15 replies to this topic

[SeaBeeGipson]

Hey guys,

So I'm moving into a place in the country and it has a propane tank but no electrical hook ups. It's not connected to the grid and has no wind turbines or solar panels set up (yet). Just a propane tank

I've never had propane before, and the going electrical rate here is 12 cents per KWh and the average propane price right now is 2.43 a gallon. My question is am I going to be spending an outrageous amount more on a full propane system vs electrical or is it actually cheaper?

[Captain Crozier]

Yikes.  Wish I knew.

Good Luck to you.

Hope we will still see you around. 

[Finster Baby]

I have propane for my cooking, heating, and hot water. I am also hooked to the electric grid.

In the summer, I maybe use half of my 500 gallon tank.

However, in the winter, I tend to go through 400gal every 6 weeks or so. It gets expensive quick.

[onbekende]

Let me throw in some math (and I will forgo any accuracy so we can include that as energy losses):

 

1 kWh will give you 3,6 MJ of energy (as electricity is very efficient, ignore energy losses)

1 gallon of propane gives you 11,7 MJ of energy (I used an inefficient combustion to make up for any energy losses afterwards)

 

Think this works itself out nicely no? Electricity: 3,33 cents per MJ while propane is 20,8 cents per MJ.

 

Offcourse no calculation has been done on proce differences between equipement or installation.

[DeathMerchant]

Traditionally this is how the different methods stack up in terms of cost and performance, although some regions have varying price differences.

 

1. Oil: Highest Cost, needs a storage tank, effective form of heating.

2. Propane: Slightly cheaper than Oil but still expensive, needs a storage tank, effective form of heating.

3. Electricity: Usually cheaper than Propane but at times can be even more expensive than Propane, no storage method needed, some complain this method doesn't heat as efficiently.

4. Natural Gas: Cheapest form of heating, no storage needed, effective form of heating.

 

I would plug in some numbers into a heating comparison calculator to get a more accurate projection.

 

Two things I would like to ask. Do you know the efficiency rating of your Furnace for Propane? And how well insulated is your home? Having a proper insulation installed makes a world of a difference in keeping heating costs down.

[onbekende]

Heat from electricity is near 100%, for the simple reason that I can't see my waterboiler in the dark but I sure see my campfire heating up water.

 

Offcourse the downside to electricity is the limited "self sufficiency" time you have, even if you get those fancy Tesla batteries. I have no idea how reliable the electrical net is in your scenario.

 

Isolation is indeed key, but the losses are the same regardless of energy source.

[SeaBeeGipson]

Thank y'all for the information.

 

From my understanding, electrical is better in regards to the overall house but propane and natural gas have a better heating element.

So, it would be better to use propane for heating and electrical for all else, right?

[onbekende]

Can't really comment on that, we are 100% electrical here

 

I do believe propane would make for an easier and quicker method of heating, unsure about long term costs thou. I am guessing setting up electrical appliances is more expensive then propane ones.

[SeaBeeGipson]

So, after discussing with the propane company some more, the current price actually varies depending on how many gallons you buy. The average is between $1.80 a gallon to $2.01 a gallon for this company versus the previously mentioned 2.43.

 

I'm working on getting electrical power to the home, with propane heating as from what i've gathered, i think that has the most benefit. The bonus is the house already contains a 300-gallon tank, so that saves money

[DeathMerchant]

Seems like at this point in time Propane is probably the best option, especially since you already have the tank.

[Finster Baby]

So, after discussing with the propane company some more, the current price actually varies depending on how many gallons you buy. The average is between $1.80 a gallon to $2.01 a gallon for this company versus the previously mentioned 2.43.
 
I'm working on getting electrical power to the home, with propane heating as from what i've gathered, i think that has the most benefit. The bonus is the house already contains a 300-gallon tank, so that saves money

I love cooking with propane. It tends to cook things faster than methane, and is 100x better than electric.

It does heat well too, but it helps to have an efficient furnace. I replaced mine this past winter with a 98% efficient furnace and the results were amazing - my electric use went down, along with my propane use.

Remember tho, if you have a 300gal tank, they will only fill it 80% of the way to allow for expansion. So for my 500 gallon tank, the most they ever fill it is 400gal.

[SeaBeeGipson]

 

So, after discussing with the propane company some more, the current price actually varies depending on how many gallons you buy. The average is between $1.80 a gallon to $2.01 a gallon for this company versus the previously mentioned 2.43.
 
I'm working on getting electrical power to the home, with propane heating as from what i've gathered, i think that has the most benefit. The bonus is the house already contains a 300-gallon tank, so that saves money

I love cooking with propane. It tends to cook things faster than methane, and is 100x better than electric.

It does heat well too, but it helps to have an efficient furnace. I replaced mine this past winter with a 98% efficient furnace and the results were amazing - my electric use went down, along with my propane use.

Remember tho, if you have a 300gal tank, they will only fill it 80% of the way to allow for expansion. So for my 500 gallon tank, the most they ever fill it is 400gal.

 

yeah they told me during the summer, they only fill 50%. I understand the liquid turning to gas causes an expansion; but wasn't sure why they do 50% instead of the standard 80%. I thought the 80% rule was universal with propane tanks.

[Finster Baby]

50% sounds excessive.

[onbekende]

The 80% is for liquid expansion, the 50% is to allow limited gas expansion.

[joe44]

alternative:

http://www.businessinsider.com/this-teen-built-a-nuclear-reactor-in-his-garage-2013-2?IR=T

[onbekende]

600.000.000 °F

 

someone get this kid an actual thermometer, spouting such nonesence only makes scientists laugh at ya.