My 3000+ sq ft (incl basement) house has two-zone heating/cooling, with an
oil furnace and air conditioner for the basement and first floor, and a heat
pump for the upstairs.

I bought the house three years ago, when oil was less than $2.00 per gallon.

Due to the high cost of oil, I called the oil company about budget billing
(same price every month), and was told they are using $4.50 per gallon as a
planning number for next heating season, and said I use about 280 gallons
per heating season.

Also, I live in Maryland where the local utility company was deregulated and
for the first time in 15 years, was able to raise rates last year. They
claimed it was a 50% increase. I don't see how a jump from about $150 to
$300 per month is 50%. That's 100%. With oil heat on the first floor, my
annual monthly average use is about 2400 kWh per month.

Where I live there is no natural gas available.

I'm sure this has been discussed here before, but is it worth an investment
for me to switch from oil and a/c for the basement and first floor to a
second heat pump or other energy source? If so, what other factors need to
be considered, for example will my electric panel be able to handle two heat
pumps? I have neighbors with two heat pumps rather than one plus oil/ a/c -
that's what the builder installed for them.

What about a propane tank?

Finally, my oil tank is full. Would I be better to deplete it over the next
winter, then convert?

What is a typical cost to convert? Will a HVAC company dispose of the oil
tank? Any other issues to consider? If this is a viable investment, how
long will it take to realize a positive return on the investment?

On May 30, 5:20*pm, "Dimitrios Paskoudniakis"
wrote:
My 3000+ sq ft *(incl basement) house has two-zone heating/cooling, with an
oil furnace and air conditioner for the basement and first floor, and a heat
pump for the upstairs.

I bought the house three years ago, when oil was less than $2.00 per gallon.

"Dimitrios Paskoudniakis" wrote in message
. ..
My 3000+ sq ft (incl basement) house has two-zone heating/cooling, with
an oil furnace and air conditioner for the basement and first floor, and a
heat pump for the upstairs.

I bought the house three years ago, when oil was less than $2.00 per
gallon.

Due to the high cost of oil, I called the oil company about budget billing
(same price every month), and was told they are using $4.50 per gallon as
a planning number for next heating season, and said I use about 280
gallons per heating season.

Also, I live in Maryland where the local utility company was deregulated
and for the first time in 15 years, was able to raise rates last year.
They claimed it was a 50% increase. I don't see how a jump from about
$150 to $300 per month is 50%. That's 100%. With oil heat on the first
floor, my annual monthly average use is about 2400 kWh per month.

Where I live there is no natural gas available.

I'm sure this has been discussed here before, but is it worth an
investment for me to switch from oil and a/c for the basement and first
floor to a second heat pump or other energy source? If so, what other
factors need to be considered, for example will my electric panel be able
to handle two heat pumps? I have neighbors with two heat pumps rather
than one plus oil/ a/c - that's what the builder installed for them.

What about a propane tank?

Finally, my oil tank is full. Would I be better to deplete it over the
next winter, then convert?

What is a typical cost to convert? Will a HVAC company dispose of the oil
tank? Any other issues to consider? If this is a viable investment, how
long will it take to realize a positive return on the investment?


Is it warm enough in Maryland to get much efficency out of a heat pump ?
Being in an area where it does not get much below 30 deg, many days out of
most years a heat pump seems to be the way to go.
I have one and on some days when it gets in the 20's I will sometimes start
up a wood stove in the basement. I do not usually burn it too much, but do
have it for emergency heat if the power goes out for a long period of time.
That has not hapened to me in the 4 years I have lived here. In another
house it was out for about 3 days (2 nights) and an unvented natural gas
heater I had installed in a single carport that had been enclosed saved us
from being cold.
I usually only burn a stack of wood about 4 feet high and 6 feet long and
about 18 inches wide. The basement is not heated as a rule, but I do have
one room about 12 x 20 that has a dropped cealing and heat it with an
electric bathroom type heater if I plan on being in that room for a while.

On May 30, 6:20�pm, "Dimitrios Paskoudniakis"
wrote:
My 3000+ sq ft �(incl basement) house has two-zone heating/cooling, with an
oil furnace and air conditioner for the basement and first floor, and a heat
pump for the upstairs.

I bought the house three years ago, when oil was less than $2.00 per gallon.

wrote in message
...
On May 30, 6:20?pm, "Dimitrios Paskoudniakis"
wrote:
My 3000+ sq ft ?(incl basement) house has two-zone heating/cooling, with
an
oil furnace and air conditioner for the basement and first floor, and a
heat
pump for the upstairs.

