Webmaster said:
No, oil does not cost twice as much. In fact, averaged out over the last two years (both oil and pellets) is about 20% less for pellets - meaning $400 worth of pellets may be the same as $500 worth of oil. To even be slightly accurate you have to figure in the delivery and loading of the pellets since oil includes there.
So...if you include your labor in loading the pellets.....then you would have to do that with just about everything we use....so the guy paying 25 dollars to have his drive way plowed isnt saving a heck of a lot when he snow blows his own drive and pays 4 bucks for gas? The guy fertilizing and mowing and raking his own leaves instead of having a lawncare service doing it isnt saving much? The guy taking his own trash to the dump weekly(if the city does not do it) instead of a trash company taking it isnt saving much? A lady doing her own hair instead of a beauty shop do it isnt saving much?
I dont count my labor in getting pellets. Or wood when I burned for 15 years. I consider it a little sweat equity of sorts. You gotta give a little sometimes to save a bit. Theres "no" question I save and its tremendous savings. To say 400 dollars worth od pellets is like 500 dollars worth of oil is just not true in my house....400 dollars worth of pellets will last me nearly all winter if not all winter....as 500 dollars worth of oil would ;ast me a month and a half, maybe not even that if its colder.
31 bags in 52 days ($139.50)@ 4.50 a bag.
Est. oil: 3 gal. a day approx.
52 days @ 3.20 a gal. = 500.00
Estimated saving for 52 days = $360.50
139.50 compared to 500.00.....I think it speaks for itself. As for the loading etc.....I do what I do when I burned wood....make it a family and friend day, have a big spaghetti feed etc......and load pellets instead of loading wood...lol. Pellets go MUCH quicker and you get some exercise
I recommend alot to use pellet stoves, much less work than wood. But.....be prepared to clean daily for some stoves even if it is 15 minutes. Some people expect to set the thermostat and forget about it like a furnace....to a point you can. But cleaning is a must for optimal performance.