Help with home heating question

[dieselkelly]

We are told that we have to get rid of our 20 year old oil tank by law. Our oil furnace runs great so the technician tells us. The home fuel heating companies are pushing us to go to propane, but we hear from neighbours and friends that it has cost them more to heat, not to mention the cost of converting to a gas furnace. There is very little info to help us make a decision. We could just buy a new oil tank. Our furnace burns at about 86% efficiency.

 

[Jstpssng]

"If it ain't broke don't fix it". It's a lot cheaper to buy a new tank than a new furnace... and unless you also buy your own propane tank it's a lot more difficult to switch providers, especially in the middle of heating season.

 

[CADplans]

It takes WAY MORE gallons of propane to equal the heat of a certain number of gallons of oil,,
I heat with propane,, but, I am in Virginia,, we could heat with a half dozen candles,,, :laughing:

Oh, yea,, when did you EVER hear of a house blowing up because of a minor oil leak!!?? :confused2: propane can not say that,,,

Buy a new oil tank,, if your furnace looks like it could last more than 3-5 years,,,

 

[CADplans]

,,, and unless you also buy your own propane tank it's a lot more difficult to switch providers, especially in the middle of heating season.

I own my propane tank,, 1000 gallons,, we fill it every three years,,, I use ~200 gallons per year.

That broad of propane acquire time always lets me get the propane when it is low in cost,, :cool2:
I just purchased 555 gallons because the propane company emailed me a SUPER Summer offer,,,

In the 20 years that we have used propane,, I have used 5 different providers,,
" The NEW guy always offers the lowest price,,, for a year, or two,,, "

 

[teejk]

Have owned houses with both propane and fuel oil. I'd never go back to oil. Annual service (nozzles/filters/winter additives etc.) is required whereas a properly running gas unit can go for years with no problem. Outside of the northeast US I'd guess it is now "rare". You don't say how old your heating equipment is.

 

[teejk]

The first thing I would do is confirm that this 20 year replacement law is true and that it will apply to your situation. I know that the governments are getting more picky on oil tanks. Years ago, Michigan started a requirement to register all tanks over 1,000 gallons. I had a 1,000 gallon underground tank. At 23 years, I decided it was time to remove it. When they pulled it up, it just started to go drip, drip drip.

Yes, LP is usually more expensive in the states, especially with a "keep full" plan. LP has a lower BTU content, so it's more expensive to heat with it. If you replace your oil tank, how much longer will your heat exchanger last? I believe that warranties on oil burners are typically shorter than any gas unit. This is why I decided to replace my furnace at the same time as I pulled the oil tank.

OP is in Canada. They have some funny laws up there.

 

[jaxs]

I would recommend looking into the law to see if there's a provision for having tanks recertified. They recertify tanks for material much more volatile than oil (propane,acetylene,oxygen to name a few).

 

[RNeumann]

If it’s costing your friends and neighbors more l, don’t switch to propane. The real progress has been with the heat pumps. But if electricity is expensive and or quickly escalates with tiers then that may not be a good option. But I wouldn’t switch your FAU until your tech says you need to- just do the new tank.

 

[Industrial Toys]

That would be the last fuel on earth I would go to for home use. But, that's the "IN" thing and all the lemmings are going that way.

I personally don't like the idea of not having options and alternatives for many things. Always have a backup plan. Not much you can do, if you run out of propane and there are market issues or bad weather/emergencies. I guess, what I am saying is that I don't like to be dependent on outside entities to the reasonable extent that I can achieve that.

 

[RalphVa]

Guess you have no NG? Otherwise, I'd continue with the oil. I don't like propane; worked with it for 31 years as a chemical engineer. Went with a diesel whole house generator (12.5 kw gem) rather than put in propane.

You might want to check into ductless heat pumps, whether they're offered and will work in your area. They work more efficiently than almost any heating/cooling system, and here in Virginia anyway, do not require any emergency backup. Could back them up with oil heat; bet that would work. Put in a ductless system for our basement.

Ralph

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I got a couple 275 gal tanks you can have, come get them. 20 yrs is nothing for an above ground tank..

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I got a couple 275 gal tanks you can have, come get them. 20 yrs is nothing for an above ground tank..

