Fuel Cost Caculator For Home Heating

[sudsmaster]

With recent tree removal around the property here, this place is overflowing with firewood. It's mostly soft wood (pittosporum) along with some fruit wood (almond, lime, avocado). But I think I'll be making more use of the fireplace inserts this winter. If for no better reason than to free up space in the firewood storage areas.

 

[perc-o-prince]

What are we... still in steam or natural circulation with ne

Well, in this house, yes, except there is a circulator on each zone.

Today we canned our last oil provider (paid our ceiling price of $3.949 all last year when others were 20-30 cents cheaper). We signed with a lock of $3.549 with the new provider 2 weeks ago. So today the previous one wanted to offer $3.499 to keep us, and wanted to know what they could do to keep us. I told them that the main sticking point was paying the cap all last year, and that if I had been offered $3499 2 weeks ago when I called to ask about best pricing, I might have stayed.

I hate playing that game every year!

Chuck

 

[wayupnorth]

18 years ago

I chose the best options at that time. Baseboard oil heat and hot water with propane backup stoves up and down. The first fill-up of oil was .60/gal. I just had both propane and oil fill-ups at 3.89/propane and 3.44 oil. 9 miles from me people are heating with natural gas at equivilent of 1.78. I'll never see natural gas here. The new oil delivery driver asked about how much I used, I said 500 gallons, pump clicked off and he said "You're good, 499.6". That will last me until next fall.

 

[supersuds]

$235 a ton for coal?

Wow...talk about black gold.

 

[davey7]

"What are we... still in steam or natural circulation with near-boiling water in cast iron radiators?!?!?! "

Yup, Chicago is heavy on steam, many boilers were converted from oil or coal in the 60's (like ours). Steam is efficient, 90% or more when kept in good shape, plus no moving parts or pumps, etc.