What's reasonable Propane usage?

[dave1949]

I am pretty sure that the Feds AND NC state requires a "professional" install to get the solar tax refund. Might want to check before you go through with the installation.

Later,
Dan

Dan, I read that too. In any case, this is a 'next year' project if it happens. I thought I could scope things out this winter and make a decision. I am sure solar water would save me some propane. It's just the expense and another project.

Seeing the solar shed ideas made me think it would be cool to have a greenhouse incorporated into the thing. Plus, I could use a wood shed and a place to park my 6' bush hog. Then, I would have room in the garage to put the PTO chipper I plan to buy as soon as I win the lottery. These things grow and take on a life of their own you know.

We have a passive solar house and I think we have our heating costs under control. I have always meant to circle back and look at the water heating. I just didn't have time to put a design together before we began building.

I like your story - stick to it! Glad you were able to catch up with the mowing. Definitely a calorie burner job.
Dave.

 

[Jimbrown]

That sure looks like a lot of gas just for a stove and hotwater heater. I use about 400 to 500 gallons a year. I don't use it for cooking but have two forced air furnaces and hot water on it ,those furnaces sound sound like a blast furnace when they are running and must use far more than any cook stove. I have found from using the stove in my RV that the oven uses one heck of a lot more gas than the stove top. So if you bake a lot that might account for the usage.

 

[dave1949]

JimBrown,

Thanks for the info. I tend to believe I am using a lot of propane for hot water. Our oven is electric, so no propane gets used for that. If you are using 400-500 gal., then it makes my 315 gal. look like too much for what it used for.

Dave.

 

[marks]

We use about 800 gallons per year for our family of four. All appliances are gas, with exception of the oven. About 80% of our heating is from wood burning, and electric radiant heaters. The house was built in '01 and despite living in the mild climate of California's Central Coast, it is very well insulated and energy efficient. My first impression, is that you're are doing great, and are energy conscious.

 

[dave1949]

We use about 800 gallons per year for our family of four. All appliances are gas, with exception of the oven. About 80% of our heating is from wood burning, and electric radiant heaters. The house was built in '01 and despite living in the mild climate of California's Central Coast, it is very well insulated and energy efficient. My first impression, is that you're are doing great, and are energy conscious.

Marks,

Thanks for that input. I am getting a range of usages from different folks. I know it is a difficult value to pin down since as Bird said, there are so many variables.

It would be really great to be able to meter propane just like electric. Then I could say, the boiler just ran X minutes and used Y amount of propane.

We try to be energy concious, both for $ spent and the good of the environment, plus a dash of politics - but don't want to get side-tracked on that!

Our house is heated mostly by sunshine, we burn about 1 1/4 cords of wood per winter. We do use a small elec. space heater in the shower bathroom for about 30 mins/day to take the chill off in winter- the temp. can fall to low 60's overnight in that room. My Better Half doesn't think that is very comfortable in the morning

Dave.

 

[Bird]

We were on propane in 1995 and 1996, in a little single wide mobile home, but bought a new total electric double wide in May, 1997. Anyway, I just looked at my 1996 records and found I bought 383.1 gallons of propane for the year. Earlier in the year, it was 85 cents a gallon, but in November, it went to 97 cents a gallon. And of course my experience is likely not comparable to someone else's experience since it was just the two of us, we heated and cooked with propane, but the water heater was electric.

 

[dave1949]

We were on propane in 1995 and 1996, in a little single wide mobile home, but bought a new total electric double wide in May, 1997. Anyway, I just looked at my 1996 records and found I bought 383.1 gallons of propane for the year. Earlier in the year, it was 85 cents a gallon, but in November, it went to 97 cents a gallon. And of course my experience is likely not comparable to someone else's experience since it was just the two of us, we heated and cooked with propane, but the water heater was electric.

Good Morning Bird,

We had a single wide back in the late '70's in NW Ohio. I don't have records but I think the tank was 500 gal. and I'm sure the propane truck came 3-4 times per year.

Eventhough money was fairly tight, I guess we thought the cost was okay. On cold, windy days the furnace would be on more than off. Plus, we somehow survived the Blizzard of '78. The snow was packed solid in the jalousie windows and there was a mini snow drift across the hallway where there was an added-on room attached.

I tend to look at energy costs differently now, as in 'why pay if you don't need to'? I am becoming an absolute piker on the issue I guess.

Dave.

 

[Bird]

Dave, I'm like everyone else; gripe about the high cost of everything, but just looking at the old records, my propane in 1996 cost $396.62, including tank rental, and electricity cost $1,722.85, so the total was $2,119.47. This past year (2008) in this total electric house my electricity cost $2,145.64. So my total utility costs in 1996 were very close to my 2008 costs.

 

[scott_vt]

Good Mornin Dave,
As Bird stated, there are a lot of variables when it comes to propane useage !

I thought I might chime in because that energy form is what I use to heat my cabin in Vt. The cabin is about 900 sq ft maybe a bit more, and I have a 330 gal storage tank. I am only there a couple weekends per month, and when Im not there I leave the thermostat at 50 F.

In a normal winter, I can get by on one full tank ! I was lucky this year, I jumped on a promotional rate, $1.55 per gal, and I filled my tank early ! I also own the tank, so I can shop for the best price rather than have price dictated to me by a sole supplier !

We have a baked enamel stove that is the sole heat source, looks like a wood stove and it easily heats the whole place even in the coldest weather, other than the bathroom and the downstairs bedroom that I use electric heaters in when it gets bitter !

Good luck !

 

[EarPlug]

I am surprised nobody has mentioned doing a Leak Test. We had one done this summer and found a small leak on an outdoor connection that was in an out of the way location. We never smelled it.

Jack