I lived in only oil fired houses in very cold climates before encountering the gas furnace in this one, so here are a few thoughts. Advantages: Oil doesn't explode. You can service your own oil fired furnace. Your supply is self-contained. If something goes wrong you don't have to argue about whether the problem is in the house or in the supply system outside. You have control over your oil supply: - You can choose your supplier (no monopoly) - If you keep your tank full, you can go for months even if the supply chain is interrupted.
In farther out neighbourhoods, the gas infrastructure may make it more expensive (ask to know the heating cost over the last few years of any candidate) because oil can be trucked just about anywhere, but gas requires installation of pipes and distribution points.
Disadvantages: - Yes, the tank takes up space - Yes, a leaking tank can be a nightmare. Dag had a terrible time when the leak got under the house and the dirt had to be removed. - Yes, there can be soot if your furnace is not adjusted.
I was disappointed, when I moved here, that we could not find an oil house, especially since a lot of gas furnaces smell really bad to me, and I have seen the results of gas explosions, but after all these years I have come to accept, and now even prefer gas over oil.
What I have learned is that gas or oil shouldn't be a deal breaker. The condition of the equipment, the price from the supplier, and whether the tank setup is inconvenient are more important.
Don't worry about fuel source issues, at this point. As pointed out, yes, we are dependent on foreign gas too. In some areas, where the power is hydro or nuclear, an electrically heated house makes more sense, but I suspect this isn't likely to be a factor for you.
I am really surprised you are seeing such a high proportion of oil though, because when I was looking it was almost all gas. Though then there was Oil Tank House, which we wrote off because I could smell the oil and that was the aroma of expen$$ive remediation.
Gas is likely the preferred choice for you though, and you don't have a deadline so you can take your time finding the right house. On the other hand, I wonder if you might be seeing better bargains on oil furnace houses because others (like you) don't want to buy them. If the market depresses their price enough you might get enough savings to be able to afford to convert, assuming the neighbourhood has the gas available.
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flatlanders
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Date: 2009-09-22 01:41 pm (UTC)Advantages:
Oil doesn't explode.
You can service your own oil fired furnace.
Your supply is self-contained. If something goes wrong you don't have to argue about whether the problem is in the house or in the supply system outside.
You have control over your oil supply:
- You can choose your supplier (no monopoly)
- If you keep your tank full, you can go for months even if the supply chain is interrupted.
In farther out neighbourhoods, the gas infrastructure may make it more expensive (ask to know the heating cost over the last few years of any candidate) because oil can be trucked just about anywhere, but gas requires installation of pipes and distribution points.
Disadvantages:
- Yes, the tank takes up space
- Yes, a leaking tank can be a nightmare. Dag had a terrible time when the leak got under the house and the dirt had to be removed.
- Yes, there can be soot if your furnace is not adjusted.
I was disappointed, when I moved here, that we could not find an oil house, especially since a lot of gas furnaces smell really bad to me, and I have seen the results of gas explosions, but after all these years I have come to accept, and now even prefer gas over oil.
What I have learned is that gas or oil shouldn't be a deal breaker. The condition of the equipment, the price from the supplier, and whether the tank setup is inconvenient are more important.
Don't worry about fuel source issues, at this point. As pointed out, yes, we are dependent on foreign gas too.
In some areas, where the power is hydro or nuclear, an electrically heated house makes more sense, but I suspect this isn't likely to be a factor for you.
I am really surprised you are seeing such a high proportion of oil though, because when I was looking it was almost all gas.
Though then there was Oil Tank House, which we wrote off because I could smell the oil and that was the aroma of expen$$ive remediation.
Gas is likely the preferred choice for you though, and you don't have a deadline so you can take your time finding the right house.
On the other hand, I wonder if you might be seeing better bargains on oil furnace houses because others (like you) don't want to buy them. If the market depresses their price enough you might get enough savings to be able to afford to convert, assuming the neighbourhood has the gas available.