oil heat vs gas heat (Boston, Somerville: apartment, how much, tenants)

[aubin]

I'm looking for a new apartment in Boston. I've found a couple that I like but the one I like best is heated with oil and utilities are not included. I've not used oil heat before and I'm nervous that the cost will set me over my monthly budget. Can someone share how much on average you've paid for oil heat in winter? The apartment is about 1200 square feet and is on the second floor of a triple decker.

[yaeger07]

We have a 2 bed 1 bath apartment on the first floor of a two family. Newer windows but not great doors. We spent about $1300 on heat this winter.

[Bob Lanata]

You might do well where you are on the second floor as little will be lost in your floors and ceilings as both are heated from above and below. Go for it if you really like the apartment.

[BostonMike7]

How old is the triple decker?


My sister lived top floor of our families Somerville triple decker back when oil was a bit more expensive than it is now, and was spending ~900 or so every couple months on oil through the winter. 100+ year old, poor insulated, about 1700 sf.


I believe that is down to about 500 every couple of months. maybe $1500-1750/season.

[sawyer2]

Why not ask the landlord or current tenants how much they spent on oil last winter....price of oil and usage will change YOY but it would give you a good ballpark.

For any apartment with gas heat, you can call up the utility company and ask them high/low/average cost for previous years.

[OutdoorLover]

As someone else said, second floor is better than the first - heated air rises so the second floor gets some help from the first. Last I looked, oil heat is roughly twice what gas heat is (everything else equal). Everything isn't necessarily equal, so it all matters - what floor you're on, the condition of doors, windows and insulation.