Joyously burning oil

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mrjohneel

mrjohneel

Feeling the Heat
Dec 8, 2011
275
Suburban Boston
My harman p35i has saved me thousands in oil bills since I installed it in January 2012. But I still burn oil to heat my water. I just bought 200 gallons ($820) which is what I spend a year on oil. Now my 35-plus-old oil burner is giving out and my chimney needs work. I did some research, called my local utility, got five bids from contractors, engineered an interest-free loan and equipment rebates, and am set to get gas heat in my house this spring. But I have all that oil. So I'm using it. I love the Harman and hate oil heat but have to admit I like to hear the radiators pinging again and heating every corner or my house, as opposed to my pellet stove just space heating my living room while fans push air around the house. Next winter when I have gas, how much will I use the Harman? It remains to be seen, but for now it's like pre oil-embargo America in my house -- I'm cranking the oil heat and listening to bad early 70s music.
 
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That isn't your radiators pinging, it's all the money going to oil companies, just like slot machines in a casino, the house always wins:)
 
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Well you'll go from a roughly 60% efficient oil boiler to a 90% efficient condensing boiler now so that'll help. And the BTU output of oil is more than gas but gas is usually much cheaper, another big plus.
 
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Yes, I will save money -- no doubt. And a new, energy efficient gas system will help the resale value of my house. I'm still maintaining the pellet stove, but the point of this post is I sort of have to burn oil and I'm doing it like I haven't done it in a decade or more.
 
Yeah, I have a 90+ propane furnace in this house and a wood burning stove. Even though I get my wood for free there's still times that I like to just let the furnace run for a few days, usually when it's above zero. I used to do furnace and boiler work for my career so doing my own install helped keep the costs low. Interestingly, I've been hearing a ad on a radio station up here lately from a HVAC Co. Saying that they warranty all of their installed equipment, parts AND labor for 100 years. Just for curiosity I should call them and ask if that includes just plain old wore out equipment cuz eventually something big will break like a compressor or a heat exchanger and the whole unit will usually be swapped out in that case since it'll most likely be 15/20 years old old anyway.
 
WiscWoody said:
Yeah, I have a 90+ propane furnace in this house and a wood burning stove. Even though I get my wood for free there's still times that I like to just let the furnace run for a few days, usually when it's above zero. I used to do furnace and boiler work for my career so doing my own install helped keep the costs low. Interestingly, I've been hearing a ad on a radio station up here lately from a HVAC Co. Saying that they warranty all of their installed equipment, parts AND labor for 100 years. Just for curiosity I should call them and ask if that includes just plain old wore out equipment cuz eventually something big will break like a compressor or a heat exchanger and the whole unit will usually be swapped out in that case since it'll most likely be 15/20 years old old anyway.
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Sounds like someone who's planning to go out of business! "I guarantee it for 100 years! If you can find me!"
 
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tjnamtiw said:
Sounds like someone who's planning to go out of business! "I guarantee it for 100 years! If you can find me!"
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Local car dealer had a similar extended warranty adding 3 years from purchase date. Went under in 6 months. I lucked out in that the factory warranty covered the computer hatching out but now the car has two recalls.
 
Why not get a Harman PB-100 pellet boiler and get off Oil and Gas all together?

Is that Natural Gas you are getting or ProPain?
 
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burn it....

When I switched heating systems I gave about 200 gallons of oil to my heating contractor. He was a independent guy who was always pretty good to me and cheap so it didn't bother me to much. I hope he had a warm winter with it.
 
WiscWoody said:
Yeah, I have a 90+ propane furnace in this house and a wood burning stove. Even though I get my wood for free there's still times that I like to just let the furnace run for a few days, usually when it's above zero. I used to do furnace and boiler work for my career so doing my own install helped keep the costs low. Interestingly, I've been hearing a ad on a radio station up here lately from a HVAC Co. Saying that they warranty all of their installed equipment, parts AND labor for 100 years. Just for curiosity I should call them and ask if that includes just plain old wore out equipment cuz eventually something big will break like a compressor or a heat exchanger and the whole unit will usually be swapped out in that case since it'll most likely be 15/20 years old old anyway.
Click to expand...

