Conversion from Oil to NG

[arcticHO]

I live in Ottawa and I'm converting from fuel oil to natural gas.

I live in a 50+ year-old semi-detached bungalow that is poorly insulated. Quite drafty. Less than 1000 sq. ft. on the main level. We use the front part of our basement as our entertainment room and often use a space heater there in the winter.

Aside from the conversion, I want to get a furnace and a/c installed. Currently, I'm getting quotes. As many as I can schedule over the next couple of weeks. Hoping to have the conversion done before Christmas.

We'll get an energy audit done for the rebates.

Given my home's current propensity for heat/cooling loss, its small area/volume, can anyone help me out with some general or specific recommendations with regards to heating and cooling units.

I'd like a modulating furnace with a DC blower motor and an a/c with a high REEM, but I'm interested in knowing what would be considered adequate and what would be overkill for my home.

I've had quotes from 2 contractors so far. One sells/installs Carrier. The other York. I don't know enough to express a preference.

I'd like to vent/exhaust using my existing chimney. One quote involves this. The other has the vent/exhaust going to the side of the house.

Looks like the gas meter will be located near the back corner of the house. Requires some digging by Enbridge. A cost I don't mind incurring because it doesn't look like the meter can be placed in the front of the house and strapping pipe from the front to the middle of the house is going to be problematic given our framing against the firewall.

There are some issues with ductwork, conversion of 2-wire thermostat wire to 5-wire thermostat wire, location of the a/c unit, location of a shut-off switch, and other not insurmountable issues. Don't have to change the thermostat, but do have to change the wire.

I'm interested in hearing some words-of-wisdom about furnaces and a/c units that are best for Ottawa and my small home. And cautionary tips about choosing a good contractor.

To date, the 2 sales reps I have dealt with have appeared very trustworthy and both gave me comparable quotes. Both companies appear to offer competent service.

I will get more quotes, but I don't have any reason to think that either of the first two wouldn't do a fine job.

Thanks in advance.

[fearlessfurnace]

Southern Michigan isn't Ottawa, but it isn't Floridia.
find out from you neibors who around you does the best sevice and consider giving them the job. Do not take the lowest quote. Realy cheap equipment is often trouble. I would look into heatpump with single stage furnace. Mild heating would be handled by the heatpump. Real heating by the gas. You have some redundancy with two heat systems (one blower , t-stat etc.) The modulating gas valves and inducers are expencive to replace. Two stage less so but still pricy. more to the point the fancy stuff will not be on the service truck, or the shop shelf Christmass Eve. The dc motors are nice if pricy,and a stock motor can be scabbed in to get you heat from c
Christmass to New Years. Weatherproofing the house often pays faster than new equipment.

[fearlessfurnace]

Once in a while some-one says they miss the old oil burner. I do not laugh at them. Never make fun of a crazy person they might cut you.

[skippedover]

The first step in your quest to heat your home should be to eliminate all the leaks you can find. Often that simply involves investing in some high quality silicone sealer and sealing the obvious leaks. Weather stripping can also do wonders. The most important thing to remember when tightening your home is that insulation does NOT tighten the home but rather slows the transfer of heat from still air on the inside of the home (the warmer air) to the outdoor air (the colder air). In order to let the insulation do its job, it is necessary to stop all the air movement through the home, or at least as much as possible. Common losses are from recessed lights and pull down attic access stairs.

An important issue to realize once the home is tightened is that that you need an accuarate room-by-room load analysis done on the home by the company you select to do the installation/conversion. I've included an attatchment that explains that in more detail. You should also be aware that annual service of the new gas heating appliances is every bit as important as it is/was on your oil burning equipment. Also, you'd be well advised to have a service contract with some company other than the loacal gas utility company. Most utility gas providers are not nearly as responsive to heating problems as you'd like them to be when you're cold and the unit isn't running at all or is otherwise being problematic. A good, independent HVAC company that makes it's money via happy customers is what you'll need.

Finally, the brand of equipment isn't important. What is important is finding the right company or you'll live to regret it. Read the attachment and good luck.

[fearlessfurnace]

I agree. there are a couple of bad brands out there. but good installers will not be putting them in.

[LBReeb88]

in my opinion you need to find the right company for your specific need but i can suggest a rheem/ruud unit as they have the most experience and introduced modulating furnaces more or less over 10 years ago. find a good company through asking people who they have used, if the company has a good reputation then they must be doing something right.. also remember the bigger the company doesn't always mean better and usually comes with a high price tag, smaller companies care more and don't have as much of an overhead (i'm also with a small company but have worked for larger ones, all my opinion).

[Codyt]

An important issue to realize once the home is tightened is that that you need an accuarate room-by-room load analysis done on the home by the company you select to do the installation/conversion.

Why??? The number of rooms doesn't change, the house construction doesn't change, the number of windows doesn't change. How does the Manual J "know" you made any changes in sealing the envelope and how can it possibly quantify changes? So you have a less leaky house if sealing was done properly but MJ doesn't know that. So why bother with a MJ. It's a lot of work and doesn't really tell you anything that you wouldn't know already "my current boiler does/doesn't keep me warm enough so I should get the same or larger replacement".

[hydronicsman]

Why??? The number of rooms doesn't change, the house construction doesn't change, the number of windows doesn't change. How does the Manual J "know" you made any changes in sealing the envelope and how can it possibly quantify changes? So you have a less leaky house if sealing was done properly but MJ doesn't know that. So why bother with a MJ. It's a lot of work and doesn't really tell you anything that you wouldn't know already "my current boiler does/doesn't keep me warm enough so I should get the same or larger replacement".

It's always good to have a road map to show what direction to take.

MJ knows what you input. Let's say you replaced storm windows with thermopanes. Maybe blew in or beefed up insulation. Maybe insulated under the floors in the basement. Possibly spray foamed every point of accessible air leakage. New insulated exterior doors. Maybe you can get the air change per hour down from .5 to .2

You might cross over into another infiltration rate, and that will change the load. MJ knows b/c you are telling it what exists now.

Then, we can do a room by room and see what heat/cool emitters exist. Are they short? Enough? Lacking? Enough CFM? Not enough?

Maybe when the A/C was put in years ago there were shade trees all over, now the folks have a bare lot, or visey versey.

Maybe the boiler/furnace was oversized. or undersized. The average layman may not realize short cycling was wasting energy or that things are barely making it.

MJ will really give you a picture of where things stand.

[arcticHO]

Really appreciate the responses. Thanks for the suggestions and links to resources.

We haven't done our energy audit yet, but it will be done before the furnace is installed. I have the feeling that the audit will confirm that we need a 60,000 BTU furnace.

We have to decide on the contractor and whether we want a modulating, or 2-stage furnace. We've received 5 quotes and will likely be going with a small to medium contractor.

Currently, we're not comfortable with our oil-burning furnace and often use a space heater in the basement when we're watching TV. In addition to the conversion to NG, we're hoping additional caulking, some new windows, and better insulation will make our home much more comfortable.

I'll keep you posted.

[fearlessfurnace]

tightening the house will realy help.
and a new furnace should do a much nicer job than the old oilburner.
keep up on the maintenance.