Gas vs Oil as a heating fuel source

stuckinthedirt

I couldn't find any recent threads on the benefits of using gas or oil versus the other.  I have my opinions, but would really like to see what others think.  I am interested in any aspect of the discussion from economics, political stability of the source countries, impact on environment, as well as, is there any benefit to having a burner running on gas vs oil?

Thanks for your input!

Jamie Hall

I've never been one

to stand aside!



First a disclaimer -- I heat with oil, as do most of the folks right around here, for the simple reason that natural gas hasn't gotten this far out in the boonies.  Plus, it is a monopoly in these parts and very expensive and impossible to get service for those that do use it.  That said, though, I'll try to take a fair look at some of your questions.



Economics -- historically, gas and oil have moved more or less together; they may well continue to do so, although there is some evidence that oil may rise slightly more, slightly faster.  I wouldn't want to bet the farm, though, either way.



Political stability.  Most of the natural gas in dear old USA comes from either USA or Canada, with USA very much in the lead.  Other than some environmental concerns regarding extraction, there is no reason to suppose that that will change in the near future, unless the environmental lobby persuades people that the extraction techniques used for tight gas are bad.  In which case, all bets are off.  Much of the oil used (but by no means all), however, comes from the near east.  There is the potential, though, of replacing that oil with oil primarily from Canada; again, the questions there revolve around the environmental lobby.  I would not, in all honesty, be prepared to say that North American sources are more stable than near eastern ones; the latter, of course, have a number of different ways to get into combative trouble.  The North American sources are, however, much more likey to run into heavy environmental opposition.  Could go either way.



Impact on the environment?  Well... I'm not sure I really want to go there on the Wall.  Much too hot button, and far too little hard science and engineering and fact.  I will only say there that in what I would regard as an ideal world, electricity would be very cheap and very plentiful from sources with no atmospheric impact and very little other impact, and I would be using electricity to fire my boiler.  We could have gone there 60 years ago.  We still could.  I doubt that we will, sadly.

Sal Santamaura

Where does propane fit...

...in this analysis?

Steamhead

Either will work well

if you have good equipment. If you don't, it won't.



My house? Oil. Not only does this let me choose my supplier, but it also lets me try out different oil burners as they come out.

Alan Welch

Service and Installation

Important considerations. When you add the cost to repair a poor installation to the " bargain price " it is usually more than paying for a quality job from a reputable installer.Promises are easy, reputations take effort.

heatboy

All things being equal.......

......I choose natural gas.  Cleanliness and more environmentally sound.  No heat exchanger degradation over the year, which means less maintenance, although gas burners need to be checked annually.  No fuel storage.