If I don't buy oil heat, will the pipes freeze?

I'd suggest you insulate the pipes and then the 6 of you go in on the smallest shipment of oil you can from your oil company...split 6 ways it shouldn't be too bad. Then put a thermometer in your basement to monitor the temp. I don't think you'd want the temp down there to get too far below freezing, insulated pipes or not. At least you'd have a little oil for a backup in case of a blizzard or in case you find out the pipes will indeed burst. Our power went out for only 1 night during an ice storm and a pipe burst. We then put insulation up over all the little basement windows, though, and we didn't have that problem again. Keeping the temp at 55 should help keep the pipes from freezing, but it really depends on how cold your basement will then get. Also, on real cold nights, set your faucets on a very light drip and make sure you have a space heater near under the kitchen sink (open the cupboard & remove flammable cleaning supplies) or any other sink where pipes are likely to freeze without heat. The movement of water and the heat will keep those pipes from freezing up.

It sounds risky not to buy any oil at all--there will be quite a few cold spots in your house that will be hard to get to with space heaters. Also, your electric bill could be crazy high--running at least 6 heaters all the time could cost more than buying oil heat. The price of oil is also coming down a lot.

Good luck!

Buy heating oil and keep the thermostat at 50. This is warm enough to keep your pipes from freezing, but will not use too much oil. You can then supplement with space heaters in the rooms you use.

Have you done the math to see if the electricity that you will be using will be less expensive than the heating oil?

Also, make sure you have insurance. If one of those heaters catches fire, you might risk loosing your belongings to a house fire.

If you run 100% heaters burning propane and kerosene venting inside it gets too stinky. One in the house venting inside is all you will want. You can get them that vent to the outside and are very automatic programmable.

As for the pipes freezing. No they will not be a problem if you have heat going in the house. Pipes will not freeze unless the temperature stays below freezing for one or two days also.

Remember those pipes run all through that house.

Hint: You don't have to leave the oil heat on constantly.

You can bring the interior temp. to 50* or so in the evenings

when you're home and it's freezing outside, and then shut down.

It'll save the pipes, and save on the electric energy you'll

buy for your heaters too.

I think using the personal heater will be more expensive since they are around 80 bucks for the big ones. But if you're looking at the small portable ones, they WOULD be cheaper, though you'd have to buy 6? of them. I think still that using the portable heaters (The big ones) are more worth it since the only bill you're paying for is the electricity bill. However, there may be a considerable change of temperature, from supposedly your bedroom to your basement. I'd appreciate general heating so that everywhere you go, the temperature is similar.

If you are on city water, this might be a little more than you my expect, but it's better than replacing all the plumbing in your house after the pipes burst. "Drip" your faucets the nights that are going to get below 33 degrees, and of course insulate them. When properly dripped the water temperature will keep the pipes from freezing and bursting.

I doubt you'll have a problem with the pipes freezing. When the temperature drops really low (10 degrees or less), i recommend leaving the water on a trickle all night long, and this should keep them from freezing.

Oil is getting cheap (at least down). this winter. I'd put some in for the while it does get below freezing.