I do enjoy my mt vernon pellet stove and I am glad to have in case of future spikes in oil prices but right now with the price of pellets and work involved with the stove I think it is cheaper just to run the oil.I would like to have your take on this
If home heating oil stays under $2 and pellets at $300 per ton I think its cheaper to heat with oil
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stoveguy13
Minister of Fire
Agreed. Although, there are some folks on here that believe there are huge losses in central heating systems and that it is still cheaper to burn $300 pellets than it is to burn $2 oil. I personally agree that some central heating systems are not as efficient as your average pellet stove when you include distribution losses, but I don't believe the additional loss is large enough to over come this significant price discrepancy. At best it's a push. When you factor in the additional work associated with burning pellets, and then look at the much more even distribution of heat with a central heating system, the decision becomes much easier to go with oil (IMO). Any savings to be made with burning pellets (with the pricing so lopsided) would really only be made by space heating a smaller area, therefore burning less fuel... but then you're not comparing apples to apples at this point. If saving money by heating a smaller area is the goal, it can be done with oil as well by using zones/dampers in your central heating system, or even by using oil fired space heater(s). Regardless, it's cheaper to burn oil than it is to burn pellets given the numbers you provided.
If you want to save money, burn wood or even coal.
If you want to save money, burn wood or even coal.
exoilburner
Feeling the Heat
In western Washington state, the break even point on my spreadsheet is: Pellets $245/ton and Furnace oil $209/gal.
The spread sheet is based on the DOE HEATING FUEL COMPARISON CALCULATOR
http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/experts/heatcalc.xls
The spread sheet is based on the DOE HEATING FUEL COMPARISON CALCULATOR
http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/experts/heatcalc.xls
chrisasst
Minister of Fire
for me I go through 1 ton of pellets = $250- $300 a month. I went through 300 gallons of oil per month. 300 x $2.00 = cheaper to burn pellets.
I also go thru 1 ton pellets a month - but for oil I would only use 110 gals per month 110X 2.10=231.00 delivered.
And I remember as someone else once said - not only does the oil man deliver - he also stacks it.
And I remember as someone else once said - not only does the oil man deliver - he also stacks it.
exoilburner
Feeling the Heat
Jambruins said:
Only figured the cost of the Fuel Heat Content (Btu) generated by each fuel. In other words what does it cost to generate a BTU of heat from pellets vs the cost of a BTU of heat from furnace oil.
Didn't want to clutter it up with a lot of other variables. My oil furnace and pellet furnace efficiencies are probably close and use the same air ducts.
People have short memories. One of the goals of people switching over to pellets was to drive demand for oil down which has worked. Keep burning the pellest and keep the money here.
South of Boston
Member
- Dec 6, 2008
- 134
pellet0708 said:
SO if we switch from pellets to oil do you think the $300 a ton aournd here will go down as much as oil went down in a year? I paid $189 a gal today. have about 20 bags of pellets left from my first three tons. I am thinking about shutting the stove down for the season. I think we paid almost $4.oo a gal last year.
All I'm saying is when oil was high people had all kinds of wonderful reasons to burn pellets: help the US economy by buying pellets here, better for the environment, stop sending money to the middle east etc..... Now that oil has dropped I guess people don't mind sending the money over there. I buy both oil and pellets but feel better buring pellets even if it is the same cost or a little more. BUT the pellet industry has to get their act together and get their prices in line and stop trying to take advantage of everybody too.
that oil better be made of gold and deliver itself and cook me dinner for $209 a gallon....exoilburner said:
just kidding I know you meant $2.09/gal...wish I could say it was that cheap here...$2.75-$2.90 a gallon upstate NY 2day..places here are saying they are gonna go above $3.00/gallon within a week or 2
I know this doesn't necessarily address price comparisons and let's assume @ the moment it's a wash cost wise(most areas), I personally would still prefer my wood pellets. The heat from my forced air system, albeit much more evenly distributed than my stove, still does not "warm" me like my pellets. There just is no comparison @ least for me as far as comfort level is concerned. Now I did note "personally" "cause I do understand that not all floor plans are alike and this can factor big time.
