Calculate Heating Oil Usage

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Heating Oil Consumption Calculator

Excellent (Modern/Tight) Average (Standard) Poor (Old/Drafty)

Estimated Results

Estimated Oil Usage: 0 Gallons

Estimated Total Cost: $0.00

Daily Average Usage: 0 Gallons/Day

How Heating Oil Usage is Calculated

Determining how much heating oil your home will consume involves several variables, primarily the "Heat Loss" of your structure. The core calculation relies on the difference between your desired indoor temperature and the average outdoor temperature (known as Delta T).

Our calculator uses a standard engineering formula to estimate BTUs required: (Square Footage × Insulation Factor × Temperature Difference × 24 Hours). This total is then divided by the energy content of a gallon of #2 heating oil (approximately 138,500 BTUs) adjusted for your furnace's AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating.

Example Calculation

If you live in a 2,000 sq. ft. home with average insulation, and the outside temperature is 30°F while your thermostat is set to 70°F:

  • Temperature Difference: 40°F
  • Daily BTU Requirement: Approximately 153,600 BTUs (based on average heat loss factors)
  • Furnace Efficiency: 85% AFUE
  • Actual Oil Needed: 153,600 / (138,500 × 0.85) = ~1.3 gallons per day.

Factors Influencing Oil Consumption

  • Insulation: Homes with updated windows and high-R-value attic insulation retain heat significantly longer, reducing the "runtime" of the burner.
  • AFUE Rating: Older furnaces might have an AFUE of 60-70%, while modern condensing units can reach 90%+. A 20% increase in efficiency translates directly to a 20% reduction in oil bills.
  • Wind Chill: While ambient temperature is the main driver, high winds increase air infiltration (drafts), which can spike usage beyond what temperature alone suggests.
  • Domestic Hot Water: If your oil boiler also provides your hot water (via an indirect tank or tankless coil), your usage will be higher year-round, regardless of the outdoor temperature.

How to Reduce Your Heating Oil Bill

To lower your estimated usage, consider lowering your thermostat by 5-8 degrees for 8 hours a day (during sleep or work), which can save up to 10% a year on fuel. Additionally, annual furnace tuning ensures the nozzle, pump, and heat exchanger are operating at peak efficiency, preventing "sooting" which acts as an insulator, stealing heat from your home and sending it up the chimney.

function calculateHeatingOil() { // Get values from inputs var sqft = parseFloat(document.getElementById('houseSize').value); var insulation = parseFloat(document.getElementById('insulationQuality').value); var indoor = parseFloat(document.getElementById('indoorTemp').value); var outdoor = parseFloat(document.getElementById('outdoorTemp').value); var efficiency = parseFloat(document.getElementById('furnaceEfficiency').value) / 100; var days = parseFloat(document.getElementById('calcDays').value); var price = parseFloat(document.getElementById('oilPrice').value); // Validate inputs if (isNaN(sqft) || isNaN(indoor) || isNaN(outdoor) || isNaN(efficiency) || isNaN(days)) { alert("Please enter valid numeric values for all fields."); return; } // Calculation Logic // Temp Difference var deltaT = indoor – outdoor; // If it's warmer outside than inside, no heating is needed if (deltaT <= 0) { document.getElementById('gallonsOutput').innerText = "0.00"; document.getElementById('costOutput').innerText = "$0.00"; document.getElementById('dailyOutput').innerText = "0.00"; document.getElementById('oilResult').style.display = "block"; return; } // Energy content of #2 Heating Oil: ~138,500 BTU per gallon var btuPerGallon = 138500; // Estimation of BTU loss per hour // Formula: SqFt * Heat Loss Factor * Delta T var btuPerHour = sqft * insulation * deltaT; // Total BTUs needed for the period var totalBTUneeded = btuPerHour * 24 * days; // Gallons needed (adjusted for furnace efficiency) var gallonsNeeded = totalBTUneeded / (btuPerGallon * efficiency); // Total Cost var totalCost = gallonsNeeded * price; // Daily usage var dailyUsage = gallonsNeeded / days; // Display results document.getElementById('gallonsOutput').innerText = gallonsNeeded.toFixed(2); document.getElementById('costOutput').innerText = "$" + totalCost.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}); document.getElementById('dailyOutput').innerText = dailyUsage.toFixed(2); // Show the result box document.getElementById('oilResult').style.display = "block"; }

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