Kerosene Heater
I’ve been stressed out lately by my Pepco and Washington Gas monthly bills.  They have been sky high now that winter is here.  I first bought a couple of oil filled plug-in heaters.  They take about a half hour to really get the room warmed up, but once they do, they work great… and it’s not the hot air you get from a central air system that blows hot air like a hair dryer.  These oil heaters were doing a fair job, but then I get my Pepco bill, and wow, I didn’t realize how much electricity these things suck up!  So I ended up lowering my Washington Gas bill slightly but more than doubling my Pepco electric bill.

I found a kerosene heater at Home Depot for $93, and purchased a 5 gallon kerosene/diesel fuel container as well…  next step was to find a gas station who sells K1 Kerosene fuel.  So far the only place I’ve found it (in Montgomery County, Maryland) is at the Free State Gas stations.  The one on Viers Mill Road near Wheaton Plaza has it, and the one in Burtonsville where 198 and Old Columbia pike meet has it.  It’s $3.49 a gallon.  The Kerone heater holds almost 2 gallons and this 2 gallons will last 9-12 hours of constant burning.  I can’t emphasize how well this Kerosene Heater warmed up our house.  It’s instant heat unlike the oil heater, and it’s moist heat unlike the central air system.  I have a 30+ year old home that can be a little drafty and because of this the central heat would run ’round the clock.  After firing up the Kerosene heater, the WHOLE house (not just a room like the oil heater) gets nice and toasty.  In fact, it gets so warm that I’m able to turn it off for an hour and save fuel.  ONE heater is plenty for our entire single family home.  I highly recommend this route to save you money and to actually heat your home better if you have an older home that isn’t built like the newer energy efficient homes.