Estimated yearly savings by using coal

We installed our stove between Christmas and New Years last year (2007). I was able to shut my gas furnace off, and havent run it since. The house is definatley more kozy now, than with the gas furnace. Since we made the switch in the middle of the heating season, once we get into this heating season, the savings from changing to coal will have paid for itself.

I used the electric baseboard heat in the house for one season six years ago - when electric was relatively cheap. There were radiators only on the top floor of a ranch house. The house was always chilly, and the floors were downright cold. Switched to a Harman Magnum Stoker the next year. I estimated that the cost for electric that year for only the heat at around $1,200. At the time, I was getting coal for $165 per ton and burning about 2.5 tons per year to heat the entire house. So:

Electric $1,200
Coal 2.5 X 165 = $412.50

HUGE savings, and the stove came with the house. Even though my coal has gone up to $230 per ton, electric cost has gone up by far more, and would have to double is usage to heat the rest of the house.

Even though my coal has gone up to $230 per ton

Horace.....I'm in NEPA and coal is still about $160 ton delivered.....I'm expecting a huge savings if I can cut my oil usage in half...I usually use between 1,400 & 1,500 gals/year.....that's as much as 750 gals @ $3.90/gal pre-buy price....I should have installed a stove 13 years ago when I moved in....

I FOUND THIS ON ANOTHER THREAD CHECK IT OUT!

I won't be saving (money that is) it will be costing me more. But will be saving me a ton of back breaking labor. Wood is way to much work even if it is free. If my heating was totally with my propane furnace coal will be saving me approx. $1200-$1400.

Linc wrote:Wood is way to much work even if it is free. If my heating was totally with my propane furnace coal will be saving me approx. $1200-$1400.

If you have free firewood on your property...sell it & buy coal with the $$$$

Hmmmm...

6 ton of coal a year for heating at around $200/ton (trailer rental and gas included)=$1200.00

1 ton of coal=180 gallons of oil...figure $3.80/gallon (http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/hopu/hopu.asp)...
180 X 6=1080 gallons X $3.80=$4104.00
$4104.00-$1200.00=$2904.00

Even NJ natural gas users will be paying more:

http://www.northjersey.com/business/news/30459454.html

I'm suddenly in a good mood.

sounds like a trip to Alantic City might be on the list John , nice savings.

Too bad I don't gamble!

I think my figures are correct. One thing for sure...if I heated with oil only I would not be able to afford it, plus with forced hot air heat in a 175 year old house it's never really warm. The stoves provide a radiant heat source.

The other benefit is the DHW the Alaska supplies, if I ever get around to installing the second tank and loop it will work even better.

And as far as the amount of work coal requires...it's a lot easier then the 6 to 8 "cords" of wood I used to burn per winter.

Last season I heated with propane, about three years ago, the pre-buy and extra to make to the end of April was 6000 gallons, at today's price of $2./gallon that's $12,000 and the house was at 62*.
Last season, I burnt about 12 tons at $200/ton delivered..so about $2400.. with that savings I can put a serious smile on my face.. and afford my property taxes !!
The house was comfortable at 68-72* and I love the unlimited hot water.

Greg L

I just threw out my propane HWH that's been in my basement about 3 years. I got a chuckle because it said it would cost $220/year to operate, @ .60 gallon. Hehe

Devil, Most all the free wood was from work. (Pallet wood) Also the property behind mine was logged out last year,I was given permission for the tops and end pieces. Cherry and Black Walnut,they are both a mutha to split.

We would use approximately 800 gallons of fuel to heat our house. We would keep the house at 67 to 68 degress and used electrical space heaters to conserve oil. We would spend around $2,400 per season for oil.

With the Keystoker, I estimate that we will use around 5 tons of coal. I buy the coal bagged and it costs me $325 a ton. The house is a nice consistant 72 degrees all day long and we are not using the space heaters at all. As an added bonus we just got our electrical bill and there is a $100 reduction compared to last years bill at this time.

I estimate that I will save somewhere between $1,000 to $1,100 this year.

At that reate, my Keystoker including installation will be paid back in 4 years.

Using coal for me is actually easier than oil. I have to keep a path to the back of my house shoveled and the back gate shoveled so that the oil man can get to the input valve. The coal on the other had goes right into my attached fuel storage area which I keep cleared with a plow. Not using oil, don't need the path.

AdkCoal wrote:We would use approximately 800 gallons of fuel to heat our house. We would keep the house at 67 to 68 degress and used electrical space heaters to conserve oil. We would spend around $2,400 per season for oil.

Same here. I estimate roughly $1000 saved versus heating (if you can call it that ) with oil.

When this winters all said & done, I've saved myself 1800 - 2000 dollars, depending on the fluctuating price of a gallon of Arab piss..................