replacing wood furnace

[leechlake]

Our cabin has electric heat as it's main heat source and a wood burning furnace with duct work throughout. The electric heat does the job but from Dec-March the heat bill is $300 just to keep it at 55 degrees with an occassional trip up there when we're running it at 70 degrees.

The wood furnace is kind of fun to tinker with at times, provides great heat throughout, even in the walkout basement but can get old and obviously isn't worth spit when we aren't there.

What's the cost and procedure to have an lp furnace installed. I'd guess it could pay for itself in 4-5 years and provide an even more comfortable heat than electric. Not to mention we could also go "off peak" on electric to save $.

[Eric Wettschreck]

A decent furnace, installed, should run you in the area of 2-2 1/2 grand if you already have the right sized ductwork installed and you have LP lines already entering the building. Obviously adding AC will be more if you want AC.

At 300 a month for electric heat your ROI is looking pretty good by putting in an LP furnace.

[delcecchi]

Especially since it qualifies him for the super low dual fuel electric rate.

For example ottertail power is 8.2 cents regular and 4.6 cents dual fuel per kw/hr.

[Ice Wolf]

Electric heat with out having off peak is costly! Have a electrician install an off peak meter for your electric heat. You will save lots of money.

[CAMAN]

If you don't want to go through converting to LP because it isn't readily available etc. check out a Steffes system. They are furnaces that run off electric heat but are off-peak. How they work is they heat up a large block of stone at night when the power is cheap, then throughout the day it gradually releases heat and warms the home. They come in a few different styles from single room size on up to full house forced air systems. They work great as we have a couple single room furnces up at the cabin.