Infloor options.. tried to search..

[nskijiji]

I did try to search for a similar thread. Sorry if there is one!

Our oil fired boiler, which is used only for infloor heat, is going south and our oil bill for our 4 bay was through the roof for the past 3 months (think $5000+ since January).

I don't have access to gas, so it's oil, electric or possibly a heat pump as a replacement. Any thoughts? Pros/Cons? Heat is only on December until the end of March. I'm not sure a heat pump would do well in our climate, but installers seem to think it will be fine and inexpensive to run. I don't have any other self serve operators to talk to about what they're using, so I would really appreciate some advice.
Thanks!

 

[pitzerwm]

You might consider On-Demand propane heaters for your floor heat. It will work.

 

[nskijiji]

Is propane cost effective? It's pretty pricey up our ways. I'll check that option out though! Thanks!

 

[JMMUSTANG]

I don't know if it would work or you have the ability to purchase recycled oil but how about a waste oil burner.
I have a tenant in my automall that is a repair shop. He put in one of these about 8 yrs. ago and then added another one on the other side of his shop about 5 yrs. ago.
He doesn't have to buy the oil since he gets it when he does oil changes.
He keeps his shop at around 72 degrees in the winter with the bay doors opening all the time.
His heating bill for the 5,000 sq. ft. shop is nothing now.

 

[PaulLovesJamie]

Air to air heat pumps are grossly inefficient when the weather gets near freezing, worse when it gets colder. In halifax, I would avoid that like the plague!

If it's a ground sourced water to water heat pump, I'm told that they now have COP's (efficiency rating) above 5. (which means 1 fifth the cost of electric heat). More expensive to install, but that would be my first thought. Second thought would be waste oil or propane.

ultimately I'd run the numbers, & pick the best based on lowest lifetime cost.

 

[Dirtychuck]

This depends on what fuels you have available and what operating costs and equipment costs are.

Propane is a little more than natural gas, but may be cost effective depending when you purchase it or lock in price. Current price in my area is above $3 per gallon, but in summer you could lock in for $1.799 per gallon.

To compare costs of each energy option:
Heating oil produces 138,500 BTU per gallon
Natural Gas produces 103,000 BTU per 100 cubic feet
Propane produces 91,600 BTU per liquid gallon
Electricity yields 3412 BTU per Kwh

You can use the above numbers along with the efficiency of each heating option to calculate and compare operating costs.

There is also one car wash that I know of that installed an outdoor wood burning boiler for floor heat.

 

[pgrzes]

A car dealer near me just built new wash and installed a waste oil burner for all wash heat. Including floor. With all oil-gas prices now it wont take long to recoupe costs if you can get enough waste oil.