Electric to propane cost conversion
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| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on
How do I do it? If I knew how many BTU’s I get from a kilowatt of electricity and how many BTU’s I get from a gallon of propane I could figure it out. Does anyone have this information?
I’ve chopped off a small space in my garage that I would like to be able to heat on occasion. I could install electric for free. (I have the elec. BB) or should I spend $600.00+ for propane. I can’t decide without knowing what the difference in cost is. Seems to me, depending on how much I use the space, that the payback for the propane would be very long.
Replies
3413 btu's = 1kWh
1 gal US =3.78 liters......1 liter propane = 24, 200 btus
1 galUS = 91, 500 btu's
Thank you.
the problem we have is that electricity is controlled by the public service commission, they cannot raise they rates without permission. Propane is like gasoline, they can raise they raise overnight if they want to. and when you have to buy a 100 gallon tank. a couple cents you will feel. also electrity you pay as you go. propane you pay in advance.. 2+3=7
And with a heat pump, you get 3.5 X as many btu per kwhr at 55F, and still get almost 2X at 20F. Factor that in too.
A small window size heat pump... Hadn't thought about that.
1 kWh= $.07
1 gal. prpane = $2.16
2.16/.07=30.86*3413 btu= 105,315 btu
Depending on electric rates it could be cheaper.
Dave
At the prices given and depending on taxes, electricity could be much cheaper for heating since it's essentially 100% efficient at the house. With your #'s (no tax included) and mid-efficiency heaters at say 85%, propane heat would cost $27.77 per million btu's delivered into your heated space. Electricity would be $20.51!!! And for most of us, the cost of the electric heating equipment (baseboards/t'stats/wiring) would be much cheaper than propane equipment up front.
Presently, in my area propane is by far the most expensive fuel. Here, a US gallon would cost $3.21 ($3.70 CDN). Our measure, the imperial gallon (4.54 liters or 1.2 US gal) would cost $3.85 US or $4.44 CDN!!!!
Ouch!
I have had my new 90+ condensing propane furnace running in my shop for a week now. I had prepaid $440 for fuel early this year, but by the time they set my tank the cost had gone up considerably. I got fewer gallon for my $$ than anticipated, but don't expect I'll use much anyway. Unless I am working in there or have a finishing project going, I leave the stat at its' lowest setting; 45 F. Even with temps staying in the 30s during the day and dropping to the 20s and mid teens at night the shop had maintained above 40 F with only intermittent heat from my old kerosene heater.I never had the guts to let that old fire breather operate alone. I was afraid I would wake up to the sound of sirens as the local "foundation savers" rushed in to keep a fire from spreading into the woods behind my shop.
I'll know next month, when I get the bill for topping off the new tank, what I am paying per gallon for propane. Hopefully it won't be more than I am going to make on the last two counter tops I have made, and an electrical upgrade I am currently working on :)
Dave
Why not install both?
We heat with NG, Propane, electric (Just in the colder rooms), and wood (free, but a PITA).
At least you keep your options open.
WSJ
Thanks for the suggestion but this is a 10 x 16' room I chopped off the end of an unheated garage that only needs heat sometimes. (No water in this room.) The main house, that's not attached, is heated with oil and wood. Both much cheaper than elec or propane. There is no NG on the property.
After calculating how many BTU's I get for the dollar out of electric vs. propane I find they are very close to the same price. Propane might be a few dollars cheaper depending on the efficiency of the heater but no where near enough to justify the installation cost.