housecarer
09-23-2009, 10:09 AM
It's time to rethinking our heating and hot water system. We are first time home owner and have no idea how to handle this properly. need your help.
We have a solar panel hot water system which is more than 20 years old. its tank (with electric backup) starts leaking, controller need to be replace, I think. Our heating system is oil water heating. its boiler is old (more than 10 yrs), loud and service guy told us parts need to be replaced. We plan to replace the entir boiler to get a better one.
we have few options (all cost is just an estimated/guessed cost):
1. change solar water tank with the same type ($2000), replace a better oil boiler and move it close to wall to gain more usable space ($6000).
2. change solar water tank with indirect oil back up ($3000), replace a better oil boiler and move it close to wall to gain more usable space and connect to hot water tank as backup($6500).
3. change solar water tank with the same type ($2000), convert oil to gas ($7000)
4. change solar water tank without any backup ($1200), convert to gas and add a tankless. when no sun shine, manually shut off solar hot water and open the tankless. ($9000)
5. change solar water tank with indirect gas back up ($3000), convert to gas and connect to hot water tank as backup ($7500), gas company will charge mininum usage about $14 a month, so summer months we will pay gas company as donation.
6. discard solar system, convert to gas for heating and hot water by adding a smaller tank ($9000)
7. discard solar system, convert to gas for heating and hot water by adding a tankless ($9000)
8. discard solar system, replace a better oil boiler and use it for heating and hot water ($7000)
Initial cost is not the only factor. We plan to live here more than 10 years at least. so long term saving is also important.
We are in northeast area, CT close to MA.
what's your suggestion?
thanks,
We have a solar panel hot water system which is more than 20 years old. its tank (with electric backup) starts leaking, controller need to be replace, I think. Our heating system is oil water heating. its boiler is old (more than 10 yrs), loud and service guy told us parts need to be replaced. We plan to replace the entir boiler to get a better one.
we have few options (all cost is just an estimated/guessed cost):
1. change solar water tank with the same type ($2000), replace a better oil boiler and move it close to wall to gain more usable space ($6000).
2. change solar water tank with indirect oil back up ($3000), replace a better oil boiler and move it close to wall to gain more usable space and connect to hot water tank as backup($6500).
3. change solar water tank with the same type ($2000), convert oil to gas ($7000)
4. change solar water tank without any backup ($1200), convert to gas and add a tankless. when no sun shine, manually shut off solar hot water and open the tankless. ($9000)
5. change solar water tank with indirect gas back up ($3000), convert to gas and connect to hot water tank as backup ($7500), gas company will charge mininum usage about $14 a month, so summer months we will pay gas company as donation.
6. discard solar system, convert to gas for heating and hot water by adding a smaller tank ($9000)
7. discard solar system, convert to gas for heating and hot water by adding a tankless ($9000)
8. discard solar system, replace a better oil boiler and use it for heating and hot water ($7000)
Initial cost is not the only factor. We plan to live here more than 10 years at least. so long term saving is also important.
We are in northeast area, CT close to MA.
what's your suggestion?
thanks,