The Conservative Cave
The Bar => The Lounge => Topic started by: RightCoast on December 22, 2010, 07:08:44 AM
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Here in central Connecticut our oil-fired, steam boiler has been estimated at 35 - 40 years old. They think it was the first non wood-burning furnace installed in our 89 year old house. The steam rattles through 12 cast iron radiators and burns though about $4,500 in oil every year, plus another $1,200 in parts and labor for service calls (usually emergency weekend/ holiday calls).
All that said we currently have no heat, a better stretch then last week to be heat-less for sure. We are investing in a new gas furnace that will circulate hot water through our 12 cast iron radiators. The system is just short of high-efficiency because even with the extra rebates for the HE system our HVAC guys - we chose a multi-million dollar company that was close in price to everybody else - said we were going to see so much of a savings already that a high-efficiency furnace wouldn't add enough additional savings to pay for itself over a reasonable period. The whole thing including taking out the 275 gallon oil tank from the basement came in at just over $10k. So if we save 30% or so the whole thing will pay for itself over 6-7 years. All-in-all not bad, I think, to no longer have to worry about waking up to no heat.
The system will actually monitor the inside and outside air temp and power the furnace based on actual needs, which we thought was pretty cool.
The down sides are no more reassuring clanging of the pipes, and they tell me the basement won't be as warm when the new guy is on. Without telling Mrs. RC I'm getting a quote to add two water radiators down in the basement.
(http://i56.tinypic.com/spygwm.jpg)
old
(http://i53.tinypic.com/x2rwqu.jpg)
new
But for today it is 38 outside and 51 inside. :censored: Just thought I'd share.
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I hope that it works out for you. What a huge expense but it sounds like it will be worth it in the end
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Man, I thought I was paying a lot by ponying up $2,300 a year in propane.
Won't a heat pump work in your area? Too cold, maybe?
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89 y/o house. I bet that is fun. And not fun too.
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89 y/o house. I bet that is fun. And not fun too.
Newer houses are a PITA too. But I think older houses are a much bigger PITA.
Maybe living in a tent isn't so bad after all.....
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Newer houses are a PITA too. But I think older houses are a much bigger PITA.
Maybe living in a tent isn't so bad after all.....
I split the difference. My house is only 48 years old.
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I know your pain, Our heater dosen't work, even after I put in a new control module. I probably left off a wire or something. We burn wood instead.
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4 year old house. 450 gallons a year (or about $1200-1400, depending on price of oil). But I also have the house on 54 during the day and when I'm asleep, and 68 at other times.
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4 year old house. 450 gallons a year (or about $1200-1400, depending on price of oil). But I also have the house on 54 during the day and when I'm asleep, and 68 at other times.
If I even thought about turning the heat down that low during sleep time, Mrs E would have my ass. She runs around the house with a blankie as it is.
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If I even thought about turning the heat down that low during sleep time, Mrs E would have my ass. She runs around the house with a blankie as it is.
58 at night, and during the day when I am not home. I have my thermostat programmed to go to 64 before I get home, and cut back down to 58 overnight, and then go back to 64 30 minutes before I get up.
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My first year stationed at Ft Drum we were in the old WWII style barracks and they ran on heating oil. There's nothing like waking up on a cold winter morning at -20+ outside on a weekend to no heat.
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89 y/o house. I bet that is fun. And not fun too.
It sucks, in a fun way. Mrs RC does a lot of the grunt work...both electrical and carpentry. I do the demo, framing and paint work.
We replaced 16 of the original windows this summer. Did it ourselves and saved about $9k. We also insulated the walls while we were at it. No insulation anywhere in the house, except the rooms we've redone.
(http://i51.tinypic.com/11sjsr9.jpg)
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It sucks, in a fun way. Mrs RC does a lot of the grunt work...both electrical and carpentry. I do the demo, framing and paint work.
