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I am building a new 3400 sq ft home on Eastern Long Island. The house was originally designed with an oil burner and an indirect hot water heater, radiant floor heating in the kitchen/family room and master bath, 3 – 4 zones with hydronic air handlers, humidification, air purification and central AC. We were also going to bury a propane tank to supply the gas range, fireplace, BBQ and dryer.
However, natural gas has just become available in my area and I would like to switch to natural gas. None of the HVAC equipment has been installed yet; we are still framing. I figured switching to gas would save money on the initial installation. We would not have to buy oil tanks or a propane tank. Just change from a oil fired burner to a gas fired one and leave the rest of the system as originally designed.
However, the HVAC guy is telling my GC and I that it will actually cost several thousand more to go with the gas equipment and installation (even with the credit for the tanks).
Can any of you HVAC experts offer your opinion on this situation. It really makes no sense to me.
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You definitely want to go natural gas for everyting you can. It's going to be the cheapest per BTU and you avoid the bother of refilling the propane and oil tanks the environmental risks of an oil tank leak and the use restrictions around the propane tank. Sounds like you need new HVAC guy - boilers ought to be similarly priced letting you realize the tank savings. Plus there will be a reduction in outside piping costs - you were going to have to run propane and oil from their tanks to the house (the in-house piping will be similar). With natural gas, the gas company often brings it to the meter location on the side of your house for no cost (the 3 gas companies I've dealt with always did).
Check with your gas company about what piping installation they want to see inside your house - they can be real pricks about it. Black iron is preferred, maybe required, to eliminate zinc flakes from galvinized from clogging the shut-off valves. Likewise, pipe dope is okay but teflon tape is sometimes not allowed because a bit of tape might get blown down to an appliance. You'd think their liability would stop at the meter and that anything inside your house is between you and your city inspector, but it is better to ask first.
Some ranges and dryers put out less heat on propane than on natural gas. I haven't tracked down why - either gas can be used in really high output burners, but some propane conversions are pretty anemic. A hard-plumbed BBQ is great - never have to schlep those 5-gallon propane tanks around, nor run out in the middle of a meal.
Enjoying my $0.38/therm natural gas, David
*Hard to believe NG would cost more, I'd ask for specifics. I suspect your HVAC wants to keep with what he's familiar &/or has supply sources for.One consideration: if oil is the norm in your area, it might be tough to get competent service.I'm in a primarily NG area (probably 99% use NG, .07 use electric and .03% use oil - rough estimate)Even here NW Ohio), I see a frightening # of furnaces incorrectly installed (main problems: burners improperly inclined and shutters not fully open.)Bob
*Natural gas here would save substantially where I live in fuel and in installation costs...Also in yearly maintenance and much cleaner...It's a no brainer, near the stream,aj
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I am building a new 3400 sq ft home on Eastern Long Island. The house was originally designed with an oil burner and an indirect hot water heater, radiant floor heating in the kitchen/family room and master bath, 3 - 4 zones with hydronic air handlers, humidification, air purification and central AC. We were also going to bury a propane tank to supply the gas range, fireplace, BBQ and dryer.
However, natural gas has just become available in my area and I would like to switch to natural gas. None of the HVAC equipment has been installed yet; we are still framing. I figured switching to gas would save money on the initial installation. We would not have to buy oil tanks or a propane tank. Just change from a oil fired burner to a gas fired one and leave the rest of the system as originally designed.
However, the HVAC guy is telling my GC and I that it will actually cost several thousand more to go with the gas equipment and installation (even with the credit for the tanks).
Can any of you HVAC experts offer your opinion on this situation. It really makes no sense to me.