Local
With heating oil prices climbing, Massachusetts residents turn to space heaters and firewood
A North Andover homeowner who spent nearly $2,000 on heating oil last winter is preparing to use less this season as prices rise and fixed-price offers disappear. Firewood sellers are also reporting a surge in demand as households seek other ways to stay warm.
As heating oil prices climb ahead of winter, some Massachusetts residents are looking for ways to use less fuel or supplement it with other heat sources.
Jon Strauss of North Andover spent nearly $2,000 on heating oil last winter. This year, his supplier is not offering a price-lock plan amid volatile market conditions, leaving him uncertain about the cost of filling his tank. Strauss has bought four space heaters and plans to keep his thermostat lower.
Firewood is another option residents are turning to. Paul Fulmore, who owns Boston Firewood, said customers are ordering cords of wood at an unusually high rate. Some households plan to use wood stoves more often to supplement oil heat.
The choices illustrate how sharply changing fuel costs can affect household budgets as colder weather approaches. For residents who depend on oil, the lack of predictable pricing makes it harder to plan for the season; alternatives such as space heaters and wood may help reduce oil use, but do not eliminate the underlying cost pressure.