First step is to calculate your heat loss.
I am conversant with gas and a/c and also heat pump repairs, installs etc But I know very little about oil furnaces and I have some questions.
I am in British columbia Canada (vancouver region to be precise)
There at this time is no natural gas available to me (Yet maybe next yr if the neighbourhood survey goes well)
I have a 2000 sq ft home not including the basement/crawlspace built in the mid fifties with newer double glazed windows.
1. how much oil can I expect to comsume with a tstat temp set on 67 deg 24 hrs a day.
I called a oil supply co and they said over a year approx 2000 litres on average so thats according to them around 160.00 yr at current fuel prices
2 is home heating oil essently disel oil with some additives?
I do intend to add to the attic insulation as money permits after I put the heat pump in
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First step is to calculate your heat loss.
The way we build has a greater impact on our comfort, energy consumption and IAQ than any HVAC system we install.
http://www.ductstrap.com/
Here in the US, that's about 530 gal of oil, which seems low. Maybe you mean $1600/yr as heating oil cannot be only 30 cents a gallon. Heating oil is diesel with less attitives for gelling, etc. #2 heating oil probably has more sulpher then diesel.
thats 1.069 dollars per litre of heating oil
no I'm too lazy to do a heat load calc and I can't see the relavence at this point as I'm just switching to a heat pump in the same house
The oil furnace heats ok and I have figured the oil comsumption at approx 7 liters per day (1 .75 us gallons)
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Fuel consumption is proportional to heat loss and degree days. Relevant if you want to know how much fuel you will typically burn.
The way we build has a greater impact on our comfort, energy consumption and IAQ than any HVAC system we install.
http://www.ductstrap.com/
Soory yes your right.
I based my present consumption from the fact when we had the oil tank replaced we had a guage installed and it was at 1/2 tank now its 1/4 tank we have had the furnace on since early-mid september and its nearing the end of october now
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Would any one like to throw me more info?
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Arguing with some people is like wrestling a pig - eventually you realise the pig actually enjoys it
Gonads serve a useful purpose but are no substitute for brains
Waiting on your heat loss kiwi boy
[Edited by Carnak on 10-25-2005 at 05:07 PM]
The way we build has a greater impact on our comfort, energy consumption and IAQ than any HVAC system we install.
http://www.ductstrap.com/
Ok I will do it but it will be a little while as I'm up to my armpits in S#it with my new job
www.vetopropac.com - The best tool bags on the market - The offical tool bag of choice by techs everywhere
Arguing with some people is like wrestling a pig - eventually you realise the pig actually enjoys it
Gonads serve a useful purpose but are no substitute for brains
In PA we use 3 tanks 275 with a/c .5 to 1 with h/p BIG BREAK on eletric rate 6 cents with hp VS 15 OCT 15 to May 15.HP only way to go with LP or oil, even some natural gas people have been going HP.
It's NOT the BRAND,it's the company that installs it!!!!!
My 2000 SF 8 Year old home in Connecticut used 200 gallons or 800+ liters a month In Mid winter so you will have to pony up some$$$$. I know i will be spending $2.00+ per gallon thats all!
Quality and Value Service and Repair
My 2000 SF 8 Year old home in Connecticut used 200 gallons or 800+ liters a month In Mid winter so you will have to pony up some$$$$. I know i will be spending $2.00+ per gallon thats all!
My burner (boiler) uses 1.1 Gallons per hour, and when cold it runs alot.
Quality and Value Service and Repair
You do the math. Consider the fact you will use NO oil any time it is above 38 degrees (f)outside. (38 is my hypothetical balnce point, but you need to know heat loss and heat pump capacity to determine the real number.)
You may want to consider completely ditching the oil if your electric rates are reasonable. If less than $.07/KW-Hr, I think you'll be ahead even with pure resistance heat with the current oil prices (unless you get yours real cheap).
You can do the math to see where the crossover point is for raw electric -vs- oil. For me, last year was borderline and this year was a no brainer -- electric much cheaper (the cross over was around $2/gallon).
The fly in the ointment is do you have enough electrical capacity to have a large resistance heater. If not, you need to weigh the costs of an electrical service upgrade with those of the premium for oil and the yearly costs of cleaning your oil furnace. For me, the environmental risks of a 40 year old buried tank leak had an infinite price.
thanks for the info
i have 100 amp panel so its oil /heatpump combo right now. If and thats a big IF the neighbourhood survey agrees to gas then we will get gas next yr at that time Iwill put in gas furnace with hp for primary heat.
elect is abt 6 cents kwhr oil is 1.069 per LITRE thats 4 dollars a gallon approx with incentives etc its said it will cost me an average of 160 a month if I go on a plan thats the cost spread over 12 months yr even if it costs me 100 month in electricty I'm ahead
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Arguing with some people is like wrestling a pig - eventually you realise the pig actually enjoys it
Gonads serve a useful purpose but are no substitute for brains
Look to see what that gas is going to cost you when you actually get it. For me, it was going to cost $5000 to extend the line about 300' to my house and another 100' in my yard. In addition, they charge you higher rates for about 10 years to pay for this extension. At $.06 KW-hr, electric resistance may even be cheaper than or close to gas. Gas isn't always cheaper. If oil costs you $4/gallon, I wonder if gas is heavily taxed too.
If you want gas anyway (for clothes drying, water heating, and cooking), then it probably makes sense to have it for heating too. But you'll have a lot of infrastructure to change if those items aren't gas now (need new equipment, a gas line run, and venting).
You'll need at least a 200A service for a heat pump or electric resistance central heater. If you don't want air conditioning, I'd really think about heat pump -vs- electric resistance. Much of Vancouver is fairly mild, so you may not recover your costs on a heat pump. If your power rates skyrocket, then you could add a heat pump to your central electric air handler if you plan ahead and buy the proper unit.
In the middle of winter, figure at least 4 gallons a day where you are. If you're sure you'll be paying about $1 per LITER for #2 fuel oil, don't burn fuel oil, you'll go broke. Is that what oil really costs in Canada.....it can't be, that's horrendous!Originally posted by The Penguin
I have a 2000 sq ft home not including the basement/crawlspace built in the mid fifties with newer double glazed windows.
1. how much oil can I expect to comsume with a tstat temp set on 67 deg 24 hrs a day.
Home heating oil is a lesser grade of diesel, it does not have the additives typically that will prevent gelling. Home heating oil also has a dye put in it here in the States, to signify it does NOT have road taxes applied. Diesel is typically clear meaning it's got taxes applied to it.....truckers could easily burn #2 fuel, but the dyed color would foil that effort. Big Brother at its best!Originally posted by The Penguin
2. is home heating oil essently disel oil with some additives?
So thanks guys I'm a commercial ac/heat guy by trade (but no oil experience ) I only do resid for friends rels and cockroaching jobs.
As I understand from my neighbour bc gas does not charge for the infrstructure if they are piping in the whole neighbourhood
SO I was right you can burn diesl in your home furnace
www.vetopropac.com - The best tool bags on the market - The offical tool bag of choice by techs everywhere
Arguing with some people is like wrestling a pig - eventually you realise the pig actually enjoys it
Gonads serve a useful purpose but are no substitute for brains