Natural gas?

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

I have a dual fuel heat pump unit. First year it dropped down to about 25 the house started getting colder instead of warmer... I had the thermo set for Automatic (it keeps the house in a range between x and Y and determines what is needed to get there). THis was a new unit installed in a previously NON hvac house. Come to find out with a heat pump it no likee the automatic setting when it gets below 30. It was SUPPOSED to flip to using LP then. It got confused. I changed it to heat mode and wella the problem went away.

 

[DarkBlack]

This may or may not be an issue where you live but my folks converted their retirement home to natural gas in the 1990's. The gas company ran the line for free and they did save money over their previous all electric home.

The first winter, the gas pressure would drop when the temperature dropped into the teens and their gas furnace wouldn't put out enough heat. It turned out the gas mains were sized too small for the community they served. Many customers complained but the gas company did nothing. My folks had to supplement the gas heat with portable electric heaters on cold days.

It might be a good idea to talk to the neighbors to see if this is an issue where you are.

In New England, the NG pipelines are limited because, people didn’t want additional pipelines from the south running through “their backyards”.
As a consequence, during really cold winter days, electric generation that normally runs on cheap NG, must by rule, throttle back to maintain residential heating customers as priority. Much more expensive #2 is used to supplement the electric grid.
It ends up , counterintuitively , causing cold winter realtime grid prices to exceed hot summer electric prices, when you’d expect AC loads to raise grid prices, but during hot weather, the cheap NG can be fully used for electricity

 

[civilian]

With natural gas you usually don't have to worry running low like you do with propane. With propane you need to worry about running low and scheduling deliveries. We had to run the propane generator for 16 days during our recent ice storm this spring. And yes they had to bring more out. I wish I had natural gas but no local service lines in my area and probably never will be. Jon

 

[JeepHead]

Our home is on NG for furnace, water heater, fireplace, and the stove and oven. We really enjoy the NG which is pretty cheap to run. Doesn't hurt that my best friend is the local NG tech for the gas company either.

 

[jyoutz]

I don't know how expensive Natural gas is or electricity for you but for us the cheapest you can have is natural gas and its such of a peace of mind, I don't think there's any downside. I would run everything you can on natural gas, furnace, hot water, BBQ grill, stove you name it I would run it. I have a fireplace that even run without electricity.

I do the same. Natural gas is so cheap. I have a gas stove, tankless water heater, furnace, free standing fireplace/stove, and barbecue grill. My year round level payment plan is $45/month. Nothing is cheaper.

Edit: I will add that prior to doing the propane to natural gas conversion I was spending over $125/month on propane plus buying 2 tons of wood pellets annually.

 

[IXLR8]

I have propane for tankless hot water, gas stove and backup heat for the heat pump. I am in the process of pulling the tankless water heater and putting in a heat pump water heater. Cost less to run and I'll get hot water faster. My cost for propane is about $4.25/gal.

 

[Rockbadchild]

I do the same. Natural gas is so cheap. I have a gas stove, tankless water heater, furnace, free standing fireplace/stove, and barbecue grill. My year round level payment plan is $45/month. Nothing is cheaper.

Mine used to be that cheep but it skyrocket in the last 10 years with their carbon tax but still way cheaper then electricity

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I have propane for tankless hot water, gas stove and backup heat for the heat pump. I am in the process of pulling the tankless water heater and putting in a heat pump water heater. Cost less to run and I'll get hot water faster. My cost for propane is about $4.25/gal.

In hindsight I wish I would have done a heat pump water heater. The hot water lag KILLS me on our tankless. So much so that I will have a work around by the winter. Planning on a recirc pump with a cold water bypass.

 

[repete]

I am depressed reading this as I am from Washington State where they have made installation of virtually all new natural gas appliances illegal. We must use electricity whilst at the same time they are wanting to tear out the hydroelectric dams... Diesel is $5.30/gallon...

 

[arto98607]

We have lived in our current house for over 30 years and it's all electric with geothermal, no gas and I am glad we don't have it!

Three of our previous houses were built in the 70's and early 80's & each had natural gas with their original old style furnace.

I don't miss the burning hot heat from the registers, or the occasional smell of gas near the furnace when it had just fired up & started heating.

I realize the new gas furnaces are way better and light years ahead, but sorry I prefer geothermal.