I bought the house three years ago, when oil was less than $2.00 per
gallon.

Due to the high cost of oil, I called the oil company about budget billing
(same price every month), and was told they are using $4.50 per gallon as
a
planning number for next heating season, and said I use about 280 gallons
per heating season.

Also, I live in Maryland where the local utility company was deregulated
and
for the first time in 15 years, was able to raise rates last year. ?They
claimed it was a 50% increase. ?I don't see how a jump from about $150 to
$300 per month is 50%. ?That's 100%. ?With oil heat on the first floor, my
annual monthly average use is about 2400 kWh per month.

Where I live there is no natural gas available.

I'm sure this has been discussed here before, but is it worth an
investment
for me to switch from oil and a/c for the basement and first floor to a
second heat pump or other energy source? ?If so, what other factors need
to
be considered, for example will my electric panel be able to handle two
heat
pumps? ?I have neighbors with two heat pumps rather than one plus oil/
a/c -
that's what the builder installed for them.

What about a propane tank?

Finally, my oil tank is full. ?Would I be better to deplete it over the
next
winter, then convert?

What is a typical cost to convert? ?Will a HVAC company dispose of the oil
tank? ?Any other issues to consider? ?If this is a viable investment, how
long will it take to realize a positive return on the investment?

you have a full tank? lucky you.

bide your time, oil prices may drop like a rock.

either a worldwide depression will kill consumption or a new
president and congress will find a alternative fuel plan and the oil
producing countries will increase production to try and derail the
replacement fuel.

either way the mid east oil producers will ultimartely lose


_________________________

Lucky me indeed. I think my last fill was about $600 for around 150 gal
after a fill about two months earlier. That works out to needing about
$300/month in the heating season, in addition to my average monthly $300
electric.

Good advice though (really, not sarcasm), thanks. I hope you're right.

"ransley" wrote in message
...
On May 30, 5:20 pm, "Dimitrios Paskoudniakis"
wrote:
My 3000+ sq ft (incl basement) house has two-zone heating/cooling, with an
oil furnace and air conditioner for the basement and first floor, and a
heat
pump for the upstairs.

I bought the house three years ago, when oil was less than $2.00 per
gallon.

Due to the high cost of oil, I called the oil company about budget billing
(same price every month), and was told they are using $4.50 per gallon as
a
planning number for next heating season, and said I use about 280 gallons
per heating season.

Also, I live in Maryland where the local utility company was deregulated
and
for the first time in 15 years, was able to raise rates last year. They
claimed it was a 50% increase. I don't see how a jump from about $150 to
$300 per month is 50%. That's 100%. With oil heat on the first floor, my
annual monthly average use is about 2400 kWh per month.

Where I live there is no natural gas available.

I'm sure this has been discussed here before, but is it worth an
investment
for me to switch from oil and a/c for the basement and first floor to a
second heat pump or other energy source? If so, what other factors need to
be considered, for example will my electric panel be able to handle two
heat
pumps? I have neighbors with two heat pumps rather than one plus oil/
a/c -
that's what the builder installed for them.

What about a propane tank?

Finally, my oil tank is full. Would I be better to deplete it over the
next
winter, then convert?

What is a typical cost to convert? Will a HVAC company dispose of the oil
tank? Any other issues to consider? If this is a viable investment, how
long will it take to realize a positive return on the investment?

What is the Kwh cost you now pay, that will determine if a heat pump
will save you money.

_______________

I mentioned I average $300 at 2400 kWh per month. That's about $0.125 per
kWh, when including taxes and fees loaded onto the utility's per unit
cost/kWh.

Dimitrios Paskoudniakis wrote:
....

Good advice though (really, not sarcasm), thanks. I hope you're right.

Not much chance of that. Oil will come down some, but certainly "not
like a rock" and the rest is pure poppycock...

--

"dpb" wrote in message ...
Dimitrios Paskoudniakis wrote:
...

Good advice though (really, not sarcasm), thanks. I hope you're right.

Not much chance of that. Oil will come down some, but certainly "not like
a rock" and the rest is pure poppycock...

--

So you're saying that switching to another fuel will reap a positive return
on investment? If so, which type, how much, ...?

