Oil Savings

[chazcarr]

Hello everyone,

If this isn't the right thread for this I apologize, but wanted to share a bit of info that I have. Due to OCD issues I need to know that the things I am doing to make my house more fuel efficient and cozy are working out. First thing I did in my house was install a fireplace insert (Regency I2400). Next, a new boiler and water heater. Then I added a new roof and insulated siding. At the same time I laid an entire new row of insulation into the attic, tripling the R-value from before.

Lastly this August I had all the windows replaced with new Argon insulated glass windows. Judging by the amount of oil I am buying each month, it seems this is working out for me (Winter 2011 was a very mild winter). What more can I do at this point? I'm sure you have suggestions.

 

[clemsonfor]

looks like you got it covered. Just curious about your spreadsheet. Why did you buy 67 gallons in Feb and in March of this year? Do they just fill you monthly? I thoght most folks buy say 200 or so gallons at once? Or wasit a bdget thing?

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Looks like you've came a long ways on the plus side. Is the basement insulated? I doubt if insulated window curtains will help with the windows you have so there isn't too much left to do except enjoy not freezing and not buying so much oil.

 

[chazcarr]

looks like you got it covered. Just curious about your spreadsheet. Why did you buy 67 gallons in Feb and in March of this year? Do they just fill you monthly? I thoght most folks buy say 200 or so gallons at once? Or wasit a bdget thing?

When I moved in it was a Sunday and the oil man around the corner came out and filled me up (the January 09 500 gallon fill). What I did not know, since I was a first time home owner, is that he had me sign a five year contract with auto fill. I hate it, especially when I see good deals on oil in the paper and such. Oh well, two more years and I can break this contract. I've noticed they usually come and fill the day of a large price increase. Some oil guys are just scuzzy, but it seems it goes along with the business, like used car salesmen.

 

[chazcarr]

Looks like you've came a long ways on the plus side. Is the basement insulated? I doubt if insulated window curtains will help with the windows you have so there isn't too much left to do except enjoy not freezing and not buying so much oil.

Insulated the basement ceiling this summer, the walls were already insulated (R-19 though). I'd make the walls thicker if I could but the walls were finished and I don't want to tear down all the walls to do so.
I have insulated curtains on the windows already from before I got them replaced. Even for the sliders. Everything except the big bay window that was just put in has a good heat and light insulating layer.

 

[BrotherBart]

You have done all of the things I need to do to this place. I have just been beating the problem into submission with wood heat for so long that I keep putting it off.

Excellent job on that place and analysis.

 

[Wood Duck]

I suggest you should change your graph around to provide a comparison of oil purchase by year. Add all the 2009 numbers to make one column, then 2010, then 2011, etc. That will show how much less oil you are using with the stove compared to before the stove.

 

[fire_man]

When I moved in it was a Sunday and the oil man around the corner came out and filled me up (the January 09 500 gallon fill). What I did not know, since I was a first time home owner, is that he had me sign a five year contract with auto fill. I hate it, especially when I see good deals on oil in the paper and such. Oh well, two more years and I can break this contract. I've noticed they usually come and fill the day of a large price increase. Some oil guys are just scuzzy, but it seems it goes along with the business, like used car salesmen.

My cup of coffee boiled in my hand when I ready this! A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT?? I'd question the legality of that in your state. I never heard of such a thing! My guess is any oil dealer that makes you sign a 5 year contract probably does not have competitive prices. How much price difference are you seeing in your area? Like I said - I really question if that contract would hold up - I would suggest giving an attorney a call. Sometimes those guys will answer a simple question like yours for free in hopes you will keep them in mind for future business. Or call the Attorney General's office.

I have visions of you installing a locking cap on your oil filler pipe and tell the crooks you switched to wood heat!

Coffe cup cooling off now.

 

[clemsonfor]

im thinking they cant be competitive as there filling you up monthly!! they know your not buyin much each month, so for them thats more trips to the house to fill your oil. Which means more cost for them. Even if they had you locked in it would be fine to come say quarterly i would think? They still have you locked but not wasting as much fuel and time filling you, they have to make up for those frequent service calls somehow??

Im my area they would not even stop at my farm for anything less than 100gallons. I even asked could they just stop next time they came down my road, they said " sure, but you still have to buy 100 gallons"??? I said im telling you i only want say 50 gallons cause i use the heat so rarely at this second house. They still would not sell me close to $200 of oil when they were driving by the house. So i bought a barrel and pump and bought 55 gallons around my primary residence for close to $0.30 gallon cheaper than they were, which paid for the pump and barrel.

I now am installing a wood stove to get rid of most of the oil heating need.

 

[sebring]

The story I heard from the oil company, is that they make the same $$ whatever the price is. They are just delivery guys. Kinda like truck drivers, who get paid to deliver whatever is loaded. Except they only deliver oil.

 

[fire_man]

The story I heard from the oil company, is that they make the same $$ whatever the price is. They are just delivery guys. Kinda like truck drivers, who get paid to deliver whatever is loaded. Except they only deliver oil.

This may be true, but there is a pretty big price spread between oil companies - at least enough difference that I would not want to be locked in.

 

[chazcarr]

Yeah I am pissed about it, but what can I do? In fact they will deliver less if I ask, but I say screw em. I plan on being the biggest pain in their butt I can be until the contract is over. They are not very competitive either, I've seen oil go for 40 cents cheaper a gallon from some locations.

 

[lukem]

Nice job thus far, but you are getting deep into the land of diminishing returns from a heating perspective. Maybe its time to turn your focus to other things...lighting...appliances...water conservation....etc. Don't spend two bucks go save one. Just sayin.

 

[velvetfoot]

How do you heat your domestic hot water, now that you have a new boiler?

 

[chazcarr]

How do you heat your domestic hot water, now that you have a new boiler?

It is one of those 3" insulated water tanks with the coil inside. I was thinking of insulating it further. I have also started insulating the pipes. Too bad the pipes in the wall are probably not at all insulated, the heat ducts sure are not.

 

[chazcarr]

I've been keeping the graph going and looks like I hit the lowest point. I now have the same numbers as the year before. All I will do now is stuff roxul behind the unit when the burn season is over. Now what do I do with that money I saved?

 

[Lumber-Jack]

I was going to suggest to you that another way you could stay warm and save money would be for your family to wear sweaters and slippers around the house,,,, but then I looked at your avatar and realized your are already on top off that.
Well done!

 

[Machria]

When I moved in it was a Sunday and the oil man around the corner came out and filled me up (the January 09 500 gallon fill). What I did not know, since I was a first time home owner, is that he had me sign a five year contract with auto fill. I hate it, especially when I see good deals on oil in the paper and such. Oh well, two more years and I can break this contract. I've noticed they usually come and fill the day of a large price increase. Some oil guys are just scuzzy, but it seems it goes along with the business, like used car salesmen.

1. Five years is rediculous! I would just tell them to get lost. They will NOT do anything about it, they can't legally. You would win ANY leagal actions they tried to take, and they already know that.

2. Even on contract, unless explicitly stated they will do monthly deliveries, they can NOT deliver whenever "they" wish. They have to delvier when YOU want them to. Normally the only thing the contract says he you must buy your oil from them (you can't use another company), and/or at a pre-determined fixed price. Yours is obviosuly not a "fixed price" contract. So just tell them, DO NOT deliver oil, unless I order it. If they deliver withou you asking for it, do NOT pay for it.

I suggest you should change your graph around to provide a comparison of oil purchase by year. Add all the 2009 numbers to make one column, then 2010, then 2011, etc. That will show how much less oil you are using with the stove compared to before the stove.

+1 The monthly comparison is almost meaningless, as the temps go up and down. What you want to look at is a long range period (like per year!) average use, and how that changed each year as you did projects.

 

[chazcarr]

1. Five years is rediculous! I would just tell them to get lost. They will NOT do anything about it, they can't legally. You would win ANY leagal actions they tried to take, and they already know that.

2. Even on contract, unless explicitly stated they will do monthly deliveries, they can NOT deliver whenever "they" wish. They have to delvier when YOU want them to. Normally the only thing the contract says he you must buy your oil from them (you can't use another company), and/or at a pre-determined fixed price. Yours is obviosuly not a "fixed price" contract. So just tell them, DO NOT deliver oil, unless I order it. If they deliver withou you asking for it, do NOT pay for it.




+1 The monthly comparison is almost meaningless, as the temps go up and down. What you want to look at is a long range period (like per year!) average use, and how that changed each year as you did projects.

Working on the yearly chart. At first yearly didn't show much due to the small data set, but now it should be an eye opener.

 

[chazcarr]

I was going to suggest to you that another way you could stay warm and save money would be for your family to wear sweaters and slippers around the house,,,, but then I looked at your avatar and realized your are already on top off that.
Well done!

She likes her orange hoodie, we have a matching pair.

 

[Hearth Mistress]

My corp office is in CT so I asked around. Consensus is state law limits contracts specifically regarding heating oil and there are all sorts of loop holes to protect consumers from shady businesses. May be worth checking out..... http://www.ct.gov/dcp/cwp/view.asp?q=421526

Good Luck!

 

[thetooth]

It is also a good idea to insulate the sill plate , where the house meets the basement . If you google sill plate insulation you should get plenty of info

 

[ddahlgren]

I think you need to correct your data by using the degree days per month or year to see what you are spending relative to the out door temperature. If one year has 20% more or less degree days your energy use should reflect this. Your oil company should have this data. If they do not they are less than professional though there are plenty that deliver at fixed times to avoid buying the equipment to generate the data. Possibly there are inexpensive weather stations that will record the data for you.

 

[DMbekus]

I thought I was the only one with charts (actually I have a graph). As this is my first year with the wood stove I may have to get more oil in a month. But I appear to be on track to hit or exceed my goal of a 50% reduction in oil costs. I used the dollar cost of oil instead of gallons because my wife relates better to dollars then gallons.

 

[chazcarr]

I thought I was the only one with charts (actually I have a graph). As this is my first year with the wood stove I may have to get more oil in a month. But I appear to be on track to hit or exceed my goal of a 50% reduction in oil costs. I used the dollar cost of oil instead of gallons because my wife relates better to dollars then gallons.

View attachment 90656

It is nice to see when the stove actually pays for itself isn't it.