Another oil furnace question

[KeithinSC]

Originally Posted by rbmgf7

Seriously, two seasons of filling up that tank will literally pay for a new heat pump system and pay itself off in no time.

Probably too cold 3-4 months of a year for a heat pump to work in N.E.

[ttpete]

Originally Posted by KeithinSC

Probably too cold 3-4 months of a year for a heat pump to work in N.E.

Not so. I installed one in my family room to replace a wall mount gas heater and an air conditioner, and saved almost $750 the first year. The unit sits outside and is plumbed to an air handler on the back wall. It's 18,000 BTU and is made in Germany. Brand name is Grunaire.

[small_e_900]

I would switch to natural gas in a second.
The nearest gas lines are 10 miles away
Gas heat, hot water. clothes dryer and cooking and only one bill.

Propane would cost as much or possibly more than oil.

[_cy_]

switch to wood heat ... have been on wood heat for 6 seasons. it's the only place that you've got control of your utility costs.

saves me $350+ per month in heating bills ... wood is free but the labor to harvest is not. yes it's a bit of work, but well worth it!!!

[rapidoxidationman]

Originally Posted by ttpete

Not so. I installed one in my family room to replace a wall mount gas heater and an air conditioner, and saved almost $750 the first year. The unit sits outside and is plumbed to an air handler on the back wall. It's 18,000 BTU and is made in Germany. Brand name is Grunaire.

How cold does it get there?

18,000 BTU is about 1/5th the size needed here...

[ttpete]

Originally Posted by rapidoxidationman

How cold does it get there?

18,000 BTU is about 1/5th the size needed here...

We see the occasional zero degree day. The point was that heat pumps have evolved quite a bit over the years. This application is for one room 14X23' which is an addition without ducting for central heat.

Ever consider geothermal where the coils are buried?

[jules083]

Originally Posted by small_e_900

I would switch to natural gas in a second.
The nearest gas lines are 10 miles away
Gas heat, hot water. clothes dryer and cooking and only one bill.

Propane would cost as much or possibly more than oil.

Same deal here. I wish I could get gas. I currently heat with wood, have an oil furnace for backup. Dad is total electric with a heat pump, similar size house, and his bills aren't much better than mine before I bought the wood furnace.

Wood heat is a lot of things, but free isn't one of them:

Year 1, total oil - bill $2700
Year 2, bought wood add on furnace for $2300 - spent 2300, so I'm +400
Year 3, bought nothing. +3100
Year 3, bought log splitter for $2400 and another chainsaw, $300 used. - currently + 3100
Year 4, bought John Deere Gator to aid in hauling wood. Ran out of easy stuff, had to get deeper in the woods somehow. Price was around 13,000, so I'm about 7,000 in the negative.

These figures do not count consumables, such as gas and saw chains. I also left out little stuff like splitting maul, a few wedges, stuff like that. Before I started heating with wood I owned 2 chainsaws already, total price there was around 700 or 800. I bought the third used saw as another tool, not to replace a broken one. Currently have 3 chainsaws, basically small medium and large. Before that I had small and medium.

I could have done it cheaper, and did the first few years. Hauling with a truck sucks because the ground needs to be dry or frozen, which is rare here in the winter. Hauling with a tractor and trailer isn't much better. Ruts everywhere, trails get torn up, and can't turn around in the woods. My ATV couldn't handle the trailer coming up the hills. Splitting by hand isn't bad when you have the time, but I'd much rather use the splitter then go do something more important. Like riding.

[HapHazard]

^That reminds me of this old gem (BTW, I heat with wood, too):

Save $$$?
Heat with Wood

First year costs:

2 stoves and installation $1385.
Removal of hot water baseboard and boiler $238.
Search for reputable wood dealer N/A $76.
Chain saw $210.
Ax, wedges, maul, cant hook, etc. $119.
Old truck (junk after 1st load) $595.
Newer truck $8645.
Tire chains $88.
Replace truck's rear window (twice) $310.
Fine for cutting wrong trees $500.
5-acre woodlot $4995.
Splitting machine $950.
14 cases of beer $126.
6 fifths ginger brandy $38.
Fine for littering $250.
Towing charge (brook to road) $50.
Gas, oil, files, Band-aids $97.
Doctor's fee (sawdust in eye) $45.
Medical cost for broken toe (dropped log) $128.
Safety shoes $35.
Attempt to fix burned hole in carpet $76.
New living room carpet $699.
Paint living room $110.
Taxes on woodlot $44.
Woodlot boundary dispute settlement $465.
Roof repair after chimney fire $840.
Fine for assaulting fireman $50.
Extension ladder $55.
Chimney brush $22.
Medical fee for broken leg (fell off roof) $478.
Chimney cleaning service $90.
Replace coffee table (chopped up and burned while too drunk to bring firewood up from cellar) $79.
Divorce settlement $14,500.
EXPENSES $36,388

Sale of hot water boiler system $125.
Fuel oil savings $376.
CREDITS $501.

NET COST OF FIRST YEAR WOOD BURNING OPERATION; $35,887.