I wanted to take a semi-scientific look at my personal heating costs and usage in my first 2 years in this house. It was built in 1985, is about 2800sf and located near Buffalo, NY. It has a great room with a high ceiling and lots of windows, but located with a lot of trees around that cut off a significant amount of wind. I do not know any specifics on insulation and average R value that the house has. I believe just batt insulation and ridge vent there is no attic. I purchased it 2 years ago.
I went to national fuel's website and downloaded my usage from the last 2 years. Each month they alternate between taking an actual reading and an estimated usage. So the meter is read 6 times a year. I took only 4 of those actual winter readings and charted them, and tossed their estimated numbers. I didn't want the last owners usage getting estimated into my usage and also in consideration of my heating changes.
So actual meter readings were taken in October, December, February and April. I also have a gas dryer, gas water tank and gas stove, so that usage is in here as well.
2013-2014 winter: heated with fireplace and went through 2.25 cords. Consumption for 4 months measured 618ccf , cost of natural gas $596.
2014-2015 winter: heated with insert and went through 2.5 cords. Consumption for 4 months measured 315ccf cost of $298.
In an effort to get full season winter gas bills I will do some of my own estimating. I made up this formula: January usage is estimated to be the average of February and December. And so on for the "missing months". For example 12/2013 usage was 156ccf and 2/2014 was 288ccf. , so my estimate for 1/2014 is 222ccf.
2013-2014 winter: heated with fireplace. Full Consumption for 7 months measured and estimated, amount of natural gas 1149ccf, cost of $1,092.
2014-2015 winter: heated with insert. Full Consumption for 7 months measured and estimated at 559ccf of natural gas, cost of $531.
In short conclusion, I do not have a true control, a year where I didn't burn any wood. I cut my gas bill nearly and neatly in half. The extraneous variable is usage of gas hot water heater, gas dryer and gas stove. So while I cut my bill in half, I may have cut my heating portion down 70-80% or more. I think this is as far as I can take these numbers unless I can find a reliable estimate for monthly usage for these 3 items. But if I save an average of $515 a year, my insert, liner and install is paid for in 8 years. That's the elusive ROI number I was searching for pre purchase. Plus it adds to the value of the house - which is a difficult thing to quantify just how much (depends on next buyer and age of unit). But in hard numbers it's paid for in 8 years - which is what I sought to figure out initially. Also difficult to quantify is increased quality of life. I know I wanted to keep the thermostat near 60 if heating by gas year round, and the insert keeps the rooms close to it near 68-70 which is a big difference in my wife's eyes - so again I lack that true control - a year without wood burning keeping the house at the same warmer temps the wood burner can achieve. Given that its certainly paid for in less than 8 years and at a savings greater than $515 a year. Thanks for reading please share any thoughts below
I went to national fuel's website and downloaded my usage from the last 2 years. Each month they alternate between taking an actual reading and an estimated usage. So the meter is read 6 times a year. I took only 4 of those actual winter readings and charted them, and tossed their estimated numbers. I didn't want the last owners usage getting estimated into my usage and also in consideration of my heating changes.
So actual meter readings were taken in October, December, February and April. I also have a gas dryer, gas water tank and gas stove, so that usage is in here as well.
2013-2014 winter: heated with fireplace and went through 2.25 cords. Consumption for 4 months measured 618ccf , cost of natural gas $596.
2014-2015 winter: heated with insert and went through 2.5 cords. Consumption for 4 months measured 315ccf cost of $298.
In an effort to get full season winter gas bills I will do some of my own estimating. I made up this formula: January usage is estimated to be the average of February and December. And so on for the "missing months". For example 12/2013 usage was 156ccf and 2/2014 was 288ccf. , so my estimate for 1/2014 is 222ccf.
2013-2014 winter: heated with fireplace. Full Consumption for 7 months measured and estimated, amount of natural gas 1149ccf, cost of $1,092.
2014-2015 winter: heated with insert. Full Consumption for 7 months measured and estimated at 559ccf of natural gas, cost of $531.
In short conclusion, I do not have a true control, a year where I didn't burn any wood. I cut my gas bill nearly and neatly in half. The extraneous variable is usage of gas hot water heater, gas dryer and gas stove. So while I cut my bill in half, I may have cut my heating portion down 70-80% or more. I think this is as far as I can take these numbers unless I can find a reliable estimate for monthly usage for these 3 items. But if I save an average of $515 a year, my insert, liner and install is paid for in 8 years. That's the elusive ROI number I was searching for pre purchase. Plus it adds to the value of the house - which is a difficult thing to quantify just how much (depends on next buyer and age of unit). But in hard numbers it's paid for in 8 years - which is what I sought to figure out initially. Also difficult to quantify is increased quality of life. I know I wanted to keep the thermostat near 60 if heating by gas year round, and the insert keeps the rooms close to it near 68-70 which is a big difference in my wife's eyes - so again I lack that true control - a year without wood burning keeping the house at the same warmer temps the wood burner can achieve. Given that its certainly paid for in less than 8 years and at a savings greater than $515 a year. Thanks for reading please share any thoughts below
Last edited:
