Switching from Oil to Gas Heat
Complete system integration, not just efficiency rating, is the key to a successful conversion.
“A good customer is an informed customer,” begins Vincent Scialli, president of Hicksville-based Scialli Plumbing & Heating. “It’s important that our customers understand both the economic and mechanical scenarios of an oil to gas conversion. With my background as a mechanical engineer, I can help them develop a system that is most appropriate for their needs.”
“It is my opinion, that the best boiler for your home is not always just based on a boiler’s efficiency alone. Boiler efficiency is only one part of a home’s overall heating energy cost reduction. Other factors include the construction type of the home like (windows and insulation), the type of heating elements being implemented in the home (radiant, baseboards, fan coils), the boilers ability to modulate itself and reset its water temperature based on a heating curve, cost of natural gas/propane in reference to oil, and many other factors. The true indicator to a homeowner was whether the conversion was worth doing based on how much money the homeowner saves each month and how long it will take to pay off the initial cost of the conversion. Two factors that most customers fail to realize is the steady continuous supply of natural gas (meaning no deliveries) and less maintenance of gas burning equipment over time.”
“The largest growing market today in oil-to-gas conversions is high-efficiency condensing-modulating boilers,” says Scialli. “A condensing boiler is a boiler that is designed to capture and reuse energy that conventional boilers discharge through the exhaust flue. The name ‘Condensing Boiler’ originates from the ability to condense the water vapor produced by the conventional consumption of gas in the boiler. The heat involved in the vaporization process can be reclaimed by these boilers and used to heat your home. That is why condensing boilers have efficiencies in the 94% range or better. In addition, many gas condensing boilers today come equipped with modulating gas valves. These boilers modulate the fire rate of the boiler based on the energy required to maintain the heat demand at a certain temperature with reference to the outside temperature. Modulation can sometimes play a more pivotal role in bringing energy costs down than efficiency alone.”
“We take a lot of pride in our work, it’s not just about making the sale,” adds Scialli. “We tell every employee to treat each customer the same, like they are part of our extended family.”
Photo: Scialli Plumbing
Connect with Scialli Plumbing and Heating: www.Scialli.com
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