P Ness
You'Ve Forgotten 9-11 Already
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join:2001-08-29
Mineola, NY
clubs:  | [OT] Heating with electric instead of oil???
So is it going to be cheaper to buy a few small electric oil filled units this year instead of running the oil burner? |
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orion940
Paralyzed By Confusion
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join:2001-12-23
Windsor, CT
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| To what extent?
Doing a total conversion to the small electric oil things would not be cost effective, I wouldn't think. Also, there could be issues with pipes freezing etc. that would end up costing you more in the long run.
I've always gotten burned on money saving ideas.
O.
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pandora
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join:2001-06-01
Outland
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There is no cheap, easy solution to lower energy costs, if there was, everyone would be doing it. A review of the various energy costs in Connecticut was posted (by me) earlier in this forum, check out - »Comparison of different fuel types in CT electric resistance devices (which an oil electric heater would be, the oil permits retention of heat to smooth out the heat cycle preventing it from going from blistering hot to cold) cost about $34 per million BTU, oil at $2.20 per gallon costs about $16 per million BTU (at $2.19, it takes 7.2 gallons of oil, divide by your AFUE to approximate true cost then multiply by your cost per gallon). A heat pump, costs about $15-$16 but really is better than that above 40, and much worse below 30. The cost per BTU on a heat pump is non linear below 30 degrees (F).
If you don't mind some advice, to save on oil, get a separate hot water heater which runs on it's own zone not an integrated coil, check the insulation in your attic if the home is older, and if it isn't then buy R21 and pay to have someone put it in (very dusty and unpleasant), if you're ambitious, check the R behind your drywall, if lower than 13, open the walls up, put in R15 and stable plastic behind the batts. Higher R insulation has done more for me than a new furnace, new windows, new doors, or about anything else. The only thing which comes close is having a hot water heater on a zone valve / heat exchanger. Overall the insulation is much cheaper, though getting a decent drywall person can be difficult.
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P Ness
You'Ve Forgotten 9-11 Already
Premium
join:2001-08-29
Mineola, NY
clubs:
| i was wondering if i brought 3 small space heaters for the 3 rooms i am in would i see a savings over a full heating of the house...?
of course the other rooms would still be set at something reasonable like 60
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pandora
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join:2001-06-01
Outland
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| You'd need less BTU to heat a smaller area, but electric resistance costs about double most other sources. Have you considered a free standing AC/ heat pump? That would provide some non-resistive heat probably at a lower cost per room, though the units tend to run about $400. Another great solution I've used is to separately zone hot water baseboards. All my bedrooms have zone heat, I've only added the central air / heat system, if it's ineffective / inefficient, I'll just put the thermostats on the baseboards in the rooms up to each persons comfort zone.
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ewok
join:2004-01-22
East Haven, CT
1 edit | reply to P Ness
there's alot of times i wish i could just close off un-needed rooms like in the old books.  i have an extra bedroom and the dining room literally only gets used twice a year. (thanksgiving and christmas dinners) the living room is pretty empty too, usually we use the den.
unfortunately the thermosthat is located in the least used room in the house. i'm thinking of turning it down and doing something with space heaters tho. it's ruff to rebalance big oil fired radiators.  |
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orion940
Paralyzed By Confusion
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join:2001-12-23
Windsor, CT
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| I haven't had the furnace on yet, as the temps have let me adequately heat the house with running the propane for a couple hours. With the current temps, running the propane for a couple hours at night, all is well. But when the temps go down below 10 or so, the propane has a tough job of keeping up. It still warms that part of the house, but not to any great extent.
I use the PC's (which run 24x7) to heat two rooms. I would have the PC's running anyhow, and might as well put the heat radiation to good use. I am thinking about moving one downstairs for the winter.
O.
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pandora
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join:2001-06-01
Outland
·ooma
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| I've been keeping the house in the mid 70's just about all the time the past few months, the most recent electric bill came in. The bill without AC is usually $140-$150 averaging about $145. It was $174, so about $30-40 at most to heat (and cool earlier in September it alternated a bit) my home. I can live with that 
Though I strongly suspect, I'll be switching over to total fossil between now and the end of November.
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