Disappointed w/ my heating bill for 1st yr burner.

FWIW, http://www.weatherdatadepot.com (for Hartford) shows a 36% increase in heating degree days for Oct-Nov 2013 compared to the same time last year. There is a direct correlation between HDD and fuel usage, whereas "average temperature" doesn't mean much. I think you just need to collect more data before jumping to disappointment.

Also, money spent on the thermal envelope of your house has a faster payback than a new heating system. Air sealing and insulation offer the biggest ROI, since the investment in new windows can take far longer to recoup. Just my two cents, based on years of over-analyzing these sorts of things.

Look at you usage stats this way. In November you used 2.5 CCF to raise the temperature 18 degrees (assuming 70 degree inside with gas heat only in 2012 as your baseline). 0.3 CCF to raise 18 degrees Nov 2013.
4.8 CCF to raise it 28 degrees Dec 2012. 2CCF to raise it 30 degrees Dec 2013.

Dec 2013 7% colder, so add 7 % to your 2012 usage: 0.36 CCF +4.8 CCF = 5.16 = 5.2 CCF.

So, Dec 2013 you saved 5.2 - 2 =3.2 CCF per day. You used 60% less CCF.

November 2013, you saved 2..5 -0.3 =2.2 CCF per day (temps pretty much equal both Novs).

Note also, very little heating needed on Nov bill...presumably covering a lot of Oct.
Dec bill covers some Oct and some Nov?

Interesting to see the Jan bill. I'm guessing 2.8 CCF saved per day, plus any necessary adjustment for temperature differential one year to the next.

good points on checking usage vs. dollars, they could have had a cost increase. hot water is a must......happy wife, happy life......you might try an insulation blanket over the tank and it might help. good suggestions on setting the boiler temps too. I only use the blower fan on my summit, which is in the basement. I get good circulation up through the hallway to the stairs and up the stairs to the first floor. I've tried adding the box fans and doorway corner fans but there was no real "extra benefit" that I could measure. besides, the noise and added cost for electricity just didn't seem warrant the continued effort.

Bster13 said:

Well I had been waiting on the edge of my seat for my heating bill to come in December and it hit last night:
From heating with wood I now know my new-to-me 1957 home is poorly insulated, windows are crap, etc., but if I never noticed the heat kicking on, what gives? The only draws on Natural Gas is the cooking stove (should not of changed significantly) and the water heat (in the basement as it's always been, and just my wife and I using it.)

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You found your own problems, fix your insulation, get energy efficient windows, install energy efficient light bulbs and that should bring your bill down further. Turn down your water heater by a degree or two. Get digital thermostats for better control. Your stove can heat your house, but it doesn't make your home energy efficient thus your heat is easily dissipated through the walls and windows.

Your total cost is the ccf bill plus the cost of the pellets during that time period, so your cost is actually higher.

Bster13 said:

Wait, are you dropping off a pellet stove plus pellets as an additional to my BK Insert? Nice!

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LOL, sorry I missed it that your burning wood. If your wood is free, then never mind the total. Nevertheless, your home can use some tightening up. This would be energy efficient for both the heating and cooling seasons.