thomase00
New Member
I have some updates.
So far, I have the following estimates, NONE of which are itemized. Also, keep in mind that I want to direct vent about 25' away from the current boiler location.
1.) From my current fuel oil supplier whom recently started a propane business in the last few years. This is the guy I mentioned before who wants to put in an over-sized Bosch Greenstar 131, BUT he'll do EVERYTHING, including burying a 500 gallon tank, fixing my lawn, removing my oil tank, and locking me in for $1.79 propane for a year, all for $5600! Assuming I could convince him that I only need a Greenstar 100 or Greenstar 79, this is SOO much cheaper than everyone else (about 1/2), it seems that something isn't quite right. Maybe he's trying to build up his propane customer base and is willing to do it for near cost. Maybe he's planning on jacking up the propane price after the 1st year. It is very tempting but also concerning.
2.) The fuel oil branch of the same company from 1.) quoted me about $10K for a power-vented Weil-Mclain WGO-4RD (!) moved across the basement and vented out the leeward side basement wall. Even a WGO-3Rd would be oversized. I didn't push them to explain why it needed to be so big because this was very early on before I came to this thread and did my own heat loss calculation.
3.) Another company that sells both propane and fuel oil quoted me about $10K for a direct vented Peerless WBV-03, and $12K for a Dunkirk Helix VLT 100. Coring through the basement wall (needed for both) runs another $500 and installing the tank and running the propane gas line runs another $700.
4.) Independent plumber and heating contractor quoted me $10.2K for a Buderus g115ws/3 and $11K for a Bosch Greenstar 100 (similar to the 1st guy but double the cost). This doesn't include an EXTRA $3k (!) if I want it moved near the leeward side basement wall. Logamatic 2107 for the oil boiler is another $1k, but he doesn't recommend it because he says customers don't like losing the ability to crank the thermostat up and down at will. This guy said he would charge for a thorough Manual-J, but I showed him my own report and he said it looked reasonable.
5.) A different full service heating company that delivers oil (but not propane) quoted $10.9K for a Buderus g115ws/3 moved to the other side of the basement with direct vent cored through the foundation. He also doesn't recommend the Logamatic for the same reasons as 4.), so his installation instead includes a different outdoor reset control (maybe the Tekmar 260?). He will add the Logamatic for another $900.
However, 5.) ALSO quoted $10.4K for EK 90+ Resolute which he says can be vented up to 50' with EK's polypropylene venting system (even for oil), which means the system can remain in the same location of the basement. I'm not sure if there are downsides to using my current Mega-Stor indirect with EK's system. It seems like he is pushing more for the EK system.
It is frustrating that no one is giving me an itemized estimate. I can ask, but its not like that is going to change the total.
Finally, all of these estimates seem to be significantly more than what friends and family have paid in the last few years. None of this includes MassSave rebates that I will get back ($1700 for oil and $1500 for propane), and only 5.) was aggressive about guiding me through the rebate process. 3.) mentioned that I should qualify for a rebate, but left it at that. 1.)/2.) doesn't seem to know much about the rebate process at all.
So far, I have the following estimates, NONE of which are itemized. Also, keep in mind that I want to direct vent about 25' away from the current boiler location.
1.) From my current fuel oil supplier whom recently started a propane business in the last few years. This is the guy I mentioned before who wants to put in an over-sized Bosch Greenstar 131, BUT he'll do EVERYTHING, including burying a 500 gallon tank, fixing my lawn, removing my oil tank, and locking me in for $1.79 propane for a year, all for $5600! Assuming I could convince him that I only need a Greenstar 100 or Greenstar 79, this is SOO much cheaper than everyone else (about 1/2), it seems that something isn't quite right. Maybe he's trying to build up his propane customer base and is willing to do it for near cost. Maybe he's planning on jacking up the propane price after the 1st year. It is very tempting but also concerning.
2.) The fuel oil branch of the same company from 1.) quoted me about $10K for a power-vented Weil-Mclain WGO-4RD (!) moved across the basement and vented out the leeward side basement wall. Even a WGO-3Rd would be oversized. I didn't push them to explain why it needed to be so big because this was very early on before I came to this thread and did my own heat loss calculation.
3.) Another company that sells both propane and fuel oil quoted me about $10K for a direct vented Peerless WBV-03, and $12K for a Dunkirk Helix VLT 100. Coring through the basement wall (needed for both) runs another $500 and installing the tank and running the propane gas line runs another $700.
4.) Independent plumber and heating contractor quoted me $10.2K for a Buderus g115ws/3 and $11K for a Bosch Greenstar 100 (similar to the 1st guy but double the cost). This doesn't include an EXTRA $3k (!) if I want it moved near the leeward side basement wall. Logamatic 2107 for the oil boiler is another $1k, but he doesn't recommend it because he says customers don't like losing the ability to crank the thermostat up and down at will. This guy said he would charge for a thorough Manual-J, but I showed him my own report and he said it looked reasonable.
5.) A different full service heating company that delivers oil (but not propane) quoted $10.9K for a Buderus g115ws/3 moved to the other side of the basement with direct vent cored through the foundation. He also doesn't recommend the Logamatic for the same reasons as 4.), so his installation instead includes a different outdoor reset control (maybe the Tekmar 260?). He will add the Logamatic for another $900.
However, 5.) ALSO quoted $10.4K for EK 90+ Resolute which he says can be vented up to 50' with EK's polypropylene venting system (even for oil), which means the system can remain in the same location of the basement. I'm not sure if there are downsides to using my current Mega-Stor indirect with EK's system. It seems like he is pushing more for the EK system.
It is frustrating that no one is giving me an itemized estimate. I can ask, but its not like that is going to change the total.
Finally, all of these estimates seem to be significantly more than what friends and family have paid in the last few years. None of this includes MassSave rebates that I will get back ($1700 for oil and $1500 for propane), and only 5.) was aggressive about guiding me through the rebate process. 3.) mentioned that I should qualify for a rebate, but left it at that. 1.)/2.) doesn't seem to know much about the rebate process at all.