Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - Thermo Pride, Used - Selection, Installation
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MatthewS
09-23-07, 07:30 AM
Greetings,
After a protracted fight with my local gas company about installing service to an older house, I've decided to just replace my ancient oil furnace with a newer oil furnace. Old furnace is out and I'm ready to start the project.
I fournd two Thermo Pride oil furnaces for sale used in my city. One is a three year old OH2-56 ($600) and the other a 16 year old OL5-85 ($100). Both are claimed to be in excellent condition. The house is one story, about 700sf, and it has an unfinished basement with 7' ceilings.
I'd really appreciate some help with the following questions:
Can a lowboy design be used in a "standard" basement, by simply extending pipes, ducting, plenums, etc? If so, should it be mounted on a platform?
Which unit is recommended? I understand the OH2-56 is better sized for this house. If the OL3-85 were used with a .5nozzle the output would be similar to the smaller unit, but would it be the similar in efficiency, noise, etc?
Am I mistaken to believe that oil furnaces such as these haven't basically changed in design, features, and efficiency, in the past 20 years?
What inspections should I be doing on these used equipment? How does one identify a cracked heat exchanger?
Can and should I remove the burner from the furnace for easier transport? These are supposed to be very heavy.
Do you have any other advice for me that will save some cost, time, pain, and embarassment??
Matthew
After a protracted fight with my local gas company about installing service to an older house, I've decided to just replace my ancient oil furnace with a newer oil furnace. Old furnace is out and I'm ready to start the project.
I fournd two Thermo Pride oil furnaces for sale used in my city. One is a three year old OH2-56 ($600) and the other a 16 year old OL5-85 ($100). Both are claimed to be in excellent condition. The house is one story, about 700sf, and it has an unfinished basement with 7' ceilings.
I'd really appreciate some help with the following questions:
Can a lowboy design be used in a "standard" basement, by simply extending pipes, ducting, plenums, etc? If so, should it be mounted on a platform?
Which unit is recommended? I understand the OH2-56 is better sized for this house. If the OL3-85 were used with a .5nozzle the output would be similar to the smaller unit, but would it be the similar in efficiency, noise, etc?
Am I mistaken to believe that oil furnaces such as these haven't basically changed in design, features, and efficiency, in the past 20 years?
What inspections should I be doing on these used equipment? How does one identify a cracked heat exchanger?
Can and should I remove the burner from the furnace for easier transport? These are supposed to be very heavy.
Do you have any other advice for me that will save some cost, time, pain, and embarassment??
Matthew
Mark_MS
09-23-07, 08:58 AM
I don't know about all the technical aspects of your question..nozzles, piping etc but you are mistaken about the efficiency of newer oil fired equipment if you purchased new you would save at least double digit %'s in fuel oil used ie 10-25%!!
...and why would you buy used anyway?...your only buying/swapping someone elses problems.:wall:
Mark_ms
...and why would you buy used anyway?...your only buying/swapping someone elses problems.:wall:
Mark_ms
Grady
09-24-07, 06:45 PM
Do not try to downfire an OL-5 to the same or near the same level as the OH-2. All furnaces have a temperature rise spec & the chances of meeting that spec by such a downfire would be extremely slim. You would not be comfortable & would likely eat out the heat exchanger from condensation.
Inspection of the heat exchanger is a job for a pro. If the furnace is not hooked up, it requires either an air pressure test or complete disassembly.
Inspection of the heat exchanger is a job for a pro. If the furnace is not hooked up, it requires either an air pressure test or complete disassembly.