We replaced 16 of the original windows this summer. Did it ourselves and saved about $9k. We also insulated the walls while we were at it. No insulation anywhere in the house, except the rooms we've redone.
(http://i51.tinypic.com/11sjsr9.jpg)
Wow, were you dealing with plastering and all that kinda stuff?
That ain't my idea of fun, I can tell you that. :bow:
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It sucks, in a fun way. Mrs RC does a lot of the grunt work...both electrical and carpentry. I do the demo, framing and paint work.
We replaced 16 of the original windows this summer. Did it ourselves and saved about $9k. We also insulated the walls while we were at it. No insulation anywhere in the house, except the rooms we've redone.
(http://i51.tinypic.com/11sjsr9.jpg)
Oh wow RC, that is such a beautiful house! You could use a pic of it as your Christmas card. This year for me is insulation and radiant barrier in the attic. My rooms require new drywall, well some of them, so they will be insulated as they are taken care of. Yours is gorgeous!
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Wow, were you dealing with plastering and all that kinda stuff?
That ain't my idea of fun, I can tell you that. :bow:
Plaster we did a few times - not so good...Drywall rocks, we hate to put it up but we'd truly never finish without it.
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Oh wow RC, that is such a beautiful house! You could use a pic of it as your Christmas card. This year for me is insulation and radiant barrier in the attic. My rooms require new drywall, well some of them, so they will be insulated as they are taken care of. Yours is gorgeous!
Thanks, that was last yr, since then we've redone the front softscape completely and we can't decide on new shutters' style - oh, and it's a soft yellow, with a bright red door now. Mrs RC had surgery a few weeks ago so Christmas decorating is minimal.
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At least you can amortize the cost of a new heater over the life of the house. :-)
Good luck. A comfy home is a happy home.
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Thanks, that was last yr, since then we've redone the front softscape completely and we can't decide on new shutters' style - oh, and it's a soft yellow, with a bright red door now. Mrs RC had surgery a few weeks ago so Christmas decorating is minimal.
I bet it is just lovely. What a good feeling to fix it all up, and a PITA at the same time. I hope Mrs. RC is recuperating well.
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I bet it is just lovely. What a good feeling to fix it all up, and a PITA at the same time. I hope Mrs. RC is recuperating well.
The Mrs is fine now, thanks.
Heat is done, we only lost 1 radiator; a union failed under the new hot water pressure. The guys were done and leaving Christmas eve, eve when we noticed the leak - they had to shut the whole thing down, drain it, cap off the radiator in the basement and restart the system. They ended up leaving a little after 8:00PM.
The good news is the house is warm for the first time since we've owned it. The old steam heat was either chilly or blazing hot. Our new system pumps warm water constantly through the house keeping us very comfortable and consistent. Now to see what the gas bill comes in at....
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My house is 81 YO. It has wet plaster through out.
I did a total renovation. Gutted the bathroom and kitchen walls. Re tiled both rooms. re did all the red oak hardwood floors. Pulled off the 6" baseboards and stripped them refinished them in dark walnut. I had to have a mill make some replacement boards. First they had to make a profile cutter. Talk about expensive. Replaced the 28 windows. I have walk in closets and they have windows in them too. Replaced all interior and exterior, save one, doors with solid core six panel. I couldn't replace the front door as it is arched with leaded stain glass panels. The hardest part was doing the picture rail around the cove ceiling.
This was so much fun. It took me five years to complete. My wife enjoyed it too. In face, she got an apartment and wouldn't come back until I was finished. :o
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Thanks, that was last yr, since then we've redone the front softscape completely and we can't decide on new shutters' style - oh, and it's a soft yellow, with a bright red door now. Mrs RC had surgery a few weeks ago so Christmas decorating is minimal.
Oh WOWWWWW!!!
I want your house!!! It's beautiful and with it being in a soft yellow and a red door....perfection!!!
I think red doors are wonderful! I wish they worked on red brick. :bawl: