Furnace replacement [oil condensing?]

Posted by Jim Elbrecht on March 25, 2009, 10:57 am

As much as I hate to get rid of an old, simple friend, my 25 yr old
furnace is due for replacement.

There is no natural gas in the future of where I live. Electric is
16-18cents a KWH. I have a propane space heater- but want to stick
with oil for heat.

The gubbmint is offering a tax credit of 30% up to $1500 for an oil
burner that is more than 90% efficient.
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits#c3

As near as I can tell the only ones that fit the bill are the
condensing oil furnaces made by Adams Manufacturing in Ohio. [sold as
Adams, Dornback and Spartan brands]
http://downloads.energystar.gov/bi/qplist/oil_furnaces_prod_list.xls

Any opinions on these? I can only find some old trade magazine
articles on the Adams & no real life reviews. Nor can I find them
for sale anywhere to see if it makes economic sense to go to 95%
efficient, even with the rebate.

I probably head out to the local supplier later this week, but thought
I'd try for a range of opinions first.

Thanks,
Jim

Posted by George on March 25, 2009, 8:18 am

Jim Elbrecht wrote:

> As much as I hate to get rid of an old, simple friend, my 25 yr old
> furnace is due for replacement.
>
> There is no natural gas in the future of where I live. Electric is
> 16-18cents a KWH. I have a propane space heater- but want to stick
> with oil for heat.
>
> The gubbmint is offering a tax credit of 30% up to $1500 for an oil
> burner that is more than 90% efficient.
> http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits#c3
>
> As near as I can tell the only ones that fit the bill are the
> condensing oil furnaces made by Adams Manufacturing in Ohio. [sold as
> Adams, Dornback and Spartan brands]
> http://downloads.energystar.gov/bi/qplist/oil_furnaces_prod_list.xls
>
> Any opinions on these? I can only find some old trade magazine
> articles on the Adams & no real life reviews. Nor can I find them
> for sale anywhere to see if it makes economic sense to go to 95%
> efficient, even with the rebate.
>
> I probably head out to the local supplier later this week, but thought
> I'd try for a range of opinions first.
>
> Thanks,
> Jim

Condensing oil burners just seem wrong. I have two friends who have
liquid fuel/burner businesses and neither reported good results with
models they have used.

Now condensing gas is a different story. Gas burns nice and clean so
there is nothing but water in the condensate.

Posted by ransley on March 25, 2009, 8:43 am

> As much as I hate to get rid of an old, simple friend, my 25 yr old
> furnace is due for replacement.
> There is no natural gas in the future of where I live. =A0 Electric is
> 16-18cents a KWH. =A0 I have a propane space heater- but want to stick
> with oil for heat.
> The gubbmint is offering a tax credit of 30% up to $1500 for an oil
> burner that is more than 90% efficient. =A0http://www.energystar.gov/inde=

x.cfm?c=3Dproducts.pr_tax_credits#c3

> As near as I can tell the only ones that fit the bill are the
> condensing oil furnaces made by Adams Manufacturing in Ohio. [sold as
> Adams, Dornback and Spartan brands] =A0http://downloads.energystar.gov/bi=

/qplist/oil_furnaces_prod_list.xls

> Any opinions on these? =A0 I can only find some old trade magazine
> articles on the Adams & no real life reviews. =A0 =A0 =A0Nor can I find t=

hem

> for sale anywhere to see if it makes economic =A0sense to go to 95%
> efficient, even with the rebate.
> I probably head out to the local supplier later this week, but thought
> I'd try for a range of opinions first.
> Thanks,
> Jim

www.heatinghelp.com is where some good pros are, alt.hvac is where
some good hacks are at.

Posted by Bubba on March 26, 2009, 7:48 am

On Wed, 25 Mar 2009 05:43:17 -0700 (PDT), ransley

>> As much as I hate to get rid of an old, simple friend, my 25 yr old
>> furnace is due for replacement.
>> There is no natural gas in the future of where I live. Electric is
>> 16-18cents a KWH. I have a propane space heater- but want to stick
>> with oil for heat.
>> The gubbmint is offering a tax credit of 30% up to $1500 for an oil
>> burner that is more than 90% efficient.

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits#c3

>> As near as I can tell the only ones that fit the bill are the
>> condensing oil furnaces made by Adams Manufacturing in Ohio. [sold as
>> Adams, Dornback and Spartan brands]

http://downloads.energystar.gov/bi/qplist/oil_furnaces_prod_list.xls

>> Any opinions on these? I can only find some old trade magazine
>> articles on the Adams & no real life reviews. Nor can I find them
>> for sale anywhere to see if it makes economic sense to go to 95%
>> efficient, even with the rebate.
>> I probably head out to the local supplier later this week, but thought
>> I'd try for a range of opinions first.
>> Thanks,
>> Jim

>www.heatinghelp.com is where some good pros are, alt.hvac is where
>some good hacks are at.

Ahhh now. Was that nice ransley?
Bubba

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