Average Heating Bills?

[fisheye]

Originally Posted by thecoalman

This helps a lot and wall thickness is also another factor, there is also a huge difference between 2*4 and 2*6 construction. There is so many variables involved with this it's difficult to pin down any number.

It is so hard to tell people how much the electric bill will be for their house. R values can be between R 13 for a 2x4 wall to R 38 for a 2X6 wall with insulation and a hard 4" insulation board on the outside. Then, besides the differences in insulation and building practices; we have individual preferences and use. If somebody keeps their thermostat set low the will use less electricity that somebody that keeps theirs set higher. Some people like to leave a window cracked for fresh air; that will cost them more electricity. The same can be said for those that like to run around in the buff with the temperature set at 80 degrees.

The point we are both making is that it is very hard to give a figure on how much it will cost to heat any home. If we tell somebody that it will cost $1,500 and it cost them $4,000 they are angry at us. The old home owner's bills are a better indicator. But the OP should be warned that their needs might not be the same as the old owner's needs.

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by fisheye

It is so hard to tell people how much the electric bill will be for their house.

Like I said the estimate I gave is based on average and that average is based on my experience in the residential heating industry. I had a customer in Lopez which typically records the lowest temps in PA. They had purchased an old country church. They started out using something like 24 tons per year which is a lot but it was big building, maybe 3000 sq. if not more. This is the equivalent of about 4000 gallons of oil. Over the years as they renovated they kept reducing that. Insulation, windows, house wrap etc. By the time they were done they more than halved it.

[fisheye]

Originally Posted by thecoalman

Like I said the estimate I gave is based on average and that average is based on my experience in the residential heating industry. I had a customer in Lopez which typically records the lowest temps in PA. They had purchased an old country church. They started out using something like 24 tons per year which is a lot but it was big building, maybe 3000 sq. if not more. This is the equivalent of about 4000 gallons of oil. Over the years as they renovated they kept reducing that. Insulation, windows, house wrap etc. By the time they were done they more than halved it.

There are just some questions that people ask moving into out area that are very hard to answer without the answer coming back to haunt us. Like the average commute time to the city and their first trip they get stuck with a chain of accidents on I-80. Or you tell somebody the average heating bill and they love to leave the windows open.

But, like you say, people can work to improve efficiency if they so desire. When moving into a new home is a great time to make some of the changes. At the same time sometimes people cannot always see what is more important to change until they actually live in that new home. So you really will not be sure until afterwards. I always wanted to change our well and here I am forty years later!