Convert to gas? Propane or NG?

[Hutch]

Chums, I have a total electric house w/ heat pump.  I  cordially DESPISE the modern ceramic cook top I have in the kitchen, and really miss my natural gas stove in my previous residence.  I've been considering replacing the cook top with another, and I'm thinking of going with gas.  The local gas utility has run lines into the new neighborhood, and I'd have ~ 150 - 200ft of line to run, plus all the plumbing in the crawlspace.  I'm considering a "silver submarine" propane tank as well.  I'm tempermentally disposed to like the idea of being able to buy a metric butt-load of gas and have it available w/o utility service, but I may not be aware of any shortcomings such a strategy might entail.  When my 12 yo heat pump dies, I'd likely replace it as well with forced air gas/AC as well.  Also, I really like the fact that with a gas water-heater, you have hot water whether you have electric service or not.

Y'all got any insights?

[ilbob]

propane costs more per BTU than NG does. so especially if you plan to add more gas appliances you are probably better off with NG.

[Stand_watie]

     In terms of ease of use...six vs. half/dozen. What is your cost set-up comparison for NG vs Propane? I have propane and love it. I had NG when I lived in town, and loved it. Your NG and propane appliances are interchangeable, BTW. You just have to change to orifice, because propane is a lot more condensed than NG.

     I paid about 1,000 bucks for my 250 gallon propane tank, which included installation and 50 ft of copper line to run it to the house.

[Stand_watie]

     Another thought I just had. Your propane provider is a private enterprise interested in building a happy customer base. Your NG provider is more likely a city department. That can be a consideration. My propane service happily does connections to appliances etc free, whenever I buy any.

  OTOH, NG is a small monthly bill. Propane is a big chunk of change once or twice a year.

[Sergeant Bob]

Another consideration: if there is some sort of SHTF scenario, ie, earthquake, big fire, some idiot with a backhoe who forgot to call Miss Dig causing an interruption in NG service, with a tank full of LPG you will still have fuel for heat and power generation.

[ilbob]

The cost of propane per btu is about 3.5X natural gas.

In many cases it is about the same cost to heat with electricity as it is to use propane, as wierd as that sounds.

[Firethorn]

The cost of propane per btu is about 3.5X natural gas.

In many cases it is about the same cost to heat with electricity as it is to use propane, as wierd as that sounds.

The way propane is now, especially with a heat pump system it's probably cheaper to heat with electricity.  Especially if you get a cut for using off-peak.

[280plus]

Last I checked NG was cheaper to run than LPG. When the HP dies I'd replace it with another HP but revert to a 90%+ NG furnace for aux/backup heat and lose the electric strip hetaers. HP good above ~40*F but not below so below 40* you shut the HP off and run NG.

[cfabe]

I agree with what 280 proposed. If you're going to have central air, it's not much more cost to go with a HP. If you have natural gas available and will use it for heating it's probably worth it to run the line to connect it. If you just want it for stove cooking, go with the propane, the cost of running the nat gas line won't be worth the cheaper fuel.

[never_retreat]

Also the gas company may not want to connect NG for nothing but a stove. So They may not do it at all or want a ridiculous amount of money to do it. If they know you are going to heat with is the see potential profits. A stove will never make them any money.

[ilbob]

Also the gas company may not want to connect NG for nothing but a stove. So They may not do it at all or want a ridiculous amount of money to do it. If they know you are going to heat with is the see potential profits. A stove will never make them any money.

In most areas there are two things you pay for. One is a monthly fee to be connected to the NG distribution system, and the other is whatever NG you use. The "gas company" gets paid the same for the connection regardless of how much you use. Most times you get to chose who you buy your NG from and it is not necessarily the "gas company", although usually they or an affiliate is one option.

You will have to pay for the gas line from the connection point to your house and whatever piping goes inside. The cost to run underground natural gas pipe to your house will probably be something like $10-20 per foot, plus a meter charge of perhaps $300-500.

If you get NG, there will probably be permit and inspections fees as well, at least inside your home, as well as whatever it costs to run the gas line(s) inside your home.

[K Frame]

Here in Virginia they looked at converting my community to gas some years ago. Unfortunately, not enough people were interested. But, to convert a home to gas, the gas company would only run pipes to the house for free if the owner committed to converting both home heating and water heating. If they only wanted one or the other, the owner would have had to have paid for the line installation.


As of right now, the only thing I'm converting to gas are the two chili cheese dogs with onions and the cheese fries I had for lunch...

I have a funny feeling I'm going to be out producing the gulf for awhile...

[280plus]

I have a funny feeling I'm going to be out producing the gulf for awhile...

Please proceed to the nearest collection station...