Converted to Gas from Oil last year and I REGRET IT BADLY!!

KeefWeef · December 29

Hello All,

So….I had an old (100 years old) oil furnace in my house. She was ugly but kicked out heat like a champ. I was able to keep my house at a nice 74 degrees all winter and it was extremely comfortable. My oil bill would be maybe $150 - $350 depending on how much oil I wanted to have put in the tank. I would do this maybe every other month. After speaking to co-workers and others who all had gas heat they told me it would be cheaper to get gas heat, it was better, my bills would be a lot cheaper. As I already had gas lines in the house from my boiler and clothes dryer, it wasn't that expensive to convert. I paid maybe $10k. NOW…before converting, my gas bill was barely $35 per month. After converting, my first gas bill was $143. The next bill was $248, the NEXT bill was $330! This was OUTRAGEOUS for something that was supposed to be CHEAPER! I called the gas company and they gave me the usual answer: Due to upgrades, delivery and newly approved hikes that was why I was seeing such bills. They offered to put me on a balanced plan where I would pay $80 per. Still much more than the $35 I was paying pre conversion but ok. Continued to have the temp set at 74 degrees and the house was nice and warm. WELL….come the end of the billing year and I owed a whopping $1583 which was the REAL cost of my billing according to them! Since then, I keep my house at a very COLD 68 -71 degrees and I have to wear sweaters and heavy socks and hats. This is RIDICULOUS in my OWN HOME!! My first bill was $303! God knows what my January bill will be! I so REGRET converting to gas and as soon as I get the money up, I'M GOING BACK TO OIL!! I was able to CONTROL my costs AND keep my house warm without having to pay a KINGS RANSOM each month! I'm in Long Island, NY by the way….

I miss her so much😒

Jamie Hall · December 29

I keep telling people… do your sums before you switch fuels (or horses).

HydronicMike · December 29

Although I agree you are spending more with gas then oil, I don't agree with you trying to say you only use $150-350 of oil every other month. That's less than 100 gallons for 2 months with that monster steamer.
Time to call all those people who 'knew better' and ask them to contribute to your heating costs.
Also, maybe the new install is wrong-wrong size, wrong piping, incorrectly commissioned.
Any pictures of the new install?

Grallert · December 29

Just to be clear. Was the whole boiler replaced or only the burner?

ChrisJ · December 29

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1879713#Comment_1879713

@Ron Jr._3

@JohnNY

hot_rod · December 29

If you can determined the actual delivered cost of the two fuels, this calculator crunches the numbers.

Perhaps the old oil burner was running 80- 82%, maybe lower?

. A new gas boiler properly sized and installed should run 85-87% efficiencies. Maybe use those numbers in the calculator.

https://coalpail.com/fuel-comparison-calculator-home-heating

Jamie Hall · December 29

For those who perhaps misunderstood — willfully or otherwise — my comment above. I am not — and never have — suggested that switching energy sources is not something to be investigated. If you have alternate energy sources available, and are replacing equipment, do by all means investigate costs and capabilities among all possibilities. That is only prudent.

With one major caution. Use strictly local sources for your comparisons. Energy costs vary quite widely, even over relatively short distances, with the result that what seems like a no-brainer in one area may be really foolish only a few hundred miles (or less) away. Likewise,, when looking at some else's posted energy costs, do not assume that they are wrong or exaggerated — take into account where they are located and local conditions.

And a similar word for those who would advise a person posting here on the Wall — make sure that your advice is applicable to THEIR situation in THEIR location. Never assume that your experience will be similar to theirs.

reggi · December 29

hot_rod · December 29

The NYSERDA website has historical data on various heating fuel over many years. This shows heating oil costs in you area over a 20 year period.

You can do the same with NG

Steamhead · December 29

@KeefWeef , how about a pic of the new boiler?

Hot_water_fan · December 29

you’d have to tell us the $/therm and the $/gallon to make any judgements.

ChrisJ · December 29

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1879739#Comment_1879739

I always see it mentioned those snowmen run in the 60's as far as overall efficiency.

I've never tested one my self.

hot_rod · December 29

Any other appliances on gas? You mentioned a dryer. Stove or outdoor barbecue?

An improperly installed boiler or oversized boiler can cause excessive fuel consumption also.

A look at the gas bill would show how much you pay monthly just for the privilege of being connected to the grid. And any other bendover fees.

Converted to Gas from Oil last year and I REGRET IT BADLY!!

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