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Fix or replace old oil/air furnace? Jim Elbrecht 01-04-2007
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Posted by Jim Elbrecht on January 4, 2007, 11:58 am


My oil furnace is 26yrs old & running fine right now.

The combustion chamber looks good-- the bricks are solid - the plenum
was taken apart for a thorough cleaning last year & it looks good- and
there is no rust on the outside of the furnace.

But I know something major will break one of these days [last problem
was a limit switch 3 years ago- the air circulating fan the year
before- -- 5 yrs before that a transformer. These haven't been
major problems and I replace parts myself so it hasn't been that
expensive.

3 years ago the guy who tuned up the furnace put his meter on it and
said it was 85% efficient. [He retired and since then I've had
idiots do the furnace & I've re-done it after they left. But I'm
guessing it is still close. It sounds good & burns clean.]

I only burn 420-500 gallons of oil a year. At current prices that's
about $11-1300/yr. A high efficiency burner might save me 15% of
that- so say $200 a year. That's a 15+yr payback for a new
furnace-- so buying a new furnace now to save money isn't feasible.

I've considered buying a new gun or chassis, and see that they can be
had for about $300. On the surface that seems like cheap
insurance to just have one standing by. Unfortunately I don't see
any that match what I have.

The furnace is a Borg-Warner- U-447102
[also a # P2UFD17F0801A on it]
and the burner is a Ducane DMR-10A

It is rated for 85,000 BTU & I'd say from usage is about right-- on
the rare days when it hits 20 below zero it heats the house, but
doesn't shut down much.

Any thoughts?

thanks,
Jim

Posted by Speedy Jim on January 4, 2007, 1:00 pm


Jim Elbrecht wrote:

> My oil furnace is 26yrs old & running fine right now.
>
> The combustion chamber looks good-- the bricks are solid - the plenum
> was taken apart for a thorough cleaning last year & it looks good- and
> there is no rust on the outside of the furnace.
>
> But I know something major will break one of these days [last problem
> was a limit switch 3 years ago- the air circulating fan the year
> before- -- 5 yrs before that a transformer. These haven't been
> major problems and I replace parts myself so it hasn't been that
> expensive.
>
> 3 years ago the guy who tuned up the furnace put his meter on it and
> said it was 85% efficient. [He retired and since then I've had
> idiots do the furnace & I've re-done it after they left. But I'm
> guessing it is still close. It sounds good & burns clean.]
>
> I only burn 420-500 gallons of oil a year. At current prices that's
> about $11-1300/yr. A high efficiency burner might save me 15% of
> that- so say $200 a year. That's a 15+yr payback for a new
> furnace-- so buying a new furnace now to save money isn't feasible.
>
> I've considered buying a new gun or chassis, and see that they can be
> had for about $300. On the surface that seems like cheap
> insurance to just have one standing by. Unfortunately I don't see
> any that match what I have.
>
> The furnace is a Borg-Warner- U-447102
> [also a # P2UFD17F0801A on it]
> and the burner is a Ducane DMR-10A
>
> It is rated for 85,000 BTU & I'd say from usage is about right-- on
> the rare days when it hits 20 below zero it heats the house, but
> doesn't shut down much.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> thanks,
> Jim

http://www.oiltechtalk.com/discuss/viewtopic.php?p=2165&sid=a41e30c091307859f4acf053ff9c976a

t'other jim

Posted by Jim Elbrecht on January 5, 2007, 9:05 am



-snip-
>http://www.oiltechtalk.com/discuss/viewtopic.php?p=2165&sid=a41e30c091307859f4acf053ff9c976a
>

Consensus is that the Ducane DMR-10 or parts for it aren't available--
that's why I'm considering a new furnace.

It isn't clear what I can use as a replacement chassis. I disagree
with those who say that the firebox and cabinets were all junk---
Mine is nearly mint after a quarter century & I doubt I can look
forward to getting 25yrs from a new one.

Jim

Posted by HeyBub on January 4, 2007, 2:37 pm


Jim Elbrecht wrote:
>>
> I only burn 420-500 gallons of oil a year. At current prices that's
> about $11-1300/yr. A high efficiency burner might save me 15% of
> that- so say $200 a year. That's a 15+yr payback for a new
> furnace-- so buying a new furnace now to save money isn't feasible.
>
Straight out, it's a seven year payback, not fifteen. But there's the
opportunity cost (the interest earned on simply putting the money in the
bank). Or possible other options such as using the $200/year in improved
insulation, windows, or whatever.




Posted by CJT on January 4, 2007, 4:05 pm


HeyBub wrote:
> Jim Elbrecht wrote:
>
>>I only burn 420-500 gallons of oil a year. At current prices that's
>>about $11-1300/yr. A high efficiency burner might save me 15% of
>>that- so say $200 a year. That's a 15+yr payback for a new
>>furnace-- so buying a new furnace now to save money isn't feasible.
>>
>
> Straight out, it's a seven year payback, not fifteen.

I think you underestimate how cheaply he can replace it.

But there's the
> opportunity cost (the interest earned on simply putting the money in the
> bank).

Which is included in a proper payback calculation.

Or possible other options such as using the $200/year in improved
> insulation, windows, or whatever.
>
>
>


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