So you're saying that switching to another fuel will reap a positive return
on investment? �If so, which type, how much, ...?

a methyl ethyl with 15% gasoline. computer controls can do this
easily, adjust engine for mixture used.

methy originally called wood alcohol can be made in many ways, so we
dont turn food into fuel.

to assure fast wide distrubition require oil company owned stations to
provide e85 methy ethyl or a severe tax is imposed on their profits.

5 years would provide some relief, by 10 years crude could largely be
used for lubrication.

the oil producing countries will run the price down to discourage
their replacement, but its important we make the conversion
anyway.......

google methyl.

i fixed machines that used methyl alcohol years ago and ran my lawn
mower on it as a experiment, and added some to my gas once when i ran
out........

methyl is about 2 bucks a GALLON bought in bulk today

You might Google Fuel Price Comparison Calculator, for example
http://www.pelletheat.org/3/residential/compareFuel.cfm

Call around and find the prices for the various fuels.

Do you know the efficience of your heat pump? If so you
can plug it into the number for electricity (for example
200%)

Another question is how efficient is your oil furnace.

--
Jonathan Grobe Books
Browse our inventory of thousands of used books at:
http://www.grobebooks.com

On May 30, 11:24*pm, "Dimitrios Paskoudniakis"
wrote:
"ransley" wrote in message

...
On May 30, 7:48 pm, "Dimitrios Paskoudniakis"
wrote:





"ransley" wrote in message

...
On May 30, 5:20 pm, "Dimitrios Paskoudniakis"
wrote:

My 3000+ sq ft (incl basement) house has two-zone heating/cooling, with
an
oil furnace and air conditioner for the basement and first floor, and a
heat
pump for the upstairs.

I bought the house three years ago, when oil was less than $2.00 per
gallon.

Due to the high cost of oil, I called the oil company about budget
billing
(same price every month), and was told they are using $4.50 per gallon
as
a
planning number for next heating season, and said I use about 280
gallons
per heating season.

Also, I live in Maryland where the local utility company was deregulated
and
for the first time in 15 years, was able to raise rates last year. They
claimed it was a 50% increase. I don't see how a jump from about $150 to
$300 per month is 50%. That's 100%. With oil heat on the first floor, my
annual monthly average use is about 2400 kWh per month.

Where I live there is no natural gas available.

I'm sure this has been discussed here before, but is it worth an
investment
for me to switch from oil and a/c for the basement and first floor to a
second heat pump or other energy source? If so, what other factors need
to
be considered, for example will my electric panel be able to handle two
heat
pumps? I have neighbors with two heat pumps rather than one plus oil/
a/c -
that's what the builder installed for them.

What about a propane tank?

Finally, my oil tank is full. Would I be better to deplete it over the
next
winter, then convert?

What is a typical cost to convert? Will a HVAC company dispose of the
oil
tank? Any other issues to consider? If this is a viable investment, how
long will it take to realize a positive return on the investment?

What is the Kwh cost you now pay, that will determine if a heat pump
will save you money.

_______________

I mentioned I average $300 at 2400 kWh per month. That's about $0.125 per
kWh, when including taxes and fees loaded onto the utility's per unit
cost/kWh.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

.125c is fairly cheap, probably cheaper per btu than fuel oil but you
have to calculate the btu of each, boiler efficency and heat pump
output. And when is your utility co alowed another increase.

_______________

.125c is 100 times cheaper than 12.5c.

Your exercise is what I asked for. *I want to know if someone in the group
knows which is cheaper (per BTU) - oil at $4.50 per gallon, or heat pump at
$0.125/kWh, and by how much, as well as the cost to convert, so I can
compute the duration to recoup the investment. *The utility is now
deregulated, so assume they can charge whatever they want, whenever they
want. *Just like oil.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

MY exercise? its your money and you dont offer me pay. I think you are
way late buddy and missed the boat for years, you say you had 6c kwh
for years, well 6ckwh and a heat pump to me means you were much
cheaper for many many years and should not have been using oil along
long time ago, even electric space heaters could have been helping
you. Here in the midwest we have been at 12.5c kwh since the 80s and
are now near 14 going on 16c kwh. Electric may still be cheaper for
you, i dont know, you need to find a comparison chart or make your
own. As I see it you have 3000sq ft and average 500 a month in
utilities in winter I will bet your windows, and insulation are well
under par as well. Your heat pump I am guessing is alot cheaper still,
and converting you get bids. Maybe electric resistance is cheaper. If
you find a fuels cost comparitor post it.

