Oil Furnace vs Wood/Coal Furnace

Round one of the Home Heating Tournament continues with a match-up of old-school heating giants, Oil Furnaces and Wood/Coal Furnaces.

Many classic, older homes still use old fashioned oil or wood heating, and some modern homes are benefiting from these traditional heat systems, as well. Used both as primary furnaces and as complements to gas or electric furnaces, oil, wood, and coal heating can get the job done while saving a lot of money in the process. So which of these old reliables gets a ticket to round two?

Oil Furnace Wood/Coal Furnace

Oil Furnace

The number 4 seed in our home heating comparisons tournament, Oil Furnaces. While oil fuel isn't the latest type of heating technology to come down the line, new developments in used-oil furnaces are making it a very strong option for today's homeowners. At optimum efficiency, used-oil furnaces can cost half as much as electric or gas heating over the course of a year. Oil Furnaces require a lot of upkeep, however, to keep them running clean and smooth. And, needless to say, oil is one non-renewable resource that's not likely to be getting cheaper any time soon.

Wood or Coal Furnace

When you're talking about annual costs, nothing saves coin like a wood furnace. Outdoor wood furnaces, in particular, are fantastic economical options, dropping heating bills to comparatively microscopic levels. They're quite versatile, as well, able to successfully heat multiple rooms without the fire hazards or hassles of some indoor furnaces. Coal works much the same, but as the renewable resource, wood is the better environmental choice. That being said, maintaining a wood furnace, whether outside or inside, requires daily attention and a steady supply of the wood itself. And even modern designs pose can't prevent wood and coal furnaces from being fire threats and vulnerable to maintenance problems.

And the winner is. . .
Wood/Coal Furnace. If you're truly a dedicated person willing to sacrifice a little convenience for considerable savings, a wood furnace is a still a great choice for home heating. So, on they go!