Hi,
just reread your post - is the furnace already dismantled, or does it still work ?
Because it may well be possible that there is something (heat exchanger) cracked, but the big "boom" when igniting usually points to a too late ignition - fuel build up, not sufficient spark/delayed iginition and ... boom - you get the idea.
But this has nothing to do with the heat exchanger itself - the latter one will only lead to losing a bit of water/pressure in a few days.
And there is no imminent danger of a CO2 build-up.

Greetings,
Catfish

I run a convector with thermostat and timer in the conservatory and find it much cheaper to run than the 'oilers'

http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/a56ecd481f.jpg

Whats a convector?

Basically, instead of heating oil, it heats air from an electrical element and distributes it around the room.

"A convection heater is a heater which operates by air convection currents circulating through the body of the appliance, and across its heating element. This heats up the air, causing it to increase in area.
A convection heater may have either an electrical heater element, hot water coil, or steam coil. Because of the natural ventilation, they are quieter in operation than fan heaters".

Actually, for me, running the oil/electric portable with the heatpump saves me money. It keeps the heatpump from running two fan motors plus the compressor. It does save over time.

I also have a back up of 100 gallons natural gas that supplies a woodburning type stove. So if my electric goes out I can still warm the house.

That is very dry heat. Effective but dry.

Can't honestly say I've ever noticed :hmmm:

Probably because I'm generally always upstairs in the pooter den :DL

There both convection heaters, the oilers just have to heat up the oil inside the unit before the heat transfers to the outside. Once this is up to temperature it is a more steady heat source. I always run mine at 600W, it does the same thing just more lag time to heat the room.

Yes, more lag time but very good once the oil is warmed. Then it starts the cycle. The oil holds the heat for a good long time thus shutting down the heating elements. It is very safe as well.

Wood stove is the way i'd go, especially down there in Texas when you only need heat a few weeks a year. We keep one stoked in the basement and my oil furnace has hardly come on all winter. Also wood is, at it's most expensive, still half the cost of home heating oil. Usually you can get good burnable wood for free.

@Neal, check this out. You can still get the 80% furnaces, and there pretty cheap, well cheaper the $2k

http://www.ventingdirect.com/fedders...rce=ntg_905794

Just remember Neal that Obummer said we can not drive our SUV's anymore, eat all we want and keep our homes at 72 degrees. So, feel good that you are chipping in. Enjoy the 65 degree weather in your livingroom. Oh, it costs $75000.00 to operate Airforce One. I do not see the sacrifice at the White House. But hey, doing your part is appreciated.

Well by the time you've paid the charge for the 'lag time' my room is already well heated and at a lot lower cost than you'll have to pay.

It's quite simple really.....wire the bugga up to the street lighting beyond your garden wall. :sunny:

The deal is once the oil is warm and the lag time over you keep the heater on. Attempting to reheat the room over and over will kill you for sure. Get it up to temp and let it keep a constant temp. One may turn it down when they go out but turning it off is not wise. It will have to work hard to get it back to a comfortable temp. Keep it on, this is were it works well. However, plugging up to the neighbors or the street lamps is a great idea! :yeah:

That is what the thermostat is for.

Besides...I'm a pensioner ya know and every little helps :DL