Heating. Propane vs Electric vs Wood Pellet

[ovrszd]

There is a lot of information in this thread and a lot of perceptions. Some of each are probably accurate. For me, the reality is we heat a good-sized house for $500 per year using propane. There's a furnace and a tank. Nothing else to mess with. Wifey watches the LP market and gets them to fill our tank when the price is down.

That is very efficient. Can't see any way you could improve that by getting into wood burning.

 

[shooterdon]

There is a lot of information in this thread and a lot of perceptions. Some of each are probably accurate. For me, the reality is we heat a good-sized house for $500 per year using propane. There's a furnace and a tank. Nothing else to mess with. Wifey watches the LP market and gets them to fill our tank when the price is down.

That is amazing....especially in PA. I would not bother looking at any other options either.

 

[shooterdon]

I stand by my statement that wood heat is not efficient.

I have at no time said wood heat wasn't cost effective.

I have at no time tried to convince anyone to change their ways.

You are free to verbally attack me as you wish.

Sir,
Sorry if you felt attacked. I felt the same way when you seemed to paint those of us who heat with wood as basing our decision on "perceptions". The costs are quantifiable.

I would stop using wood if there was an economical alternative. In my area, it is the least expensive option. I suspect that is the case in many rural areas. It is either wood, propane, fuel oil, coal, pellets, or electricity. No NG option.

Even if other energy options were close to the cost of wood heat, I would always have wood as a standby heat source (see below). The downside of wood remains the effort required. At 69, I am not sure how long I want to, or can, do the work. Hoping for another 15 years so planning accordingly.

I have seen propane at triple the current cost in my area. The cost of wood has remained relatively stable over the years. An important factor in investing to reduce the effort of heating with wood that may not apply to others. And lastly, if the SHTF, I have an endless supply being adjacent to over 4000 acres of state land.

Peace!!!

 

[D2Cat]

There is a lot of information in this thread and a lot of perceptions. Some of each are probably accurate. For me, the reality is we heat a good-sized house for $500 per year using propane. There's a furnace and a tank. Nothing else to mess with. Wifey watches the LP market and gets them to fill our tank when the price is down.

I've read these pages about heating one's home as entertainment. Each person does what they can with what they have at that time.

With all the discussion about perceptions, I got a kick out of Chim's statement I emphasized in red. I thought what ever is "a good-sized house" is a perception! So let's have a discussion on what size of home do you need!

 

[yomax4]

Here's one to go after. I have a 4K sq ft home 22' lofted great room with in floor heat lower level and an in plenum heat exchanger in the furnace. A 1400 sq ft shop with in floor heat. Both hooked to a custom built heavily insulated outdoor wood boiler that I built. Yes it is fairly inefficient. I live among more hardwoods than I could ever burn. I have a tractor for many reasons and it assists with wood harvest. I have a splitter I bought and modified 20 years ago that's worth more now than when new. Several top of the line chainsaws that are needed for more than just firewood. The home and shop can not use all of the heat the boiler can produce so some is wasted and it doesn't seem to cost any more to have the thermostat at 60 or 80 and I get an endless supply of hot water. I'm not sure what it costs to run 4 recirc pumps and a small fan for 6 months every year but I can say I have only bought 400gl of propane in the last 12 years. Cutting wood is the best exercise I get and I enjoy being in the woods. Still, I look forward to the near future of gong south for the winters.

 

[CobyRupert]

I stand by my statement that wood heat is not efficient.

I have at no time said wood heat wasn't cost effective.

I have at no time tried to convince anyone to change their ways.

You are free to verbally attack me as you wish.

Well....actually....you did say: "burning wood is not cheap". I'd say cheaper or "cheaper" is a synonym for cost effective when you're doing comparisons.

...but so what? You've been very respectful and courteous in this "discussion" that some people want to turn into an argument.
I don't get it, people come here to discuss ideas or perspectives, and get personally offended if they run into an idea that doesn't match their's. "It's just words!" Not like you punched somebody in the nose.
Oh well that's the internet.
Perhaps they won't kick their dog if they can take things out on you....so on behalf of their dog: "Thank you".

On the other hand: Burning wood is a "lifestyle" in addition to just being a heat source. It's going out to the shed on starry night when it's 10 degrees. It's NOT burning a non-renewable resource and the global impacts that come with that. It's harvesting your own fuel and self-reliance. It's about not being a soft p*ssy. Etc...Etc..Etc.. I could go on for pages, so understand that when you challenge someone's lifestyle, it's can be perceived (that word again) as an offense on their very being.

...but back to perceptions:

I believe/know/perceive wood burning to be very efficient from a monetary perspective (Who cares about BTU's? If I did, I'd invest in better insulation). Then again, we all remember those old jokes about the true cost of wood burning:
1. Stove $1200
2. Chainsaw $600
3. Pickup $50,000
4. Replace back window of pickup: $400
.
6. Donation to local Vol Fire Dept for 1st chimney fire response $100
7. Redneck tow to get pickup truck out of mud (AAA doesn't go into the woods) $50
.
10. Emergency room bill to get splinters out of eye $250
.
13. Donation to local Vol Fire Dept for 2nd chimney fire response $100
.
15. New coffee table (old one chopped up and burned while drunk) $400
16. Replace carpet with burn stains.
17. Chiropractor bill for herniated discs in back $300

And the grand finale was "divorce settlement" to the tune of $100,000 or so.

 

[chim]

I've read these pages about heating one's home as entertainment. Each person does what they can with what they have at that time.

With all the discussion about perceptions, I got a kick out of Chim's statement I emphasized in red. I thought what ever is "a good-sized house" is a perception! So let's have a discussion on what size of home do you need!

Touche (or as might be found on 'net, tooshay ) My perception is that 2,700SF is a "good sized house". Other perceptions welcome.

From an earlier post in this thread:

"We've been using propane since '90 for heating the house. When the supplier (who owned the tank) started playing games we buried our own 1,000 gallon tank and buy off-season. It can usually be had for a buck a gallon or less in late Summer here. Around 2,700 sqft, 6" walls and it runs around $500 a year to heat. Here's an example of the current prices here:

Propane, Heating Oil & Fuel Delivery | Lancaster, Lebanon & Berks County"

 

[D2Cat]

Chim, no offense meant. I live in a house that was the size it is when we looked at it and decided to buy it. Still don't know the sq. footage. Heat with wood, have elec back up. Own 50 acres with plenty of trees, chain saws, trucks, tractors, splitters, etc. I don't really care what folks thing about my operation, or it's efficiency. I've been doing it for years, and it works. I just read these kinds of threads for entertainment and soon they become a peeing contest.

This is just Face Book for farmers, and anything said will not change much of what anyone else does. Have to set back and enjoy/

 

[Industrial Toys]

Not just how big is your home. But how much money do you have? That influences many peoples choice how they choose to heat. There can be a great many benefits to heating with wood, not found with other fuels, but IF only compared in cost to other fuels, I would ask, what revenue could you be making in the time spent to mess with wood? Messing with wood has to be about the worst paying job there is.

I have little doubt too that many women buy into the trend of having a gas fireplace, you know get rid of the dirt and bugs! And many men who had to do the work aren't going to argue.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

A perception is apprehending (understanding) based on your senses (usually sight).

Not sure these are perceptions, but rather opinion. At least that is my perception of the issue.