New propane delivery record

lukem said:

The propane man came, he saw, and was conquered.

Despite the wicked cold late Dec and early Jan, he only pumped 25 gallons for the month. Subtract DHW and my heat bill for the 30 day period was a whopping $25. Burned a s-load of wood but managed to heat 3400 sq ft (basement included) with the trusty old BKK.

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After paying $1300 in two months for fuel oil, I'm both happy for you and a bit jealous.

~Brian (recent wood stove convert)

The middle of this month would be right around time to be getting our 3rd tank fill for this season. With heating oil running around $2.98/gallon I figure we did NOT spend $2,235 on heating oil so far this season by heating 24/7 with our wood stove.

We're trying our darndist not to touch that expensive thermostat thingy on the wall (oil heat). So far the Fireview has kept the house warm, except when it dropped to 1.7F last night the house got down to 58. My wife is a saint.

We use about 200 gallons of oil per year. We get 100g. in November and 100g. in May. It goes mostly to heat the hot water as we burn wood for heat 24/7. We only let the FHW baseboard go on a few days per year. I'm in my third season with wood stoves, I don't know how we ever did without it.

lukem said:

The propane man came, he saw, and was conquered.

Despite the wicked cold late Dec and early Jan, he only pumped 25 gallons for the month. Subtract DHW and my heat bill for the 30 day period was a whopping $25. Burned a s-load of wood but managed to heat 3400 sq ft (basement included) with the trusty old BKK.

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I got you beat by a mile. No propain for the last 3yrs. Your ready to take the next step. Ditch the tank and cancel the service. I did and have never looked back.

Got fuel oil delivered today, first and only fill up since March 1, 2010. I'm away from home fairly often, so have to run the boiler when away, also have oil fired HW. Fuel guy was kind of suprised that it only took 180 gals to fill it. He looks at my wood stacks and asks, how much wood have you burned since last March? Maybe 2 cords at the most I tell him. I have a compact pretty tight well insulated house.

He shakes his head, and tells me, he pretty much burns 24/7 and has gone through 5 cords or so in that time. And OBTW, he owns the fuel supply business and he's burning 24/7.

Gotta love those low cost BTUs

A friend of mine ditched the big propane tank and went to Tractor Supply and bought the 100 gallon propane tank. He actually has 2 of them, maybe more. He gets them filled up at the local feed store. He only uses the propane for the dryer and the cooking stove. I am just about ready to do this--IF I could figure it all out. I have to pay the tank rental fee, etc. now. The only plus for us having the big tank outside is I have a pretty good amount of propane here in case of bad weather. We use the propane for our cooking stove and our dryer. i can use it for the furnace too, but the goal is to NOT turn the propane furnace on! We caved in some this year, but last year 2009-2010 it was not turned on at all for the furnace. I think I have to buy 250 gallons a year to keep the big tank. Right now it is pretty full, as it doesn't take that much to dry clothes and cook. It's the furnace that eats it!

I overheard a man at work today telling someone that he just spent 1,000 on propane. I kinda laughed a little and told him I have used 40 gallons since summer. We have a gas stove, dryer and furnace. This year I have counted 4 times we have ran our furnace, and each was for 1 cycle only. Didn't want to wait for the woodfurnace to kick up the house from 68. Thats the coldest it has been when we wake. I hear all sorts of horror stories about propane. We would probably spend 400 or more a month if we didn't burn wood. Don't care to ever find out. With our home the size it is, the company wanted to put in a smaller tank from the 500 gallon tank we have, I refused in case of an emergency.

We usually owe the gas man $3500 to $4000 after winter is over. So far we owe him nothing.

I just called my oil company and told them I am not paying them anymore this year. I have set up a monthly payment (budget) and auto delivery. Last delivery was 20 gallons, compared to the average December delivery over the last 10 years of 124 gallons. Gross savings for December alone $294 I actually look forward to deliveries so I can figure the savings. Never thought I would be looking forward to my fuel oil deliveries.

Shawn

With the rumors of heating oil and propane prices projected for 2011, all you guys are in great shape.

As of today Fuel oil in my area is $3.11 per gallon

Where we live, the house has always had a woodburner, now upgraded from a smoke dragon. Since no winter has happened without wood heat, we don't know
the savings. So, I'll average the savings listed on these posts and subtract 1/3 of that for our savings (we don't wood-heat 24/7, but maybe 2/3 of 24X7). Thanks,
everyone! Oh, and the last propane tank refill (500-gal. tank) got only 66 gallons. They top-off twice a year. Even the wife is loving the wood "hobby".

lukem said:

Above mentioned propane was $2.09.

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Where is a good place to check propane prices- I used to check newenglandoil.com for oil prices when I used oil but just put in a new propane boiler but can't find the prices for propane...

I wish everyone would quit commenting on this! I keep seeing it pop up and it's a painful reminder that I'm $1200 into fuel oil this past month. :S

Man, if only I had been in the stove game earlier than two days ago :D

brianbeech said:

I wish everyone would quit commenting on this! I keep seeing it pop up and it's a painful reminder that I'm $1200 into fuel oil this past month. :S

Man, if only I had been in the stove game earlier than two days ago :D

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Ah but next year you will FULLY appreciate the stove.

I would cancel the automatic delivery for the propane. What size is the tank.

My propane was $5500 a season and I was being ***** at more than $ 4 per gallon.

Got the wood stove and turned the thermostats off! I only use propane for HW and clothes Dryer. I filled it last year - $ 700. This year we got a new propane vendor and ditched suburban. I went from $4+ to $ 1.89 per gallon. We took $ 400 for the year.

I have considered installing an electric HWH and dryer, but I can live with things as they are now.

Be mindful when they continue to come out on auto delivery - These companies are not stupid and when they see the usage drop and a big stack of wood, they jack up your rate and fees. I'd cancel the auto delivery and read the tank myself.

Good luck.

Mine wasn't that good but my gas bill was reduced by 40% I was verrrrry happy about that

My fuel oil is not on auto deliver and I've got to call and have them fill it. I also ONLY run my furnace with it. EEK! I'm seriously getting some insulation for the attic as soon as possible. And I'll be chopping wood all spring/summer.

lukem said:

DWBMHD said:

lukem said:

Above mentioned propane was $2.09.

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Where is a good place to check propane prices- I used to check newenglandoil.com for oil prices when I used oil but just put in a new propane boiler but can't find the prices for propane...

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The DOE has a website with residential propane prices by region. Sorry, no link.

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Here you go: http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/hopu/hopu.asp