Quote:
Originally Posted by tummyman
In summary, to generate the same btu's (138,000), following is the rough costs:
Electricity - $8.09
Propane - $6.09
Kerosene - $4.33
#2 Oil - $3.82
Wood Pellets - $3.15
Cured Wood - $2.76
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What should I use as backup when my primary source goes out and I'm not home"? Not as a replacement -- as a backup. And the key phrase is "
when I'm not home".
- Electricity - $8.09 - Easy and inexpensive to install. Can purchase and use separate, standalone, very safe units in strategic locations around the house, as another forum member suggested. Can be run on thermostats. Problem is -- if the electricity goes, it's not much of a backup, is it?
- Propane - $6.09 - Not as easy as Electricity to install. And the equipment is likely to be more expensive, too. But once installed, can easily be controlled via a $39 thermostat that runs on a AA battery that only needs to be replaced once a year. Propane can be used even if the electricity goes out.
- Kerosene - $4.33 - Expensive to install. Requires electricity to run, though, which eliminates it as a backup.
- #2 Oil - $3.82 - Expensive to install. Requires electricity to run, which eliminates it as a backup.
- Wood Pellets - $3.15 - Can't be used as a backup at all if you're not home.
- Cured Wood - $2.76 - Can't be used as a backup at all if you're not home.
Conclusion -
Propane is the only viable backup, here. You can get a gas insert for your fireplace, or some other device relatively cheaply, and can successfully install and vent it. Once done, it will cost you very little to use it as a backup unit. And it will keep the house warm enough to prevent freezing pipes. As long as you replace the thermostat battery at the beginning of each season, you never have to be home. You can call the gas company to re-fill it.
And it you are only using it as a backup in case your main system fails, the higher unit fuel costs won't break the bank. BTW, I use propane as backup.