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Hi Terry, This is a fairly simple answer. Go to your oil burner and read the rated input BTU/hr. Take that number times .80 would equal the output BTU/hr. .80 is 80% efficient. Some of the newer oil burner designs can reach 90% and some older designs 75%. Your wood stove has to output the same number BTU/hr as the oil furnace or it will not keep up with your heating demand for your area and size house. Always use BTU/hr when comparring fuel types or heating/cooling units as this is the only 100% accurate method. Now that's said, Your once again limiting your fuel suorce to one time of fuel with a pellet only stove. Get one that can burn any type of fuel as then you can use the cheapest fuel source for that year. You used about 140 million BTU for your past heating season, 140,000BTU x 1000gal= 140m/BTU. This will also be your heating requirement for your new fuel type. Using this BTU number will tell you how much the new fuel will cost when comparred to your past oil usage. You do realize that a oil burner can burn used motor, vegetable(fryer), waste oil? You may need to preheat and filter and mix the oil before use. The sun or waste stack heat can be used to preheat the oil very easy. A insulation contractor will probably have a inferred temperature gun that can shoot your house to tell where your loosing heat. It just might save you some money no matter what type of heat your using. You can get a ball park figure using a $100 temperature gun. T_Bone
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