On May 30, 11:24*pm, "Dimitrios Paskoudniakis"
wrote:
"ransley" wrote in message

...
On May 30, 7:48 pm, "Dimitrios Paskoudniakis"
wrote:





"ransley" wrote in message

...
On May 30, 5:20 pm, "Dimitrios Paskoudniakis"
wrote:

My 3000+ sq ft (incl basement) house has two-zone heating/cooling, with
an
oil furnace and air conditioner for the basement and first floor, and a
heat
pump for the upstairs.

I bought the house three years ago, when oil was less than $2.00 per
gallon.

Due to the high cost of oil, I called the oil company about budget
billing
(same price every month), and was told they are using $4.50 per gallon
as
a
planning number for next heating season, and said I use about 280
gallons
per heating season.

Also, I live in Maryland where the local utility company was deregulated
and
for the first time in 15 years, was able to raise rates last year. They
claimed it was a 50% increase. I don't see how a jump from about $150 to
$300 per month is 50%. That's 100%. With oil heat on the first floor, my
annual monthly average use is about 2400 kWh per month.

Where I live there is no natural gas available.

I'm sure this has been discussed here before, but is it worth an
investment
for me to switch from oil and a/c for the basement and first floor to a
second heat pump or other energy source? If so, what other factors need
to
be considered, for example will my electric panel be able to handle two
heat
pumps? I have neighbors with two heat pumps rather than one plus oil/
a/c -
that's what the builder installed for them.

What about a propane tank?

Finally, my oil tank is full. Would I be better to deplete it over the
next
winter, then convert?

What is a typical cost to convert? Will a HVAC company dispose of the
oil
tank? Any other issues to consider? If this is a viable investment, how
long will it take to realize a positive return on the investment?

What is the Kwh cost you now pay, that will determine if a heat pump
will save you money.

_______________

I mentioned I average $300 at 2400 kWh per month. That's about $0.125 per
kWh, when including taxes and fees loaded onto the utility's per unit
cost/kWh.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

.125c is fairly cheap, probably cheaper per btu than fuel oil but you
have to calculate the btu of each, boiler efficency and heat pump
output. And when is your utility co alowed another increase.

_______________

.125c is 100 times cheaper than 12.5c.

Your exercise is what I asked for. *I want to know if someone in the group
knows which is cheaper (per BTU) - oil at $4.50 per gallon, or heat pump at
$0.125/kWh, and by how much, as well as the cost to convert, so I can
compute the duration to recoup the investment. *The utility is now
deregulated, so assume they can charge whatever they want, whenever they
want. *Just like oil.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Is your oil burner unit 50% or 83% or 90+ efficent, and what about
your HP, you want answers to an impossible question the way you stated
it, thats probably the real reason your bills are high, you know none
of the numbers yourself.

On May 30, 11:24*pm, "Dimitrios Paskoudniakis"
wrote:
"ransley" wrote in message

...
On May 30, 7:48 pm, "Dimitrios Paskoudniakis"
wrote:





"ransley" wrote in message

...
On May 30, 5:20 pm, "Dimitrios Paskoudniakis"
wrote:

My 3000+ sq ft (incl basement) house has two-zone heating/cooling, with
an
oil furnace and air conditioner for the basement and first floor, and a
heat
pump for the upstairs.

I bought the house three years ago, when oil was less than $2.00 per
gallon.

Due to the high cost of oil, I called the oil company about budget
billing
(same price every month), and was told they are using $4.50 per gallon
as
a
planning number for next heating season, and said I use about 280
gallons
per heating season.

Also, I live in Maryland where the local utility company was deregulated
and
for the first time in 15 years, was able to raise rates last year. They
claimed it was a 50% increase. I don't see how a jump from about $150 to
$300 per month is 50%. That's 100%. With oil heat on the first floor, my
annual monthly average use is about 2400 kWh per month.

Where I live there is no natural gas available.

I'm sure this has been discussed here before, but is it worth an
investment
for me to switch from oil and a/c for the basement and first floor to a
second heat pump or other energy source? If so, what other factors need
to
be considered, for example will my electric panel be able to handle two
heat
pumps? I have neighbors with two heat pumps rather than one plus oil/
a/c -
that's what the builder installed for them.

What about a propane tank?

Finally, my oil tank is full. Would I be better to deplete it over the
next
winter, then convert?

What is a typical cost to convert? Will a HVAC company dispose of the
oil
tank? Any other issues to consider? If this is a viable investment, how
long will it take to realize a positive return on the investment?

