Ok, so I have just about run this topic dry (no pun intended), but......
I am starting to come up with some real figures for electric vs oil to generate DHW. I have been trying to schedule my oil deliveries when the oil tank gauge is between the E and 1/4 lines and I get only the minimum delivery of 125 gallons. That way I can pretty accurately tell how long it takes to use up the 125 gallons to heat the water.
In the house are me, my wife a 3 year old and a 4 month old.
So I had another delivery yesterday of 125 gallons. Based on the delivery history on the slip, over the past 20 months (actually 19 months and 28 days) I have used 500 gallons of oil (and no, I did not include this most recent 125 gallons in that figure) to generate our hot water.
So that means we are using 25 gallons a month and at the current rate of $3.69 / gallon that is $92.25 per month to heat the water.
This is starting to make feel even more inclined to switch over to an electric hot water tank. Considering that my system is in the range of 55-65% efficient for making DHW, that works out to be in the range of $50 - $60 dollars for electric. PSNH claims $68 a month for a family of four, but I bet this is on the high end.
So using my numbers, that is a saving of $32 per month. I'm thinking of hiring a plumber to install the new electric tank so I'm guessing that the install will probably run in the range of $750 - $1,000 with the cost of the tank included in that. Worst case is a 2 1/2 year payback. I could probably make this better by adding a timer to the water heater so that it is not heating water during the night.
Now, what is the best electric water heater for the money? I don't want and on demand system, I want a storage tank. Are the $350 HD specials as good as the new fancy fiberglass ones? The spec sheets all seem to show the same performance, no matter the type of tank.
I am starting to come up with some real figures for electric vs oil to generate DHW. I have been trying to schedule my oil deliveries when the oil tank gauge is between the E and 1/4 lines and I get only the minimum delivery of 125 gallons. That way I can pretty accurately tell how long it takes to use up the 125 gallons to heat the water.
In the house are me, my wife a 3 year old and a 4 month old.
So I had another delivery yesterday of 125 gallons. Based on the delivery history on the slip, over the past 20 months (actually 19 months and 28 days) I have used 500 gallons of oil (and no, I did not include this most recent 125 gallons in that figure) to generate our hot water.
So that means we are using 25 gallons a month and at the current rate of $3.69 / gallon that is $92.25 per month to heat the water.
This is starting to make feel even more inclined to switch over to an electric hot water tank. Considering that my system is in the range of 55-65% efficient for making DHW, that works out to be in the range of $50 - $60 dollars for electric. PSNH claims $68 a month for a family of four, but I bet this is on the high end.
So using my numbers, that is a saving of $32 per month. I'm thinking of hiring a plumber to install the new electric tank so I'm guessing that the install will probably run in the range of $750 - $1,000 with the cost of the tank included in that. Worst case is a 2 1/2 year payback. I could probably make this better by adding a timer to the water heater so that it is not heating water during the night.
Now, what is the best electric water heater for the money? I don't want and on demand system, I want a storage tank. Are the $350 HD specials as good as the new fancy fiberglass ones? The spec sheets all seem to show the same performance, no matter the type of tank.