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I moved to Long Island from Michigan. In MI we use gas for our heat and we pay as we go. I learned that it is diff here in NY.
My landlord told me to sign up with Petro and do a budget plan that costs 210 a month. At first I thought it was at great deal because I thought I would pay this 210 ONLY during winter months. Now I learned I would pay this the whole year each month, even during the summer. I even called PETRO and they said it was the best plan because if I chose "pay as I use the heat" it might even cost me 400/500 dollars a month during the winter months? Is that even possible? I remember in MI I paid about 300 dollars a month for gas for heat.
So my question is: wont it be cheaper to pay as I use the oil??? Can I really end up paying 400 dollars a month without the budget plan?
I usually put the temp around 71/72 at home during the winter.
Im hoping someone can give me advice. Im new to this whole oil thing for heat.
There are too many variables to say how much you will use.
Sq footage of house or apartment?
New roof and windows?
Does your heating system also provide hot water for you?
Answer those and you will get a better idea of what you can expect.
For an average size 1600 sq foot house at 70 degrees figure $3500 a year. If you go COD (pay as you go) you could reduce that to $3000. COD prices are much cheaper and no contract.
Just FYI, my plumbing/heating guy (who is NOT my oil company, lol) has always told me that when the nighttime temps go below 20F, you should NOT use the setback feature on the thermostat, because the heating system will burn so much oil trying to get it back up to the 'warmer' temp that it will offset whatever you 'saved' when the setting dropped.
The insulation factor in a house is huge; not only the wall insulation but the type of windows, how well the attic is insulated, whether or not there are recessed lights in the ceilings, etc etc.
I'm another who can't tolerate a cold house and so it's usually 72 during the day and only down to 68 at night (other than aforesaid frigid nights when I just manually set/hold it at 70). The house has a 550 gal tank which would bankrupt me if I ever filled it in one go, LOL, so I only get 250 gallons delivered at a time... and that's bad enough. :-/ I'm guessing the OP's tank is the standard 275 gal type?
A friend of mine has a 1200 sf house that was vacant over the winter last year but the thermostat held at a constant 62 degrees on advice of plumber (to avoid freezing of heating and water lines). New Andersen windows and attic insulation, but circa-1970 wall insulation so who knows how good/bad it is. She told me it still used about $2000 worth of oil for the season, and that was with zero hot water being used.
Biggest question is how many hours a day are you home?
I rented out a 1,200 square foot condo once to a tenant that was all electric heat during a very cold winter. And had an electric water heater.
Guess what they did not complain. Turns out dual income couple worked ten hours a day and at night they used a small space heater in the bedroom. The electric heat was on 50 degrees around 18 hours a day. And since no kids often went away on weekend.
ALso they commuted to work together and took back to back showers so my electric water heater only kicked on once.
I was told in that same unit if you have lots of kids everytime they use hot water to wash hands, wash dishes, run dishwasher electric water heater kicks on. Also the space heater only works if you are in same room.
Lots of snowbirds in my building dont mind the electric heat, they either winterize or set it at 50 and leave for winter.
If you have gas heat which is much much much more efficient but you and hubbie work from home and have kids look out.
i totally forgot about space heaters!!!! my houae 100% solar powered. thank you for that idea!!!!! my electric bill is like 3 dollars a month cause of my solar panels installed.
ill just put house temp at 66 and use a space heaters for family room and our bedrooms!
I will tell you, I have solar panels on my house as well. In the winter time, don't expect a 3 dollar bill. Because there are less hours of sunlight = less solar power. I would say our highest bill in the winter for electricity was around $100. Even that is cheap, but just to let you know.
Solar is amazing in the summer, we've had $10 bills (the fiance keeps his computer on and plugged in for work purposes).
Just FYI, my plumbing/heating guy (who is NOT my oil company, lol) has always told me that when the nighttime temps go below 20F, you should NOT use the setback feature on the thermostat, because the heating system will burn so much oil trying to get it back up to the 'warmer' temp that it will offset whatever you 'saved' when the setting dropped.
There are lots of experiments and studies with this and everything I've gathered says to leave it low (not below something like 55F where pipes could freeze/burst) when not home because the house loses heat every minute (depending on outside temp) and it's burning oil / using gas just to keep it where you set it. It will lose what it's going to lose either way. Only fire it back up when you're home.
Just FYI, my plumbing/heating guy (who is NOT my oil company, lol) has always told me that when the nighttime temps go below 20F, you should NOT use the setback feature on the thermostat, because the heating system will burn so much oil trying to get it back up to the 'warmer' temp that it will offset whatever you 'saved' when the setting dropped.
Especially an older house like main with cast iron radiators. They take forever to heat up, but once they heat up they stay heated up.
I don't care what the temperature is outside. I keep it at 67 degrees (sometimes 68) 24/7.
I cannot believe people drop the temperature at night to 60 or 62 degrees, and then have the boiler run for an extended period to get back to 67 or 68.
Two things the oil company will never tell you:
a) Maintain the same temperature 24/7 (especially on very cold days).
b) Get a new boiler. They love the old oil guzzlers and will do anything to keep it going.
b) Get a new boiler. They love the old oil guzzlers and will do anything to keep it going.
you don't need a whole new boiler....unless its ancient. You can save by just getting the new burner from Riello, Beckett or Honeywell....cost about 400-600 for the latest & greatest for efficiency.
If you have the gas line ready, oil to gas conversion is about $6000 before rebate.
Most household do not know how to shop around, and end up paying more than $8000.
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