It's not just SMECO.
SMECO Issues
- Thread starter LJ1999
- Start date
canapus2000
New Member
my electric bill was about normal for this time of year 140 dollars 1800 sq ft house with oil furnace and a wool stove
Clem72
Well-Known Member
Yes yes. We know. It's the people that rely on heat pumps for house heating that get nailed with prolonged below freezing temps. If you have a furnace or stove or wood fireplace, etc. obviously you won't see a big difference in electricity usage.
TPD
the poor dad
I haven't figured out people's disdain for oil heat, especially after reading about your electric bills for the last 2 months. Do you not have a choice when buying your house what type of heat system you have? Is it the builder looking for the lowest cost? I've only lived in 1 place with a heat pump and said I would never do that again - I was always cold in the winter, even with the thermostat on 72º. And of course the electric bill.
I did a quick search on oil furnace vs heat pump. I found this, which could explain why more people don't put in oil furnaces - fake news.
6.5 gallons per day?? No way - I have already show here that I burn at most 3 gallons/day and that included hot water for baths, laundry, etc. Are they basing this on leaving the thermostat set to 72º for the entire day? Who would do that? I guess that is possible but that is not where 95% of the population would be.
This is the link I lifted the quote from:
www.energysage.com
So I clicked on the 6.5gal link to see where they got that number and here is that link. It is from a place in Maine that delivers oil so you would think they know what they are talking about. I can't believe anyone would burn 6 gallons of oil per day in 35º temps.
www.heatable.com
I did a quick search on oil furnace vs heat pump. I found this, which could explain why more people don't put in oil furnaces - fake news.
6.5 gallons per day?? No way - I have already show here that I burn at most 3 gallons/day and that included hot water for baths, laundry, etc. Are they basing this on leaving the thermostat set to 72º for the entire day? Who would do that? I guess that is possible but that is not where 95% of the population would be.
This is the link I lifted the quote from:
Heat pumps vs. oil furnace heating: What’s better in 2024?
Heat pumps and oil furnaces are two home heating system options. But which is better for your property? Learn more in our guide.
So I clicked on the 6.5gal link to see where they got that number and here is that link. It is from a place in Maine that delivers oil so you would think they know what they are talking about. I can't believe anyone would burn 6 gallons of oil per day in 35º temps.
How much heating oil will I use in a day? | Heatable
Does a new home or move to New England have you wondering ‘How much heating oil will I use in a day?’ No worries, we’ve got your back. Visit Heatable.
LightRoasted
If I may ...
For your consideration ...
"At an average outdoor temperature of 32F with the heat in your home set to a comfortable temperature (around 72F), an oil system will typically use about 6.5 gallons in 24 hours." Or insufficiently insulated houses?
I would say, on average, it's because even if only three gallon of fuel is used per day. With constant temps for a month, that's about $10.95 of oil a day. Or about $328 a month. So the offset isn't really there for most folks. Thought do love that oil heat.
Pretty sure a buyer of a new home being built can request an oil burner system for that house. Which will cost them more for the system and installation as opposed to a heat pump. They could even ask for a buried propane tank system if they wanted. Would just have to let the builder know. Unless it is a spec home they are building, then it is always done at the lowest cost possible .... heat pumps. They don't care what your electric bill will be, that's on the buyer.
"At an average outdoor temperature of 32F with the heat in your home set to a comfortable temperature (around 72F), an oil system will typically use about 6.5 gallons in 24 hours." Or insufficiently insulated houses?
I would say, on average, it's because even if only three gallon of fuel is used per day. With constant temps for a month, that's about $10.95 of oil a day. Or about $328 a month. So the offset isn't really there for most folks. Thought do love that oil heat.
Pretty sure a buyer of a new home being built can request an oil burner system for that house. Which will cost them more for the system and installation as opposed to a heat pump. They could even ask for a buried propane tank system if they wanted. Would just have to let the builder know. Unless it is a spec home they are building, then it is always done at the lowest cost possible .... heat pumps. They don't care what your electric bill will be, that's on the buyer.
