It's been long....and drawn out.... but there comes a change.....

[XJFever]

I wanted to wait until I got a new jeep before posting this, but a bit excited at the moment.
We bought a house ( my wife and I, we needed an upgrade in space due to possibly adopting our nephews in the coming months).... and it's spacious, and has a garage and room to store a rig...
woo-hoo.... money will be tight as we will be moving in right before winter, and are unsure about the oil heat ( we won't know the usage of the new furnace etc) so we don't want to screw ourselves right from the get go, but once that is taken care of, I will be looking for a new project rig come spring!!

Also should be starting a new job with crappy hours, but a heck of a lot more money than what I make now... can't wait to wheel with you guys again.

-Kevin

[Posimoto]

Congratulations on your new house and job

[Axle]

Congratulations! let me know if you need any help

[Twisty]

Hope to wheel with you again soon! 

In what area is your new house?

[XJFever]

Hope to wheel with you again soon! 

In what area is your new house?

south fitchburg.... the only nice area in fitchburg, we had to stay relatively local for this whole DCF case, and every place we checked out was way too small, had no yard, and unusable basement, etc.
This place has everything we need, and a little extra we wanted, with an option to expand.

Thanks Bob! I might have to pick your brain on some wood working stuff, I have some projects i've started thinking of for the new house, I haven't done anything carpentry related since high school, and that was mainly framing.

[Axle]

anytime!

[jerry k]

Hey Kevin !

[XJFever]

Hey Kevin !

Hey Jerry!!!

Not looking forward to the learning curve of the oil heat, as we have only lived in places with natural gas, or oil heat that was included in the rent, and automatically filled every month.
Luckily the house has 2 fire places that were recently gone over, and they look barely used, so I am toying with the idea of using those for supplemental heat to cope with the cost of oil, and possibly installing a pellet insert sometime in the near future....
I'm curious if anyone here has gone that route of installing an insert? and other than the cost if there were any other negatives associated with it?

-Kevin

[Axle]

personally, I think a wood insert is more practical. unless you have to buy the wood, it witch case the pellet is easier. Oil can be fine, just have the boiler cleaned every year. if its a tank less boiler, maybe add an indirect hot water tank. and as far as filling, I don't recommend a contract, just find the best price when you need oil. a good oil boiler guy is getting hard to find.

[Twisty]

IMHO, wood stoves are far more efficient than fire places.

[Bluerocket]

My parents put an insert in to replace their traditional fireplace a few years ago.  It's essentially a woodstove but keeps the ambience by having a full glass front door. There is an air gap with a fan to drive air around the box and into the house.    It heats the entire floor aprox 1500 sq feet.  I'm a huge fan of the unit, the only thing they didn't do was plum the air into the furnace intake, that would have let you use the fan to heat the entire house.

As Tim said fire places are not efficient as the air from your home goes up the chimney with most of the heat.  I would still use them as I love a good fire. 

I wouldn't be afraid of oil, it's not that bad in my experience. 

[Twisty]

Some may disagree with this statement, but I'll say it anyways.



I've never heard of a house heated with oil exploding.  But I have heard of many gas related explosions.



No pun intended, but....flame suit on!! 

[XJFever]

it's just mainly the price of the oil that has me concerned, the house comes with two fireplaces so I really don't see it being practical to also install a wood stove which is why I am considering the insert..
and jeese, anything heating up 1500 sqft would take care of pretty much the whole house as it's only just over 2,000sqft ..
The furnace, from what I inspected was one of the better ones, not super high efficiency rating, but above the mid line....
Yes I'm new to home owning so this will be an adventure.... but I am so happy to have room for vehicle storage.....and a work area....

-kevin

[Bluerocket]

You should also spend a little time and check the house for leaks/drafts once it gets cold. 

[Twisty]

You can sign up for a home energy audit from the state.  My good friend is one of the "auditors".  It's free and could help you save some more money.