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Gas Cost?

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biddlah
biddlah Member Posts: 1
edited December 17 in Strictly Steam

Live in Western Massachusetts. Eversource energy is my utility.

2,000 sqft house, 2 stories. Un-insulated. Natural gas steam boiler. 1 pipe radiator system. 11 radiators. No observable steam leaks. All units heat fast and well. Pressure USED to be set at 5 psig (for period I’m referencing here). Boiler runs about 12x per day for about 20-30min at a time, rarely hits cut out pressure. 6 gallons of make up water since beginning of season. This house is a rental, so doubt there’s been any preventative maintenance on the system or boiler. We keep thermostat at 62 at night, 68 during day.

Last months (November) gas bill…$1000!

Does that seem right? Note half that bill is actual gas, the half infrastructure and public benefits costs based on my gas usage.

Thanks for any insight or suggestions.

Comments

  • bburd
    bburd Member Posts: 1,241

    How much gas did you use?

    Is the cost based on actual usage or are you on a budget plan that gives you even payments?

    —
    Bburd
    GGross
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 19,455

    I live in Western MA. I don't use gas now since I sold my house 65 years ago.

    But I know the Governor stopped two NG pipelines from coming in and some towns (Boston Area) will not allow gas to be installed.

    Everyone around here is complaining about high gas prices like their hair is on fire. Back in the day my house 1100 square feet I paid the gas on a budget plan year round was $70/month. Heat, Hot water, dryer and cooking.

    Don't know what gas costs now but everyone is pretty upset about it.

    Waher
  • kcopp
    kcopp Member Posts: 4,614

    Something is off…

    It was colder but not that much colder…

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 15,433
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1877639#Comment_1877639

    6 gallons of water is a whole lot for 1-2 months.

    is it a modern boiler or a coal conversion?

    GGross
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 15,433

    i'd look at where the water is going so you don't freak out when all that make up water kills the boiler.

    as far as energy savings, i'd look at the condition of the building envelope, are the doors and windows closing properly and all there, are there any big gaps in places, are people too hot and opening windows?

    GGross
  • dabrakeman
    dabrakeman Member Posts: 862

    That seems high to me since I have never had one close to that in 23 years in a house twice the size in Michigan. You have to either tell us what your rates are, show us what you have for a system configuration or preferably both for us to help.

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 19,455

    I suppose it could be steaming out the chimney

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 15,433

    it shouldn't be using 6 gallons of water in a month or so but it also doesn't take $500 of fuel to evaporate 6 gallons of water.

  • patrykrebisz
    patrykrebisz Member Posts: 50

    it takes around 1gallon of oil to evaporate 6 gallong of water. (so around $4 wasted at current prices).

    i have similarly sized house (1900sq) with 9 radiators. we keep it at 73f.

    my steam oil boiler is grossly oversized and i consumed around 200 gallons of oil last month (around $700).

  • masterdogtrainer
    masterdogtrainer Member Posts: 4

    is a boiler more efficient to heat with propane rather than a hunk forced air furnace on propane?

  • Waher
    Waher Member Posts: 359
    edited December 17

    look at your bill, the cost of delivery and fees for things like MassSave is likely higher than the actual gas used.

    The governor blocked gas pipelines, shut down power plants, mandated electrification of new projects in conjunction with bans by municipalities, and the legislature approved subsidies funded by surcharges on gas service.

    Perfect storm of authorities having jurisdiction curtailing supply and drowning customers in added costs. They are about to do the same to fuel oil dealers.

    The state is also blocking substations and transmission lines so electricity will go the moon shortly.

    Insulating your home better, moving out of state, and or finding different politicians to vote for are all one can do now.

    5psi is way too high. 1.5 max. Add more main air vents. That’s about the best you can do to make your boiler more efficient.

  • dabrakeman
    dabrakeman Member Posts: 862

    Here in Michigan our gas cost/recovery published rate is about $3.36/Mcf. I track my Mcf usage and bill amount each month ($/Mcf) which of course shows the impact of real total charges with surcharges. The spikes in the data are just the result of shoulder months where very little gas is used and thus the fixed costs grossly skew the $/Mcf. Nonetheless maybe this can give you some comparison. Again the house is about 4500sqft with 12ft ceilings (1890), updated upstairs windows but otherwise pretty much original.

    image.png
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 26,783

    Welcome to New England. Gas bill is as to be expected. Others have noted the reasons…

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    Waher
  • Big Ed_4
    Big Ed_4 Member Posts: 3,348

    Its the ten year cycle , ten years gas is cheaper , ten years oil is cheaper …

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

    pecmsg
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 19,455

    MA. is a sewer unfortunately. Many things are out of wack.

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