+- Punaweb Forum (http://punaweb.org/forum)
+-- Forum: Punaweb Forums (http://punaweb.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Forum: Punatalk (http://punaweb.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=10)
+--- Thread: Electric VS propane (/showthread.php?tid=15306)
Electric VS propane - dreamoutloud - 12-29-2014
Hello! We just purchased our house. YAY! We will be there in January but are trying to get some things in order before getting there.
The question is, for washer, dryer, hot water heater, range, which do you find cheaper to use? Electric or propane?
We are a family of 6. We don't use our oven much but will be doing a good bit of laundry for sure -with hot water.
I did a search on here and looked through many threads and it seems some are certain that propane is cheaper and some are certain that electric is the best way.
We are on a budget and are looking to save on our initial purchase of appliances but also on future energy use.
I saw that there are rebates available for some things. The energy efficient washer being one of them. Thats a no brainer for sure !
Just would love to hear your thoughts! how much does propane run for a household a month over there?
Thanks everyone and happy new year!
Laura
Its a colorful life!
RE: Electric VS propane - Andrew - 12-29-2014
Family of 2 with propane hot water and cooking.
Monthly average electric bill $75
Monthly average propane bill >$20
We hang our laundry to air dry.
Good luck
RE: Electric VS propane - SandyS - 12-29-2014
Laura, have you considered solar hot water? Might save you a bundle in the long run.
RE: Electric VS propane - dreamoutloud - 12-29-2014
Andrew, Are you saying those are your averages right now per month or those would be your averages if you used propane vs electric? Just out of curiosity.
Sandy, my husband did mention that. I am not real familiar with solar (being that we live in MT where its cold and cloudy lol)
I have read posts on it that make it seem not great for a large family and I have heard it is expensive to install. What is your take on it?
Thanks again for the help!
Laura
Its a colorful life!
RE: Electric VS propane - birdmove - 12-29-2014
You'll have to have the house plumbed for propane if it isn't already. That means a licensed plumber. Then, you'll have to have each appliance converted to propane from natural gas, as they require different orifices for each type of gas. We had an appliance repair man convert a stove and a dryer, and a plumber plumb the system and get each unit up and running. Then, you have to buy whatever tanks you want to use, a switching valve, and the pigtails (lines going from each tank to the switching valve). Aluminum tanks will outlast steel, but cost way more. I got 2 steel tanks, the switching valve, and both pigtails for the price of just one aluminum tank. Steel tanks will rust, but you can periodically sand them and paint them to extend their life. I think I spent about $300 for the tanks, valve, and pigtails. Something like $800 to the plumber, and maybe $100 to convert the stove and dryer. The dryer had to be pretty well completely torn apart, and the stove took some work too. Then you are off and running. My house in Ainaloa, which we rent to our daughter, uses two of the second from the smallest sized tanks. They hold something like 8 gallons each. They run, depending on current propane prices, from about $28-$32 to fill each tank. One tank goes about 5-6 weeks for a house with two people. She uses the dryer for all her washing. Her power bill goes about $125 a month. At my house, which is all electric, we never use the dryer, but use clothes lines. Our power bill with my wife and I runs about $130 a month. You are supposed to secure the propane tanks with chains in case of earthquake. My daughter runs a little day care business, so I built a 2x4 structure framework, and installed that white plastic laticework on 3 sides, with the 4th side being the outside wall of the laundry room/carport structure. I left the top open, because kids could not reach high enough top get into it. Then used little screw in chain hooks, and bought chain from Ace. Nothing fancy, but needed to be sure no kids could get at the tanks. They can't be inside either.
Jon in Keaau/HPP
RE: Electric VS propane - Andrew - 12-29-2014
Those are my current averages. I am currently on propane and electric. No solar.
quote:
Originally posted by dreamoutloud
Andrew, Are you saying those are your averages right now per month or those would be your averages if you used propane vs electric?
RE: Electric VS propane - VancouverIslander - 12-29-2014
For dryer, stove and hot water - propane (on demand for the hot water). Fridge is electric - newer fridges are very energy efficient. Wife and I use 1-2kwh/day with this set up. What is the house currently set up to handle? Might find that any savings in operating costs would be vastly outweighed by capital expenses to rewire or add gas lines.
RE: Electric VS propane - leilanidude - 12-30-2014
Propane is running a little over $4 a gallon, after tax. However, propane is still much cheaper than using electric for cooking water heating and a dryer. Best tho is solar hot water, get a large storage tank (since you have 6 in the family). There are large rebates and tax credits as well, which can really bring the cost down.
RE: Electric VS propane - kalakoa - 12-30-2014
Rule of thumb: gas heat is 5-8x more efficient than electric heat for air, water, or food.
RE: Electric VS propane - HI_Someday - 12-30-2014
When I first joined this forum I remember reading about some folks who constructed their own solar water heaters cheaply using old water heaters in a plexiglass box. Or something like that. I think there are plans freely available on the net to build them inexpensively, if you're handy.
Does this ring a bell with anyone here and have any of you done or seen one?
In my mind the ideal setup would be solar water heater, gas stove, gas dryer and on-demand gas water heater, then as much solar provided electrical as I could afford.