propane or natural gas questions

[keyks42]

I have propane right know and was thinking of changing to natural gas. The natural gas companies say they are cheaper then propane and vice versa. Does anybody have any experience with this and which one is really cheaper. I have to decide on pre buying propane for the upcoming winter. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Mark

[firebug]

Hey Mark;

Say I was in this business for 12yrs. Propane has about 30% more BTU's than does natural gas. With natural gas you limited to one supplier. With propane if you own your own tank you can buy from who. Natural gas is nice cause you don't have to worry about checking the tank. I personally feel there are more dangers involve with natural gas. Have you considered a heat pump. I think that's the way to go. you have your heating and cooling in one unit. The best thing it costs pennies. A friend of my installs them and also has one says he can heat and cool his house for about $40.00 bucks a month.

[IFallsRon]

Both prices can fluctuate monthly. Natural gas prices seem to be directly related to weather conditions in the northeast. You may benefit some by buying LP off season. Changing used to require swapping the jets on your appliances, too.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Prices fluxuate. Propane is usually a little cheaper than natural gas. However, with natural gas you have the convienience of not dealing with a tank and fills and running out.

[blueroof]

When we bought our house in 2001 it was setup for propane with a 500 gallon tank out back that we had to fill a couple times a year. Luckily, natural gas was already ran to the house, we just needed to switch over. We ran propane for two years. In 03 we switched to natural gas for the house and our costs dropped over 30%. We weren't prebuying our propane when the market was lower from the coop, just paying the going rate. When we switched to gas, we upgraded our furnace to a 90+ efficiency from an 80+ too, so not necessarily apples to apples.

I grow vegetables in polytunnels that I still heat with propane. I know many of the growers in the state are switching to natural gas were possible to save costs in heating such structures.

It is true that there is more energy in each unit of propane, from my experience it isn't cheaper though.

lb

[harvey lee]

When I lived in the country I would pre pay in the summer, about now, for all my propane needs for the winter. I always purchased it for the lowest price of the year. Then they kept me on a keep fill program and I never had to worry about running out or higher winter prices.

[boatfixer]

Just an example here but... My Jan. '07 natural gas bill per therm(100,000 BTU's) was $1.11 Propane would have had to been 1.02 per gallon. this months bill is $1.33 per therm. propane would have to be $ 1.22 per gallon. GOOD LUCK FINDING IT THAT CHEAP. You simply have to compare apples to apples. There are many fuel comparison charts out there to look this stuff up. I have delivered both propane and fuel oil and would still, any day, heat with natural gas. However, given the chance to start over with a new system, the heat pump would be my choice.

[sparcebag]

Propane puts out 1/3ed more energy than natural tho! So quoting that propand would have to be x amount your not taking in the fact that every 100,000 therms output of nat gas is equal to bout 133,000 of propane for same amount.

[boatfixer]

That comparison is taking that into account. I'm talking about cost per 100,000 BTU'S. 100,000 BTU'S of Nat.(1 therm) cost me $1.33. 92,500 BTU'S of propane, ( 1 gallon ) right now is going for about $1.80/gal.

[sparcebag]

I guess your area has higher prices,I havent checked recently but last month our prices in Willmar area were 1.38