IMHO trying to figure out the waxing and waning of the pellet, wood, oil, propane, coal, natural gas, etc. industries pricing is one big migraine headache. For me its all about choice and options. Its nice to have hedging options against price fluctuations, or, if I like adopting a particular energy philosophy such as buy local. My worst nightmare is being forced by some nanny state into only one energy source.
South of Boston
Member
- Dec 6, 2008
- 134
Gee what happend to all th etalk of a pellet shortage due to a lack of new home construction? I thought that was the reason for the higher prices along with the demand. I would love to see the prices drop since all I have bought has been $300 a ton. I paid $1.89 a gal for oil and really just want to keep my house warm. What ever is cheapest is my choice. I paid nearly double in oil last year. The reason I purchased the stove.
weatherguy
Minister of Fire
I agree with your comfort statement, Ill probably burn both pellets and oil, I'll just use my furnace more and use my pellets sparingly. I work from home and use my pellet stove on a low setting to keep my office and surrounding area comfortable. I keep the furnace off in the day and turn the furnace up when my wife gets home.
lessoil
Minister of Fire
mgreenage1 said:
I agree, I am warmer with the pellet stove.
Had we locked in on oil last Summer, we probably would have been
paying at least $3.00/gal. We burned 900 gal 2 years ago when it was real cold. (Like this year)
That would have been at least $2700 for oil. We spent $1200 on pellets for heat and have used
almost 300 gal since last August. Looking at these figures, we have saved on heating costs ($500-$600) and are warmer.
Now next heating season could be interesting if the price of pellets does not go down and the price
of oil stays down.
It is cheaper now to burn Oil than even Corn. I have about 1/2 ton of corn left and like other posters have started turning the fuel setting down on the Pellet Stove, and reprogramming the Oil Furnace thermo to come on later in the afternoon.
I have my stove, harman accentra, in the basement. It does a good job of keeping the basement warm and the first floor. But the third floor is chilly. I use the oil heater also but not nearly as much because of the stove in the basement. I got my stove three years ago when it was much cheaper. The way it works for me is both the oil heater and pellet stove compliment each other.
But I like the idea of a warm basement with warm floors on the first floor and not a freezing basement with cold floors. But it appears oil is cheaper but for how long??
Someone mentioned burning coal. Good luck with coal if Obama gets his way, and it looks like he will, the coal industry will be a thing of the past.
But I like the idea of a warm basement with warm floors on the first floor and not a freezing basement with cold floors. But it appears oil is cheaper but for how long??
Someone mentioned burning coal. Good luck with coal if Obama gets his way, and it looks like he will, the coal industry will be a thing of the past.
Jack Morrissey
Feeling the Heat
Jack Morrissey
Feeling the Heat
People didnt buy pellet stoves to drive down the price of oil- they bought them to SAVE money. And in the process if it drives down the price,and demand for oil= all the better
trudd
Member
This is my first year with a stove. I bought 4 tons of pellets, have about 1 and 1/2 left so I expect I'll have a little left over for next year. As much as it kills me and I swear up and down I won't pay $300/ton I just might and I may still save. I have to go back and check my records (I saved all my old oil bills). Lets say I buy another 4 tons @$300, thats $1200. Durring the 07/08 heating season I paid $1200 for just for the months of Dec, Jan, and Feb (obviously the coldest months). The main thing I need to check is the number of gallons I purchased because back then I think I was paying $2.50-2.75/gal of oil. Even if I determine that heating with oil will be significantly (around $500) cheaper I'm probably going to stick with pellets. Why??? Call me crazy if you want. But, the scenario I described to you was with my thermostat set at 66-67 for the whole winter. With the stove running all day my house is roasting! I have to turn it off for awhile some days because the heat is unbearable. What do you think I'm going to pay for oil, even if it's $1.50/gal, if I set my thermostat at 75 degrees?!?! When ever I read these debates not many people mention this factor. So I think I answered my own questions. Even if I can save a few hundred dollars with oil I'm sticking with pellets because I'll be warmer. Maybe if I had a new heating system and new windows (all on my list) I wouldn't see such a difference but right now the difference in heat is night and day. Sorry for the rant but just wanted to throw in my .02
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