...is too expensive.


so im an icicle

Oh baby, I hear ya, just had my FIRST delivery of the season....$590...blankets sweaters slippers....wash EVERYTHING in cold water!

I had oil heat for 25 years...I now have gas...it's no cheaper.

Just had my first delivery too, but I only got 100 gallons, just over $300.................first delivery since March. I went out and bought a space heater for my daughter and I was using extra blankets.

It's out of control!

Oil prices I have been using a wood stove instead of the oil furnace. Much cheaper.

Gas heat

Oil is cheaper, historically, 7 out of ANY 10 year peroid you want to pick in the last 40 years.

Disclaimer: I have no special interest nor bennefit from the sale of either oil nor natural gas. I am abel to offer the following information because I used to teach energy efficency for a non profit public interest organization.

So, you have to realize, that there are many confusing varriables that make an comparison difficult.

First, there are 140,000 BTU potential in a gallon of oil, VS, 100,000 raw BTU's in 1 Therm (the unit that natural gas is sold in), of natural gas.

Secondly, oil prices are allowed to float at the market prices, while natural gas is price regulated.

Thirdly, in my area, and probably everywhere these days, natural gas is no longer sold on a flat rate. Now the price of transporting natural gas through the pipes is seperate line item from what you are ALSO charged for using the units of natural gas.

Fourth, and then what happens is a world market disruption causes a price spike in heating oil. While natural gas CANNOT ask for a rate increase until their next regulatory cycle. And trust me, if the price of oil has jumped up, natural gas providers WILL ask for equivalent parity, (plus about 10% MORE/ above the equivalent heating value of oil); they just have to wait for the next regulatory application peroid. And if oil prices has spiked a great deal; the regulatory agency typically takes 2 cycles before they WILL allow parity price increase.

And to anyone comtemplating ripping out their oil furnace in favor of new gas equipment; BAD MOVE. If you really want to save money on your heating expense, it is FAR cheaper to either simply upgrade/ modify your existing oil furnace.

Its even cheaper to enitrely replace your oil furnace with a new super efficient oil furnace, rather than chasing an illusion and changing over to natural gas!

Why? Because when you remove an existing oil furnace, you ALSO have to bear the NEW expense to 1) pay to have the oil tank removed by a scavanger, (very expensive), 2) pay to have NEW gas plumbing installed, and 3) typically you have to modify/ upgrade the oil chiminy to comply with more stringent natural gas regulations.

Yes Hoov, you are right that a wood stove is cheaper (then either oil or gas), IF IF IF you have one of the newer 60% burning efficiency wood stoves. (A standard fireplace is only 10% to 20% max efficient)

BUT a lot of people don't want the hassel that goes along with burning wood, ie, store large quanties of seasoned wood, and hauling/ loading/ fueling the wood stove AND CAREFULLY removing the embers & ashes.

Ralph