Buying oil heat -- I'm an oil virgin (renting, how much)

[wicked78]

Everywhere else I've lived has been electric or gas, and I didn't know anyone who actively talked about oil heat ... so -- what advice can anyone pass along?

Thanks!

[kingeorge]

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[kingeorge]

Check your furnace efficiency! It can be as low as 60-70% or as high as 90-95%--with 70% efficiency you are throwing 30% of oil you buy--you get the gist. Oil heating for the most part is not fun.
Any company you hire: make sure they clean and prep your furnace every season. These are folks who can do efficiency testing too. Also, help you "tune" your radiators (if applicable). Ask them to show you how to flush the system and replenish the water in the system, if applicable. Do not rush to sign for regular delivery or to "lock" the price before you get familiar with company and know how much oil you actually go through. Oil companies like to be "in contract" with consumers as they will clean, prep, repair for free or nominal fees, in exchange for regular delivery. Some oil companies can be bit predatory, better act like you know what you are doing.
If you are renting, your landlord should have someone inspect and prep your system for you. Repairs should not be your issue.
Be vigilant about any oil spills--that is big trouble, all sorts of health and money headache. Best news, if any comfort, oil can not explode like gas.
Good luck.

[wicked78]

Thank you. Can one test the efficiency on their own, or is that a job a service company needs to do?

[kingeorge]

Service company! Most clean up, prep, including test is not more than 15-20 minutes of work.

[jayrandom]

I would recommend checking out MassEnergy.org which is a heating oil network. I've been a member for a few years and it seems like a pretty good deal.

[xo_kizzy_xo]

Originally Posted by jayrandom

I would recommend checking out MassEnergy.org which is a heating oil network. I've been a member for a few years and it seems like a pretty good deal.

I was a member of MassEnergy for a few years. I didn't renew because I discovered the savings was negligible compared to buying discount oil online. The upside is that with MassEnergy you only deal with the dealer in the network who's the closest to you geographically.

[snatale1]

Modern Oil systems are just as efficient as gas. Systems from the last 10yrs or so are also fine when properly maintained. Typically both are more efficient than Electric heat. The downside of oil is paying upfront for it, but in the end it's all the same.

[mmyk72]

Originally Posted by snatale1

Modern Oil systems are just as efficient as gas. Systems from the last 10yrs or so are also fine when properly maintained. Typically both are more efficient than Electric heat. The downside of oil is paying upfront for it, but in the end it's all the same.

I always heard the cost to heat with oil is higher (assuming all other variables are similar, such as the size of the house, amount of heat use, etc). Cost of gas is low per btu at the moment.

I just received my 20 bucks gas bill for last month and I don't anticipate having higher than 200 bucks heating bill even for a very cold month. In comparison, I've heard it's quite common to average out the cost of oil to 300 to 400 bucks per month in the winter.

[brent s]

In my experience living in older houses, oil heat at current prices is about 75% more expensive than gas. That may be different in a newer house that is better insulated.