 60% efficient at best. Flue is 8"-12" round. Whens the last time the fire box was looked at or any of the refractory. Stated boiler could heat the house below 25°. Steam or hot water. Hot water couldn't maintain water temp? 180°? Still have original windows and doors. Call your electric company see if they offer a energy audit that includes a blower door test ( tell how tight the house is)

 

[Hall]

We don’t even know OP’s location to estimate climactic conditions.

It says right there they're in Maryland.

It is getting into single digits overnight in MD currently. Heat pumps will be running in "emergency" heat mode and the electrical usage will be outrageous.

 

[Panda87]

Based on the premise that a natural gas or oil furnace will offer better heating than a heat pump except for maybe living in Florida. OP is in Maryland.

Agreed regarding his locale. I would say that a hyper heat style heat pump (cold climate pump) would work effectively. The heat wouldn’t feel nearly as warm to the touch as the heat pump for sure, but it would have a COP of at least 2 at temps down to 5deg F.

FWIW: I’m in North Alabama and my 99% design temp is 20 degrees F. My heat pumps in my particular home, in my particular scenario (load calculations have been performed on my home) are still more efficient to operate than anything else down to 22 degrees. They are able to meet the heating load down to that temp. Anything less requires aux strips. I fire up my woodstove to provide supplemental heat when it gets below freezing here. At 17 degrees, when I got the woodstove going, my heat pump cycles on and off. It’s a 1.5 ton heating 2000sq ft of area.

 

[Panda87]

It says right there they're in Maryland.

Right where? I’m only ever on BITOG in Mobile (on phone) and it doesn’t show signatures or other information.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

I hope this is the right place to ask this.

I need some perspective.

I live in a 1947 brick house. It has an oil-fed boiler. Its currently down due to a busted pipe in the wall. We primarily use space heaters (even when the boiler works). Only to use the big heat when temps dip below 25⁰. We also have a typical fireplace.

I have a classic wood stove I bought years ago but never implemented. I was considering putting it in the basement directly below my living room. That would however require removing the oil tank thats in the same location thus permanently disabling the boiler.

The boiler is old...and seemingly every year something needs to be addressed.

Whats the hives opinion...convert to wood heat or fix the boiler?

Wood heat as the only heat source is a non-starter for any mortgage lender. So selling will be very difficult.

I would address any drafts in the house first because that directly impacts occupant comfort. Perhaps take advantage of a state program?

You could just upgrade the existing boiler or transition to gas or a heat pump depending on which is cheaper. Power vent nat gas furnaces can reach over 95% efficiency.

Remember, address the air leaks first if you can. Air leaks cost you $$$$.

 

[JavierH19]

Right where? I’m only ever on BITOG in Mobile (on phone) and it doesn’t show signatures or other information.

View attachment 321761

I too wondered how to make it pop up like on the computer but after clicking the blue name it brings it up.