If You Weren't Burning Coal How Much Would Heating Cost You

ShawnTRD · Post by **ShawnTRD** » Mon. Feb. 10, 2014 4:24 pm

Home inspector reported it bring 80,000 btu.

lsayre · Post by **lsayre** » Mon. Feb. 10, 2014 4:59 pm

ShawnTRD wrote:Home inspector reported it bring 80,000 btu.

Then a Ka-6 should be fine, and should have enough reserve for DHW.

ShawnTRD · Post by **ShawnTRD** » Mon. Feb. 10, 2014 5:19 pm

lsayre wrote:
ShawnTRD wrote:Home inspector reported it bring 80,000 btu.
Then a Ka-6 should be fine, and should have enough reserve for DHW.

That wasn't the original question. What do you this the estimated savings cost of coal vs fuel oil.

titleist1 · Post by **titleist1** » Mon. Feb. 10, 2014 5:55 pm

My SWAG at it is 1300 gallons of oil at $4 / gal = $5200, while 7 ton of coal at $325 / ton = $2275.

I gave you my super discounted consulting rate of $.02 for this info!!

lsayre · Post by **lsayre** » Mon. Feb. 10, 2014 6:00 pm

Assuming your cost for anthracite to be approximately $315 per ton:

1 ton coal = $315

164 gallons #2 heating oil (the equivalent of 1 ton of coal) at $3.84/gal. = $630

Coal will be roughly half the cost of oil. And if you can get your coal for less, or if oil costs more, the potential savings are even greater.

joeq · Post by **joeq** » Mon. Feb. 10, 2014 7:39 pm

I hear the term, "bulk discounts", but don't know what that means. If I buy a ton of coal, I would consider that "bulk". Yet I still get charged as if I bought 1 bag. How many tons do I need to buy, to get the discount rate? Or does it vary amongst suppliers?

Post by **Rob R.** » Mon. Feb. 10, 2014 7:42 pm

joeq wrote:I hear the term, "bulk discounts", but don't know what that means. If I buy a ton of coal, I would consider that "bulk". Yet I still get charged as if I bought 1 bag. How many tons do I need to buy, to get the discount rate? Or does it vary amongst suppliers?

Usually a TT load, sometimes two...assuming you are talking about discounts at the breaker.

joeq · Post by **joeq** » Mon. Feb. 10, 2014 7:59 pm

Well, I guess that leaves me out. I don't have the room for 4-5 yrs worth of coal.

scalabro · Post by **scalabro** » Mon. Feb. 10, 2014 8:08 pm

joeq wrote:Well, I guess that leaves me out. I don't have the room for 4-5 yrs worth of coal.

Not if a couple of us local guys split a load.

I know Squire lumber in Monson Ma would do a discount if they could move TT load of Blaschak.

I'm in four 4 or 5 pallets next year.

joeq · Post by **joeq** » Mon. Feb. 10, 2014 8:28 pm

I'll keep that in mind Scott. Problem is, I use pea.

maurizziot · Post by **maurizziot** » Mon. Feb. 10, 2014 10:24 pm

lsayre wrote:Annually I displace roughly 23,000 KWH's of electricity with roughly 5.5 to 6 tons (this year) of coal.

Electricity: 23,000 KWH x $0.1315/KWH = $3,025

Coal: 6 tons x $243/ton = $1,485

Annual savings ~= $1,540

Total time estimated to pay back my boiler and all ancillary equipment purchases plus installation charges ~= 4.6 years.

There is no way that 6 tons of coal is equal to 23,000 KWH

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Tue. Feb. 11, 2014 5:32 am

20,472 kWh. For 6 tons according to the on forum fuel cost calculator. Since BTU content of coal varies, so will your mileage.

lsayre · Post by **lsayre** » Tue. Feb. 11, 2014 5:51 am

Actually 4.3 tons is much closer to 23,000 KWH

Electricity: 23,000 x 3,412 = 78,476,000 BTU's

Anthracite Coal: 8,600 lbs (4.3 tons) x 12,150 BTU's/Lb. x 0.75 (efficiency) = 78,367,500 BTU's

I toss away 1 ton during the non-heating months just keeping the fire going in the boiler (which is used for DHW).

And this year is so cold that it will certainly take well more than 23,000 KWH's to both heat our house and provide for year round DHW, which will require the remaining 5 tons.

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Tue. Feb. 11, 2014 6:06 am

According to the fuel cost calculator, I'm saving 72% by using coal over electric. Bodes well for burning the coal boiler over the summer (if possible,...draft, heat in basement) for DHW

Carbon12 · Post by **Carbon12** » Mon. Feb. 17, 2014 7:48 pm

Just saw diesel for $4.399/gallon. Some of the fuel oil dealers in the area are charging that much or more for a gallon of heating oil. WTF?!!? The diesel has all kinds of highway taxes added on, fuel oil doesn't. It's the same product just dyed red. Price gouging???