Lots of bad info in that. The amount of fuel oil used is based entirely on the nozzle in the burner. Mine is .75 gal/hr. Multiply by the actual run time for gallons per day, which will change based on the outside temps.I haven't figured out people's disdain for oil heat, especially after reading about your electric bills for the last 2 months. Do you not have a choice when buying your house what type of heat system you have? Is it the builder looking for the lowest cost? I've only lived in 1 place with a heat pump and said I would never do that again - I was always cold in the winter, even with the thermostat on 72º. And of course the electric bill.
I did a quick search on oil furnace vs heat pump. I found this, which could explain why more people don't put in oil furnaces - fake news.
6.5 gallons per day?? No way - I have already show here that I burn at most 3 gallons/day and that included hot water for baths, laundry, etc. Are they basing this on leaving the thermostat set to 72º for the entire day? Who would do that? I guess that is possible but that is not where 95% of the population would be.
This is the link I lifted the quote from:
Heat pumps vs. oil furnace heating: What’s better in 2024?
Heat pumps and oil furnaces are two home heating system options. But which is better for your property? Learn more in our guide.
So I clicked on the 6.5gal link to see where they got that number and here is that link. It is from a place in Maine that delivers oil so you would think they know what they are talking about. I can't believe anyone would burn 6 gallons of oil per day in 35º temps.
How much heating oil will I use in a day? | Heatable
Does a new home or move to New England have you wondering ‘How much heating oil will I use in a day?’ No worries, we’ve got your back. Visit Heatable.
And the tank size.... 275 limited to 240 for safety... HUH? Mine is 550. How is the size a safety issue?
I dont know about others, but I have oil heat. Thermostat set at 70 degrees from 0600 - 2000, a very comfortable temp for me. Goes to 66 degrees from 2000 - 0600 the next day because I like it colder when I sleep. The last time I had my tank filled was March 2024. I still have 1/4 tank (approx 65-70 gallons) and will arrange delivery in another week or two.
Oil is the way to go for me.
Oil is the way to go for me.
TPD
the poor dad
I thought the same thing - my oil supplier has always filled my tank to within a couple inches.
Clem72
Well-Known Member
You can get a heat pump with a gas (propane/natural) secondary heating, so I imagine you can get it with oil as well if you wanted it. For electric backup it makes sense to use the heat pump until it can't keep, but for more efficient heating that's not necessarily the case. At my old house where I had propane secondary and a not particularly efficient heat pump we had it set to use the propane for heat if it got below 48 degrees outside and that seemed to be a good compromise.
It is!!
We have our new system set to revert to propane backup at 35 degrees. We're going to lower that to about 32. These new heat pumps are really something.
I'm totally over this fluctuation in temperature. Yesterday, I layered clothes expecting the warm up. I found cloths wherever I shed then. I went to do laundry and it's taken me more time to find them, than it will to fold them. I didn't think it would be necessary, but I've got to go measure the oil tank to see when I need to schedule a delivery, ****ing groundhog. I'm soo ready for spring.
What is funny about this thread is that, no one mentions what is obvious. When temperatures drop heat pumps put out less heat at exactly the time you need more heat. A 3ton heat pump is designed to put out 36000 btu's of heat at the rated outdoor temperature, but 36000 btu's is nowhere enough to heat a normal size house at 40 degrees, hence back up heat is required . Oil is my choice by far.
Clem72
Well-Known Member
There's a pretty big margin. A heat pump with an HSPF rating of 5 or 6 is not going to be cost effective below freezing. Get one with an HSPF of 9 or 10 and it will work to zero F or below and feel like a gas furnace with actual hot air coming out of the vent and not luke warm air.
So you are saying a 3 ton heat pump will heat a house at 0 degrees ?
Cost effective lol. Even old heat pumps give you a better than a 1 to 1 ratio at 0 degrees .
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ontheriver
Well-Known Member
I have a groundhog too. Big fat fker destroying my yard. I catch him on the camera. He ate a hole in the garage door and having a party in there too. I don't know how to OFF him, and if I did I don't know if I could. He smiles at the camera. Azzhole.
ontheriver
Well-Known Member
Back to the subject..... Heat pump with propane backup. Electric bill was $174 last 2 months. Got a Propane delivery for $992. Scary, but it was last filled in April. I feel lucky. I keep my heat at 70. I WILL NOT be cold.
Muskrat trap and cantaloupe!
ontheriver
Well-Known Member
And then what do I do with him? Like I said, he has attitude...
Dirty cat litter repels them. It works.