Its probably for the original home owner. Most people do not stay in a house that long and most HVAC businesses do not last that long. So the "real" warranty is much less in most cases.
 
a few yeas back when the NG switch over was VERY popular allot of my customers would list there oil on Craigslist, under the terms that the buyer was responsible for pumping and transporting. The oil never lasted long, back than oil was 3.20-3.50 a gal and they would sale for 3.00 a gal and it would be gone by the next day !!
 
wsar10 said:
a few yeas back when the NG switch over was VERY popular allot of my customers would list there oil on Craigslist, under the terms that the buyer was responsible for pumping and transporting. The oil never lasted long, back than oil was 3.20-3.50 a gal and they would sale for 3.00 a gal and it would be gone by the next day !!
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You have to deal with some nut though who has no idea what he is doing trying to get it out of the tank.
 
moey said:
You have to deal with some nut though who has no idea what he is doing trying to get it out of the tank.
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Sure,
If you allow that sort of thing........
 
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I certainly understand using up the #2 fuel oil, but I would not supports the fossil fuel folks any more than I had to.

My kids are getting ready to build a mega house here on the property, and my daughter asked about heating and AC

My response was this.

Install a generous sized heat pump system that will be able to keep the place cool in the summer and fulfill the requirements of a built in heating system so the building permits would be granted.

From this point, the installation of several pellet stoves strategically located throughout the house.

This house is 3 levels. Main floor, upper level (bed rooms) daylight full basement that will have an apartment for us old folks.

All the stoves would be of a make/model and design that can burn various biomass materials.

The cold air returns to the air handler will be located to allow the circulation of warm air in the house using the duct system if needed.

Granted, electricity is always a must have.

I have looked into the use of Solar, wind and other systems, and the cash outlay for what they return simply pencils out RED.

The is likely hood that the house will have one wood stove on the main floor.

By my calcs, and based on our current use of shells to heat with, this huge house can be heated for around $200 for the entire heating season. And considering the insulation that new construction has, possibly less.

Not even going to look at the suppliers of oil/gas

Where we are, bottled gas (propane) electric and oil are it. Gas is not available, and likely wont be for years to come, as this area is rural and development is not allowed on any major level. (no housing projects)

Long live the pellet stove
 
Seems like a huge hassle for a new house. Why not put in a geothermal heat pump and be done with it. It would not cost much more then a regular heat pump after tax breaks. It will cost more then $200 to heat your place but you don't have to harvest anything. For new construction I suspect you could heat between $400-$800 no idea your electric rates. A/C is much cheaper to operate as well.
 
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mrjohneel You live pretty much in the same area I do. It's only a matter of a short time before
natural gas shoots up in cost. No free lunch no free rides in Massachusetts you know that.
Much luck to you though.
 
Why is NG supposedly going up? I thought with all of the new drilling going on we have plenty of it. I know for awhile they thought there might be a squeeze on supply from all of the power plants converting to natural gas but I think that's not a issue now.
 
Couple of points. As much as I like pellets, I need a new central heating system. I plan to be in my house for awhile but I need a central heating system in the event I sell my property. No one is going to buy a house heated with just a p35i where dad has to shovel pellets into a boiler in the basement. I'm not going to put in a geothermal system and I'm not going to get a pellet boiler. Ain't going to happen -- but all the power to those doing it. So my options are: get a better oil boiler or go with gas. I chose gas because I'd like to get a gas stove in my kitchen someday, NG is currently MUCH cheaper than oil, I don't like oil, and the new mod/con gas systems are very, very efficient. For me, it's a no brainer. As for Massachusetts, the MassSave program (funded by assessments on our utility bills, not tax dollars) is providing, in conjunction with National Grid, $2300 in rebates on the equipment and 0% financing for seven years. I don't want to veer off into the Ash Can, but I love living in the Commonwealth. I'm not asking for a "free ride" just a good quality of life -- and I'm living it. Stay warm everybody. Now, I'm going to go listen to Maria Muldaur's "Midnight at the Oasis" (1973) to keep the oil-burning vibe going.
 
WiscWoody said:
Why is NG supposedly going up? I thought with all of the new drilling going on we have plenty of it. I know for awhile they thought there might be a squeeze on supply from all of the power plants converting to natural gas but I think that's not a issue now.
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Because the same thing is going to happen to gas as coal, going to get shipped out to make more $$$. Business news morning yesterday was talking about a stock play for compressed gas to ship overseas.
 
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Yep. Same thing happens with gasoline. That's why when politicians cheer drill baby drill to a screaming crowd I wish I could say "you know nothing guarantees this oil stays here right?" Same principal. When Europe pays 8 bucks a gallon for gas, you tell me where the newly drilled oil will go...
 
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