Yeah, my folks used a 500 gallon above ground tank for 50 years, and it was still in great shape when we sold the place. I think it was on its third furnace. Above ground may be a problem in cold areas though. I suppose you could always add anti-gel. If you have a diesel generator, they will run fine on stove oil, so one tank will keep the furnace running.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

The way this environmental crap is going it is probably a bigger situation than appears on the surface. Here now all oil and gasoline tanks are required to be double walled under or above ground. Of course a bunch of electronic sensors go along with that. Above ground tanks are the most popular due to install costs. That's if you have the space. WA's governor is promoting total elimination of fossil fuels, for any purpose, by 2040. Just look at the carbon taxes cropping up to accelerate that scenario.

Ron

 

[Locoweed]

I guess they will pipe the hot air from the capitol to heat homes?

 

[mikester]

We are told that we have to get rid of our 20 year old oil tank by law. Our oil furnace runs great so the technician tells us. The home fuel heating companies are pushing us to go to propane, but we hear from neighbours and friends that it has cost them more to heat, not to mention the cost of converting to a gas furnace. There is very little info to help us make a decision. We could just buy a new oil tank. Our furnace burns at about 86% efficiency.

Our Ontario neighbors have all switched because the insurance told them either get rid of the oil furnace and tank or lose coverage. Blame the insurance companies, lawyers and bureaucrats. And the refuelling guys that accidentally overflow the tanks in the basement causing $500,000 in environmental clean up costs.

FYI keep an eye out for new cold climate air sourced heat pump rebate programs. DoFo killed all of them.

 

[777777]

Here is a quick reference for you......

Regulations for Residential Fuel Oil Tanks — Gilmore and Gilmore Professional Corporation

 

[Jstpssng]

Our Ontario neighbors have all switched because the insurance told them either get rid of the oil furnace and tank or lose coverage. Blame the insurance companies, lawyers and bureaucrats. And the refuelling guys that accidentally overflow the tanks in the basement causing $500,000 in environmental clean up costs.

FYI keep an eye out for new cold climate air sourced heat pump rebate programs. DoFo killed all of them.

It seems like that would be on the delivery company, at least on this side of the border. I did one of those clean ups back in my landscaping days, the tank was in the cellar but the delivery guy couldnt figure out that something was wrong, after pumping 500 gallons into a 275 gallon oil tank. We dug out several yards of soil by hand , throwing it into a little ton dump truck. While digging we commented that it would be a good time to put in a bulkhead entrance to the cellar. I still think about it every time I go past the house
and see that they did indeed put an entry there.

 

[cdaigle430]

We are told that we have to get rid of our 20 year old oil tank by law. Our oil furnace runs great so the technician tells us. The home fuel heating companies are pushing us to go to propane, but we hear from neighbours and friends that it has cost them more to heat, not to mention the cost of converting to a gas furnace. There is very little info to help us make a decision. We could just buy a new oil tank. Our furnace burns at about 86% efficiency.

I think the only time you have to replace your oil tank is if your putting in a new furnace. This is by code only-At least in the US, not sure about Canada. Check you code laws-this technician maybe just out to make a little $$$.

I replaced my 50 year old number 2 oil burner with a Natural Gas two years ago-both are 86% efficiency but........becuase my new funace is not high efficiency I will never need maintenance or tune up again. I will also never need to call for a fill and my house stays at exactly the temp i put it at.

I have a small house and was able to clear up alot of space by getting rid of the 275 gallon storage tank-it will now be a bathroom.

As for blowing up-I put the safety of my new system over any number 2 burner. I also dont have to worry about oil leaks and leaking into my water system.

My recommendation is to leave it as is-if you replace it now without replacing your furnace you will lose money-why because codes change all the time and if you do decide to replace your furnace say 5 years from now, most likely the tank will have to go to.

 

[fishheadbob]

So I read the Gilmore P.C. regs and it seems Ontario wants your tank inspected every 10 years, no regs. for automatic age based replacement. I would ask the guy who "inspected" the tank where the leak is. Have him show it to you. If you can see it, replace it. If his company happens to sell replacement tanks he probably gets an incentive for every tank he sells. If it really is a leaker then you gotta do it. If he's a commission driven jerk get a different delivery company.
FWIW there was an old rusty oil tank in my basement for my oil burner when I bought this joint, I figured it was good for 2 or 3 years at best. 35 years later when we switched to geothermal it was still old and rusty and hadn't lost a drop.

 

[Sigarms]

Perhaps a dumb question, but is the tank above ground? If so, if you like oil, just replace the tank and be done with it. Can't be that expensive is it?