Propane vs Electric heat - cost

[Jerryr]

Electric here costs around 10 cents per KWh. Propane costs $1/lb or $30 to fill the 30 lb tank.

Which heat source is the least costly to heat the trailer? Electric ceramic space heaters plus electric fireplace heater, or trailer propane heater.

It never gets cold enough that freezing water lines are an issue, therefore use of propane to keep lines thawed is not a a requirement.

On our recent trip to NC we were able to keep the trailer comfortable at night using the fireplace heater (5000 btu) and a space heater (1500 watt, 5100 btu) when outside overnight temps were in the 40s. Since Electric was included in camping fees we didn’t even consider using propane.

Next week we expect overnight temps in the mid 30s while camping at our owned retreat site where we pay electric.

[Aridon]

From Google:

Propane contains 91,547 Btu per gallon. A typical furnace will convert about 85% of that to heat, which means that 1 gallon of propane provides about as much heat as 23 kilowatt-hours of electricity.

4.2lbs for a gallon.

$4.20 vs $2.3 for electric.

Electric is cheaper by a good bit.

[JCZhome]

$30 to fill a 30# tank? Are you filling your bottles at an RV park? Propane is much cheap if you go to an LPG dealer. Here in Tex. we're paying $20 to fill a 30# bottle and I thought that was a lot.

[Pat&Renee]

current price in south Texas is $2.25 a gallon..... a 30# is 7.25 gal or so....my guy fills mine for $17.50......

[FT4NOW]

In Hampton Roads area of VA, it costs me about $21 to fill a 30# bottle. I found a local U-haul to be the lowest price. Our campground doesn't charge electric, so we mainly use fireplace, two space heaters and supplement with furnace only when needed.

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[warsw1]

The prices you are paying for propane are crazy. Here in AZ it cost $17.00 to fill my 30# bottle. I run everything that I can (fridge, hot water heater and furnace) on propane. It is cheaper than electric.

[gbkims]

SE of Houston, $23/30# tank (7g = $3.28/g), $16/20#, that's at local propane dealer. Costs more at Ace b/c they charge same, but fill less propane as if doing tank exchange.
U-haul ~30 minutes away sells by gallon, https://www.uhaul.com/Locations/Prop...-77503/745067/
But it's $3.39/g + sales tax

[Jerryr]

$30 to fill a 30# tank? Are you filling your bottles at an RV park? Propane is much cheap if you go to an LPG dealer. Here in Tex. we're paying $20 to fill a 30# bottle and I thought that was a lot.

Thank you all for the replies.

It was my first time fill and it was at local Ace Hardware only 5 minutes from home. Plus my wife gave me a $5 coupon so cost was $25. It was at 4 pm on Sunday, New Years Eve, so I doubt that I would find a LPG Dealer open. There was a line at the propane fill station at Ace on New Years Eve. I never saw anyone there before. Next time I’ll research before filling.

Local prices to exchange a 20lb bottle for our gas grill runs about $17 at Home Depot or Tractor Supply.

Our primary use of propane is mainly to run the refrigerator when towing. Of course we use it for the stove and occasionally for water heater when stopped between campgrounds.

[TheSpareTire]

Local prices to exchange a 20lb bottle for our gas grill runs about $17 at Home Depot or Tractor Supply.

Just for reference purposes, keep in mind that the major national brands that do tank exchanges (not necessarily all) do not actually provide you will a full tank. The reason the price is lower is they only fill it 75% or 15lbs for a 20lbs tank. Look at the label for tank exchanges to get the true volume of gas from your supplier.

[goldsp8]

Tractor Supply here is $3.09 and they fill by the gallon. The local hardware store was just bought out and the new owners are filling by the pound. First time I had run into by the pound. I told the guy he was out of line in my opinion. The up side, he will fill old bottles where Tractor Supply will not. So, I take my camper bottles to tractor supply and my farm use bottles to the local guy.