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Old 02-09-2012, 04:01 PM
 
Location: Massachusetts for the time being
313 posts, read 725,665 times
Reputation: 364

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My elderly, long suffering oil heater died a month or so ago. After freezing half to death huddled around space heaters for a week or two, we defrosted our fingers enough to call National Grid and switch to Natural gas heat. It works great. The house stays at an even 69 or 70.

I just got my first post-change bill. $452.00.

Maybe I should have just gotten another oil heater.
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Old 02-09-2012, 06:04 PM
 
Location: Cambridge, MA
4,883 posts, read 13,767,685 times
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No, what you probably can do is go on a "budget plan" like what NStar offers. Under that program you pay an equivalent amount every month of the year for your service. I live in a drafty 1908 three-decker, cook as well as heat with natural gas, and still only have to shell out <$100 on each bill. Of course if you'd rather spend high during winter and low during the rest of the year you still can. But why would you?
Gas is better than oil even if it only means not waiting and waiting for a delivery after the burner runs dry. In 20 years I've had to call exactly twice to have the furnace's pilot light re-lit. Plus there's no smell - if there is, head for the hills! (LOL)
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Old 02-09-2012, 06:17 PM
 
Location: home...finally, home .
8,802 posts, read 21,215,007 times
Reputation: 20060
I used the budget plan on Long Island and I found it very helpful because I always knew what to expect. I just bought a 2 1/2 family home in Medford and probably will do the same here too.
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Old 02-10-2012, 07:21 AM
 
Location: Massachusetts for the time being
313 posts, read 725,665 times
Reputation: 364
Good idea, thanks, I will look into that. I am having more than enough smell problems from some diesel that spilled while they were removing the oil tank. Insurance is taking care of it, but oh, the smell!
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Old 02-10-2012, 09:17 AM
 
Location: Ohio
2,310 posts, read 6,798,951 times
Reputation: 1949
Very surprise that it sounds like your bill is higher now than before. What was your heating cost before the gas conversion? I assume all things being equal as in you're keeping the thermostat settings the same, etc.

BTW, how much did it cost you to convert - Can you provide a breakdown? What efficiency is your new heat vs the old (boiler or furnace)?
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Old 02-10-2012, 10:27 AM
 
1,039 posts, read 3,443,941 times
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Your situation sounds like my experience with natural gas. It's generally cheaper than oil, but I can't figure out the natural gas figures people quote on here of <$50/month with a full family using heat, hot water, and cooking. They must bathe infrequently, eat out a lot, or use supplementary heat sources.
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Old 02-10-2012, 12:27 PM
 
Location: JP, MA
116 posts, read 319,012 times
Reputation: 76
Depends how big your house is, how insulated it is, temperature setting, and outside weather. We converted to nat gas in September and for the winter months so far the average bill has been about $150 for a second floor 3 BR 2-family house (first floor still has an oil system). We have new double hung windows from King Shade in West Roxbury too which have cut down on the draft over the original windows from when the house was built. We keep the temp at 62-64 at night and at 60 during the day.

The balanced billing option through National Grid is only available after your first winter with the nat gas system. The reasoning is they need a baseline in order to project out how to bill you in balanced amounts.

Would never go back to oil. The systems are antiquated and constantly break down. Plus they flat out don't work as efficiently as the new nat gas system. Nat gas is cheaper than oil and I never have to worry about planning a delivery again.
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Old 02-10-2012, 12:42 PM
 
1,039 posts, read 3,443,941 times
Reputation: 609
Quote:
Originally Posted by sm4269a View Post
Would never go back to oil. The systems are antiquated and constantly break down. Plus they flat out don't work as efficiently as the new nat gas system. Nat gas is cheaper than oil and I never have to worry about planning a delivery again.
This is what I thought several years ago before buying our most recent house. The entire oil system was installed before we bought (85% efficiency). It also has a tankless hot water system. We most recently filled our tank last spring and late this fall. We'll probably fill one more time early this year which will get us to next fall. With National Grid wanting to charge us over $1000 to just get the line reconnected from the street, I don't see how I would recoup my money any time soon if I installed a gas furnace and water heater. I also enjoy the benefits of hot water on demand.

I don't understand the apparently common phenomenon of running out of oil. You either schedule for automatic delivery or check once in a while if you choose will-call. There are also monthly budget plans available so I don't see why this feature is trumpeted so much with natural gas. I suppose if I reckoned by expenses in this fashion I could say my monthly oil bill is $120/month with hot water included.
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Old 02-12-2012, 07:46 AM
 
Location: Massachusetts for the time being
313 posts, read 725,665 times
Reputation: 364
The house is 1851 s.f., brick, vinyl double windows. The switch-over ran about $4,200.00. I was lucky on the switch-over, the oil heater was located right in between a gas water heater and a gas dryer. The gas line was already right there. I have no idea what the efficiency rating was on my old oil heater, it was OLD, from before they posted such things. My new one is supposed to be 90% efficient.

Before, 100 gallons was lasting about... a month? I dumped the oil heater before the real cold hit, so its not a good comparison.

Last edited by westwind15; 02-12-2012 at 08:09 AM..
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