Gas vs Electric

[TC Wndsr]

Now that we’re settled in for the winter and paying a monthly electric bill (.17/kwh) we are wondering how to be economical with our utility usage.
Is our gas furnace cheaper to run than electric space heaters? How about going back to the gas stove instead of our electric induction stove top?
Has anyone determined which is the best option?

[aether_one]

One may be cheaper than the other, but will it be cheaper enough to worry about????

[cruzbill]

Electric should win hands down. Any electric resistance heater is 100% efficient in turning Kw into heat. No propane heaters are 100% efficient, as combustion is not 100% efficient. One could do the math with btus, etc, but it'll still come out the same.

[Unplanned Tourist]

IF possible, stick with electric heat. As stated, it's 100% efficient and also propane cooking and being all closed up to conserve heat could cause a buildup of carbon monoxide.
If you want, keep your propane tank topped up for emergency use if the power goes out.
Happy Glamping.

[Selah]

If you are talking propane (not natural gas) vs electric it's not even close. Electric will be much cheaper. Not to mention the inconvenience of refilling the propane tank.

[1bigmess]

If you aren't worried about water lines freezing, electric will always be less to use for heat than propane. Don't forget the delivery or fuel costs that you will spend to go get more propane.

[Soppy]

Depending on the cost of propane.

If you need 2.5 million Btu and pay 17 cents per Kw/hour, divide 2.5 million by 3,413 (Btu's / Kw) to arrive at 732.49 kilowatt-hours. Then multiply the result by the cost per kilowatt-hour. For example, multiply 732.49 by 0.17. The answer is 124.52. Your electricity cost per 2.5 million Btu is $124.52
For propane heating costs divide the same 2.5 million Btu by 91,500, the number of Btu produced by a gallon of propane. The result is 27.33. Because propane furnaces are estimated to be 90% efficient compared to electric heat's 100 percent efficiency, it's necessary to add 10 percent to 27.33 to find the actual number of gallons of propane you'll need. The actual gallons needed are 30.06. If the propane costs $3 per gallon, the cost per 2.5 million Btu is $90.18.

Your furnace could be as low a 80% efficient. Just substitute your actual propane cost and furnace efficiency.

[aether_one]

Originally Posted by Unplanned

IF possible, stick with electric heat. As stated, it's 100% efficient and also propane cooking and being all closed up to conserve heat could cause a buildup of carbon monoxide.
If you want, keep your propane tank topped up for emergency use if the power goes out.
Happy Glamping.

It's not the efficiency of turning the source power into heat that he is concerned with; it is the efficiency of turning $$$$ into heat.

[emcee]

Originally Posted by Soppy

Depending on the cost of propane.

If you need 2.5 million Btu and pay 17 cents per Kw/hour, divide 2.5 million by 3,413 (Btu's / Kw) to arrive at 732.49 kilowatt-hours. Then multiply the result by the cost per kilowatt-hour. For example, multiply 732.49 by 0.17. The answer is 124.52. Your electricity cost per 2.5 million Btu is $124.52
For propane heating costs divide the same 2.5 million Btu by 91,500, the number of Btu produced by a gallon of propane. The result is 27.33. Because propane furnaces are estimated to be 90% efficient compared to electric heat's 100 percent efficiency, it's necessary to add 10 percent to 27.33 to find the actual number of gallons of propane you'll need. The actual gallons needed are 30.06. If the propane costs $3 per gallon, the cost per 2.5 million Btu is $90.18.

Your furnace could be as low a 80% efficient. Just substitute your actual propane cost and furnace efficiency.

Propane here in Florida is over $4.50/gallon ($135.27/2.5 million Btu). Electric is 11.5 cents per Kw/hour ($84.24/2.5 million Btu)

[aether_one]

Originally Posted by emcee

Propane here in Florida is over $4.50/gallon ($135.27/2.5 million Btu). Electric is 11.5 cents per Kw/hour ($84.24/2.5 million Btu)

My local Tractor Supply has propane at $2.35/gallon. That would be in Florida.

[Cypressloser]

Originally Posted by TC Wndsr

Now that we’re settled in for the winter and paying a monthly electric bill (.17/kwh) we are wondering how to be economical with our utility usage.
Is our gas furnace cheaper to run than electric space heaters? How about going back to the gas stove instead of our electric induction stove top?
Has anyone determined which is the best option?

You do the math, here is a link to help with the calculations: https://www.rapidtables.com/convert/...Wh_to_BTU.html
For my own calculations I use 80% efficiency for the gas furnace.

If you are in cold weather you may need some heat under the floor to keep the water lines open. To heat an entire rv with electric space heaters and using the induction cooktop may overload your electric system, again you need to do your own calculations.

Last but not least, I would never rely on a single heat source as a fulltimer in an rv because you never know ........., we had our 2 stage LPG regulator freeze up to nights in a row when it was -42C (-43.6F) outside and what if the power goes out and you have nothing to fall back on?

[TonyMac]

I use electric when possible, and gas when required. The cost difference is likely less than the hassle of monitoring and refilling the propane, the chance of it running out and the MH freezing, the haranging I would take (and deserve) if the Queen ran out of gas half way thru cooking dinner. I got money, otherwise I wouldn't have a motorhome.

[nothermark]

Originally Posted by tfryman

It's not the efficiency of turning the source power into heat that he is concerned with; it is the efficiency of turning $$$$ into heat.

That is what Soppy showed you. What is "better" in terms of cost is whatever is cheaper to produce the amount of heat needed (BTUs). The cost of both electricity and propane varies greatly so the answer varies with location.

[KSagal]

First off, the OP indicated the cost per kWh. So the only variable to consider is the cost of the propane.

My furnace has ducts going into the cellar (like the water tank area), and that would not be the same for electric space heaters.

There is a cost for going and getting more propane, both the buying of the propane, and the transportation costs. Electricity usually is delivered to your motor home for free.

I have an extender valve on my propane system, so I can use portable tanks and hose them into my motor home's system. This makes it very convenient, and I frequently have a couple 20# tanks that I can refill, instead of moving the Motor home, just to fill the propane.

For me, there is efficiency in dollars, but also effort and comfort of stability.

Previous posters have given the formulas needed to actually answer your questions, regarding the relative costs of electric vs propane.

I am not in your situation, and do not know how convenient it is for you to replenish your propane, but my thought would be to use the propane furnace for minimum heat (to protect the systems of the motor home) and then use the electric for area comfort.

As you see can see, I agree with the concept of dual systems, but I spit the difference...

Good luck. Let us know what you decide...