Heating. Propane vs Electric vs Wood Pellet

[ovrszd]

Agree burning wood is not efficient from an energy standpoint. As you indicate from an investment standpoint, for those of us that have the land and trees, it sure is. :thumbsup:

In my case, I just about never even need to even cut a tree down, more than enough come down in windstorms and need to be cleaned up anyway.

Yep. Same here. I actually worry about not keeping up with timber maintenance since I don't burn wood. Not sure my Sons will use it up fast enough without my help.

 

[Gregess]

Everyone has good points on here, I heated my garage with a pellet stove then went to gas heat for several reasons. 1st is floor space, a pellet stove occupies a specific amount of floor space as do the pellets required, same for Wood stove and firewood. I put in gas furnace hung from ceiling allowing for more floor space. The other nice thing is when I wanted to work out there it took hours for pellet stove to heat my garage up now I just turn up the thermostat. Consider all the things involved not just operating cost, remember total installation costs and longevity of equipment. Sometimes least expensive install will offset yearly operating costs. If you spend $15000 on system to save $500/year in heating and unit will only last 15 years vs the $2500 alternative and you have to pay a bit more for heating your better off. Just don't forget your time as well, wood is a lot of work sure its exercise but its time consuming convenience is a tradeoff. It would also depend on if your heating it all the time or just some days, I keep my garage at minimum heat then when I go to use it just turn it up. If you are working close to floor, in floor heat would be nice, floor is always dry and warm. I also remember when I built my home they were pushing geothermal heat but installation was expensive, then you have to run a pump, compressor as well as fan, well your electrical usage is quite high not sure how inexpensive it really is.

 

[shooterdon]

Everyone has good points on here, I heated my garage with a pellet stove then went to gas heat for several reasons. 1st is floor space, a pellet stove occupies a specific amount of floor space as do the pellets required, same for Wood stove and firewood. I put in gas furnace hung from ceiling allowing for more floor space. The other nice thing is when I wanted to work out there it took hours for pellet stove to heat my garage up now I just turn up the thermostat. Consider all the things involved not just operating cost, remember total installation costs and longevity of equipment. Sometimes least expensive install will offset yearly operating costs. If you spend $15000 on system to save $500/year in heating and unit will only last 15 years vs the $2500 alternative and you have to pay a bit more for heating your better off. Just don't forget your time as well, wood is a lot of work sure its exercise but its time consuming convenience is a tradeoff. It would also depend on if your heating it all the time or just some days, I keep my garage at minimum heat then when I go to use it just turn it up. If you are working close to floor, in floor heat would be nice, floor is always dry and warm. I also remember when I built my home they were pushing geothermal heat but installation was expensive, then you have to run a pump, compressor as well as fan, well your electrical usage is quite high not sure how inexpensive it really is.

Good and valid points.

I burn as much wood as I can but still heat my shop with propane for the reasons you give. I dial up the heat when I need it. I am in the process of moving my ammunition reloading set up from the shop in the detached garage to my basement so I no longer need to keep heating the shop. The shop takes a lot of propane during our winters even if I keep it at 50*.

When I replaced my furnace, I looked at geothermal and decided not to invest in it. Initial costs were extremely high and the pay back was much too long...if ever! Wood heat was a better value in my case with a propane furnace to supply supplemental heat at night and if we are away.

After seeing my friends pellet furnace, and working the numbers it did not make sense either. It was just as expensive as running propane and it could not have handled keeping the house warn if we left for a weekend. Same issue with an outside boiler....I still needed heat when we were not home.

There is no "right" answer that works for everyone, but there is a right answer that works for each individual application and lifestyle.

 

[ovrszd]

There is no "right" answer that works for everyone, but there is a right answer that works for each individual application and lifestyle.

Very true.

 

[5030]

Good and valid points.

I burn as much wood as I can but still heat my shop with propane for the reasons you give. I dial up the heat when I need it. I am in the process of moving my ammunition reloading set up from the shop in the detached garage to my basement so I no longer need to keep heating the shop. The shop takes a lot of propane during our winters even if I keep it at 50*.

When I replaced my furnace, I looked at geothermal and decided not to invest in it. Initial costs were extremely high and the pay back was much too long...if ever! Wood heat was a better value in my case with a propane furnace to supply supplemental heat at night and if we are away.

After seeing my friends pellet furnace, and working the numbers it did not make sense either. It was just as expensive as running propane and it could not have handled keeping the house warn if we left for a weekend. Same issue with an outside boiler....I still needed heat when we were not home.

There is no "right" answer that works for everyone, but there is a right answer that works for each individual application and lifestyle.

Actually, solid fuel appliances (pellet stoves, furnaces and corn burners) cost more per realized btu output than propane does and NG is even cheaper.

I run a bio mass stove in the house as supplementary heat (propane is the normal heat) because corn don't cost me anything except the cost to harvest and tank so it makes the realized (actual) btu output extremely cheap for me. (provided it comes off at 15%RM or less. Over 15, I have to dry it down so additional expense incurred.