How much is your heating bill? (apartment, condo, house)

[nzone]

What was the cost to heat [Gas/Oil/Electric] your home this past Winter?

Last Winter we lived in a condo [1100-sq.ft] with a heat pump. The electric bill, on average, was about $200/month. This included cooking and hot water. The thermostat was set to 76 degree.

We bought a 2100-sq.ft house this Spring that has oil heating with indirect hot water. When we moved in, the oil in the tank was a slightly above 1/2 full. In a month after we've moved in, the oil in the tank is about 1/3 full. So we use roughly about 1/4 of oil. If the oil price is $3.962/gal (as of 3/11), then for the month, it costs us $272.39 ((275x0.25) x 3.962). Is this sound reasonable?

Right now, we contemplate doing three things. 1. oil-to-gas conversion. 2. replace existing oil boiler and oil tank. 3. stay with the existing system for the winter to see the real total cost.

[gf2020]

I have a 2300 sq ft cape. Sadly, we use about 1000 gallons of oil per year. At current prices, I'm looking at over $3500 per year. I could bring gas down the street but the total conversion price would be around $10,000. I might save $1000 per year at today's prices so it's a 10-year payback. If oil prices fall, the payback period becomes even longer. That's not very compelling.

[wmass]

Your oil bill will be a LOT more in winter than spring.

We have an old 1600 SF house that used about 700 gall/year of oil (at 68 degrees) before we converted to gas. Its about $1000/year to heat with gas. (we had already been paying for gas for cooking and hot water) - about a 3.5 year payback on the new furnace costs.

[nzone]

Both answers gave me some perspective regarding oil vs gas.

I received a quote for $7500 for the oil-to-gas conversion. The price includes running the gas line from the street to the house ($500), interior piping and venting, removal of the old boiler and tank ($325), and Alpine boiler. wmass, is the quote sound reasonable?

[wmass]

We already had a gas line to the house - our cost was $4000 for a new Rheem (93% hot air furnace) plus $200 for (unofficial) oil tank removal.

[nzone]

Is the $4000 include furnace+labor+materials? That's almost half of my quote. Running the gas line to the house is not expensive (just $500). Your new Rheem can't be $1000 or is it?

[wmass]

Originally Posted by nzone

Is the $4000 include furnace+labor+materials? That's almost half of my quote. Running the gas line to the house is not expensive (just $500). Your new Rheem can't be $1000 or is it?

the $4K (actually $3895) included everything except oil tank removal. Plus we got a $100 gas co. rebate. We had gotten a second estimate that was like $5-6K (can't remember exactly).

I would think a hot air furnace might cost less than a boiler -plus you'll have piping work, etc - but I'm no expert on costs.
I'd get a couple more quotes.

Also this was in 2008

[wxjay]

I live in a 1 bd/1ba apartment (840 sq ft). The most I paid this past winter for gas was $55 for the month.

[nzone]

Originally Posted by wmass

the $4K (actually $3895) included everything except oil tank removal. Plus we got a $100 gas co. rebate. We had gotten a second estimate that was like $5-6K (can't remember exactly).

I would think a hot air furnace might cost less than a boiler -plus you'll have piping work, etc - but I'm no expert on costs.
I'd get a couple more quotes.

Also this was in 2008

I think you're right. Piping work can be time consuming and laborious process. He has to run the black pipe gas line inside the house to, not just the hot water pipe. Plus connections to indirect hot water as well. A lot of works involved. I thought his quote was fair. I saw his installation works and I think I'll hire him. But i'm still hesitating going to gas..two words: explosion + CO

[nzone]

Originally Posted by wxjay

I live in a 1 bd/1ba apartment (840 sq ft). The most I paid this past winter for gas was $55 for the month.

Hmmm...double sweaters by any chance?