So, this is my first year heating the house with wood. The main reason I got interested was the 300-400 dollar a month natural gas bills we had last fall and winter. Our gas bill for November this year was 9 dollars, 2 dollars more than the minimum, aperantly that's what it costs to run the pilot light on the furnace. Last week I got a call from the city, they wanted to know when I'd be home so that they could change my gas meter out, because its not working. When the crew came out the next day, the meter was working fine, just like I kinda figured.
Same thing happened to us. Two hour long phone calls with the electric company and they finally got it.
I installed wood stove last year and the propane company came and installed a lock on my tank because they thought I was getting propane from another company.
You might want to tell them to get the illegal lock off the tank or better yet call the fire department in your jurisdiction and let them tell them. Big time fire safety hazard.....................
That's a great idea! I have a fire station less than a mile away, I think I will stop in and talk to them. Thanks. Jim.
I should also mention that this is an inground 500 gal tank. The lock they put on is on the fill valve not the cover. Would that still be a violation ?
As long as you can get to the shut off valve on the tank, you should be ok. Let then put whatever they want on their tank. We've had 3 different meters since the OWB. Once I start it up, I shut-off even the pilot light on the water-heater and only pay the "meter charge" for the gas. They always told meters are changed periodically...everyone's. I said that this one has been changed most frequently and you should keep better records instead of changing it every couple years. Also told them to take a look at the wood pile and OWB and this will explain the total lack of gas usage during the cold months! They're about due to change it again.
I've always said, I'd rather pay a German for a saw, and an American for a stove, than pay an Arab for sitting on the right piece of sand. I throw him a bone for the fuel for the saws and trucks to haul. Learn to live on less as we all have had to do!
My company has a propane supply division so we had a 500 gal. tank put in at no charge at the new house. After the first year we started to heat with wood and the owner asked how we could heat the house on just $50 a month. I told him we can't and that that was for cooking, hot water, and the dryer. He has been asking me what size stove he should get for his place.
Isn't it great? I used to burn 350 gallons or so of oil a year with the wood stove. I haven't hooked the oil boiler back up since finishing the wood boiler.
Man , that makes me feel good way up here !! Gas Co here, all upset with our credits & monthly billing, fight about the minimum usage. We have budget billing, monthly gas bill is higher in the summer when the furnace kicks on now & then . We end up with a credit every year. They come & check the meter. Don't want them to mad, need them to keep the house above freezing for vacations
The working guys that show up , they know. Just doing what they're told. Not the higher ups, I call them College boys ? ? Not so sure they can do the math. LOL
Yup, we heat primarily with propane and suppliment with wood heater. The last top off visit was 52 gallons. The natural gas company finally ran a line into our neighborhood, it's 50' from the house. Hookup fee would have been $3600, we opted for no gas service. A no-brainer when ya have a wood stove.
My propane guy that delivers tried to get me on this 100 gallon per month use plan. If you commit they fix the price for you but you are committed to using at least the 100 gallons. If you don't use all 100 gallons they charge you anyways for it. I told him no thanks as I glanced around at the 8 cords of wood stacked and split about 30 feet away. He asked if I was sure. I thought well some people don't get it because maybe he does not know anything about wood stoves. Last month I used about 40 gallons.
When I first started burning I had a little problem with oil deliveries. The regular driver came and started filling the tank. Based on past usage he expected me to take about 200 gallons. The whistle stopped at 25 gallons. He figured there was something wrong and overrode the safety. When I got home the town's spill response team was digging out a good piece of my front yard. Cost the oil company a couple of bucks to re-do the front garden and pay the fines... KaptJaq
