Whats better and cheaper gas heat or oil heat?

Question

Whats better and cheaper gas heat or oil heat?

Answer 1

It depends on the cost in your area.

Fuel oil now in my area is $4.40 a gal.

To compare you need to convert cost per unit to BTU output.

Fuel oil at $4.40 with an 80% efficiency unit will cost $39.00 per MBTU (million BTU's).

LP gas at $2.46 gal. 80% efficiency unit will cost $34.00 per MBTU. With a 90% unit it would cost $29.00 per MBTU.

Natural gas in my area is $1.30 per therm so an 80% eff. unit would cost $16.00 per MBTU and if it was a 90% efficient unit it would cost $14.00 per MBTU.

Electricity in my area is $.09  cents per KWH, so a electric strip heat furnace would cost $26.00 per MBTU.

A heat pump might be only $11.00 per MBTU but would need supplemental strip heat if your in a cold climate area.

Answer 2

gas by far