What is the Kwh cost you now pay, that will determine if a heat pump
will save you money.

_______________

I mentioned I average $300 at 2400 kWh per month. That's about $0.125 per
kWh, when including taxes and fees loaded onto the utility's per unit
cost/kWh.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

.125c is fairly cheap, probably cheaper per btu than fuel oil but you
have to calculate the btu of each, boiler efficency and heat pump
output. And when is your utility co alowed another increase.

_______________

.125c is 100 times cheaper than 12.5c.

Your exercise is what I asked for. *I want to know if someone in the group
knows which is cheaper (per BTU) - oil at $4.50 per gallon, or heat pump at
$0.125/kWh, and by how much, as well as the cost to convert, so I can
compute the duration to recoup the investment. *The utility is now
deregulated, so assume they can charge whatever they want, whenever they
want. *Just like oil.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Wake up man 12.5c is Twelve Dollars 50 cents a KWH, put the decimal in
the right place. And until you know your duct efficency, house
efficency, HP and oil units efficency you wont know anything. Poor
ducts can easily loose you 20% But I will say you likely pay double
over a well insulated home.

On May 31, 6:54�am, ransley wrote:
On May 30, 11:24�pm, "Dimitrios Paskoudniakis"





wrote:
"ransley" wrote in message

...
On May 30, 7:48 pm, "Dimitrios Paskoudniakis"
wrote:

"ransley" wrote in message

....
On May 30, 5:20 pm, "Dimitrios Paskoudniakis"
wrote:

My 3000+ sq ft (incl basement) house has two-zone heating/cooling, with
an
oil furnace and air conditioner for the basement and first floor, and a
heat
pump for the upstairs.

I bought the house three years ago, when oil was less than $2.00 per
gallon.

Due to the high cost of oil, I called the oil company about budget
billing
(same price every month), and was told they are using $4.50 per gallon
as
a
planning number for next heating season, and said I use about 280
gallons
per heating season.

Also, I live in Maryland where the local utility company was deregulated
and
for the first time in 15 years, was able to raise rates last year. They
claimed it was a 50% increase. I don't see how a jump from about $150 to
$300 per month is 50%. That's 100%. With oil heat on the first floor, my
annual monthly average use is about 2400 kWh per month.

Where I live there is no natural gas available.

I'm sure this has been discussed here before, but is it worth an
investment
for me to switch from oil and a/c for the basement and first floor to a
second heat pump or other energy source? If so, what other factors need
to
be considered, for example will my electric panel be able to handle two
heat
pumps? I have neighbors with two heat pumps rather than one plus oil/
a/c -
that's what the builder installed for them.

What about a propane tank?

Finally, my oil tank is full. Would I be better to deplete it over the
next
winter, then convert?

What is a typical cost to convert? Will a HVAC company dispose of the
oil
tank? Any other issues to consider? If this is a viable investment, how
long will it take to realize a positive return on the investment?

What is the Kwh cost you now pay, that will determine if a heat pump
will save you money.

_______________

I mentioned I average $300 at 2400 kWh per month. That's about $0.125 per
kWh, when including taxes and fees loaded onto the utility's per unit
cost/kWh.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

.125c is fairly cheap, probably cheaper per btu than fuel oil but you
have to calculate the btu of each, boiler efficency and heat pump
output. And when is your utility co alowed another increase.

_______________

.125c is 100 times cheaper than 12.5c.

Your exercise is what I asked for. �I want to know if someone in the group
knows which is cheaper (per BTU) - oil at $4.50 per gallon, or heat pump at
$0.125/kWh, and by how much, as well as the cost to convert, so I can
compute the duration to recoup the investment. �The utility is now
deregulated, so assume they can charge whatever they want, whenever they
want. �Just like oil.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Wake up man 12.5c is Twelve Dollars 50 cents a KWH, put the decimal in
the right place. And until you know your duct efficency, house
efficency, HP and oil units efficency you wont know anything. Poor
ducts can easily loose you 20% But I will say you likely pay double
over a well insulated home.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

many utilities use oil or natural gas to generate electricity.......

so power companies will raise rates, all energy is kinda chined
together.

how well insulated is your home? added insulation, air blower test,
looking at home with a infrared camera.

those upgrades can save big bucks forever no mtter the heat source.

incidently a ground source hat pump is likely the lowest cost central
heat today.

sadly the upfront costs are a killer, payback might take 10 years.

incidently our average winter gas bill in pittsburgh is now over 300
bucks per month

getting a new furnace this summer. our furnace is older than my wife,
a 1965 model that runs fine but no doubt a energy piggie

On May 30, 9:49*pm, " wrote:
methyl is about 2 bucks a GALLON bought in bulk today

And I assume you're aware that methanol has about 60% the energy
content per gallon of gasoline? Factor that in, add about 40 cents a
gallon in tax, and Methanol as a fuel only starts to make sense at
prices equal to today's gas price. Like ethanol, it could help
lessen our dependence on oil, but it's not a cheap, quick fix. Also,
methanol is highly toxic, which is one big reason the focus has been
on ethanol.

Dimitrios Paskoudniakis wrote:
....
I take it your post misunderstood my question, and you're arguing that in
the long run oil prices will drop (due to cars running on methyl ethyl) so I
should sit tight. Right?

That's the contention and it's simply more poppycock and wishful
dreaming...as someone else noted, alcohol(s), soy biodiesel, etc., will
help but won't solve that problem and the effect on heating oil will be
tenuous and extremely long term at best.

You can only evaluate what is available in your area and try to make a
decision on what supplies are available and try to decide which hedge
makes more sense.

The one thing haller did mention (altho I'm not sure it was even in this
thread) is that probably the most cost-effective long run heating
solution is the ground-source heat pump albeit it does have a moderately
high initial installation cost. What that would be depends greatly on
the site so you would have to research that w/ locals.

--

Dimitrios Paskoudniakis wrote:

I'm talking about heating the basement and first floor of my house, and
whether I should change from fuel oil to something else, so I don't pay
$4.50 per gallon...

How about solar heat from a sunspace on the south side of the house, eg a
lean-to greenhouse? Each $1 square foot of sunspace glazing can provide
the heat equivalent of 1-2 gallons of oil per year. With a little more
work, it can also heat water for showers.

Nick

ransley wrote:

Wake up man 12.5c is Twelve Dollars 50 cents a KWH...

That works for tiny dollars :-)

Nick

On May 31, 10:10�am, dpb wrote:
Dimitrios Paskoudniakis wrote:

...

I take it your post misunderstood my question, and you're arguing that in
the long run oil prices will drop (due to cars running on methyl ethyl) so I
should sit tight. �Right?

That's the contention and it's simply more poppycock and wishful
dreaming...as someone else noted, alcohol(s), soy biodiesel, etc., will
help but won't solve that problem and the effect on heating oil will be
tenuous and extremely long term at best.

You can only evaluate what is available in your area and try to make a
decision on what supplies are available and try to decide which hedge
makes more sense.

The one thing haller did mention (altho I'm not sure it was even in this
thread) is that probably the most cost-effective long run heating
solution is the ground-source heat pump albeit it does have a moderately
high initial installation cost. �What that would be depends greatly on
the site so you would have to research that w/ locals.

--

my point is that the OP haS A full OIL TANK, at this point he is
probably better off to bide his time, before spending boatloads of
money.........

till next spring

he has a year to decide, the current astronomical price run up may run
down. just look at home prices off 25% in some areas. sure it probably
will never be cheap again.

the oil producing nations are greedy, and risk a world recession and
or depression.

that would cut consumption and price, perhaps a lot.

he should probably concentrate this year on insulation, have blower
test for leaks etc. those investments tend to pay off forever.

lastly a heat pumps output may feel cool or drafty for a previous oil
customer......

there output temperature is lower, feels cool to some.

Dimitrios Paskoudniakis wrote:

... I want to know if someone in the group knows which is cheaper (per BTU)
- oil at $4.50 per gallon

That's $4.50/(0.8x1.3therms) = $4.33/therm, burned at 80% efficiency.

or heat pump at $0.125/kWh

That's $0.125/(5x0.03412therms) = $0.73, with water source heat pump
with a COP of 5.

... as well as the cost to convert

The ground or well loop may be the most expensive part of a heat pump.
A 3-ton 5-COP Climatemaster Tranquility 27 box with a pump and blower
and heat exchanger but no loop costs about $5K and uses less power
than a toaster.

Nick

On 2008-05-31, wrote:

my point is that the OP haS A full OIL TANK, at this point he is
probably better off to bide his time, before spending boatloads of
money.........

A full tank may well only last part way through the winter.

--
Jonathan Grobe Books
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