home heating?

Question

hello, we live in mich and i need to buy something to heat are home. it's about 1500 sq feet home. we have propane heat and it's is costing us to much. we don;t have alot of money so what do you think? maybe try to buy some small ele heaters for the home? deb

Answer 1

Typically, even though propane is more expensive than electricity, it is cheaper to heat with! If you have the space to put in a geothermal system, these are money savers (typical payback is now about 3 years)

Answer 2

To believe, or suggest that electricity will somehow be cheaper than propane to heat within the state of Michigan is foolish.

Put any money that you have to waste on an electric heater into winterizing your home, the suggestion of insulation and windows makes much more sense.

Also, make sure you are not paying a fluctuating market rate for your propane; most, if not all propane suppliers offer a price lock in type program. Your supplier may charge a fee to get a guaranteed rate, but take your time and do the math, in most cases the fee will more than pay for itself in savings over the winter.

Just so you have some idea of a rate comparison, I just ran some numbers for electric rates for central Michigan. Rates very across the country but these were from the EIA web site for your region. At the current residential rate you would need to pay over $3.17 a gallon for propane before it would be worth heating with electric.

I don’t know what your current rate is for propane, but the Energy Information Administration web site doesn’t list rates anywhere in the U.S. that high. You can find rates for most all energy sources’ here. http://www.eia.doe.gov/

Your question is a good one; at least you’re not just jumping in and wasting more money. Keep doing your homework and hopefully you can get your heating costs down. I think conservation, and winterization of your home should be where you focus your research, as well as any money you spend.

Answer 3

I live in Northern Mich., my house is about the same size, I use propane, and you're right. It costs way to f*&^%$#g much. I've spent about $100 a week (Yep, week) for the past 4 winters. But I spent my income tax refund last year on insulation, and used every spare penny I had on new 2 windows and doors, and I'm hoping this will help. But I, too, am considering buying some electrical help, so the furnace doesn't click on as often.

Answer 4

I don't know where in Michigan you live--if you can get a natural gas furnace, they're great! We have one, an American Standard (a good brand if not the best) that we inherited with the house. It's a workhorse in the cold months and keeps us nice and cool in the summer since we added on air conditioning with a grant from our parents. As far as the bills, we are Consumers Energy customers and they allow for levelized billing. You pay the same rate for a year and then at the end of your billing year they recompute your levelized rate based on your use and/or chrage you for the amount extra you haven't yet paid for. Yes, gas was expensive right after Katerina. My father worked for Consumers and he thinks natural gas will eventually fall back to a reasonable level after all of the ports are rebuilt (should they be) in and around the Gulf of Mexico. Good luck!

Answer 5

I also use Consumers Energy and my highest heating bill this past winter was only $127.00. I have a 1200 SQFT house that is brick on a basement and my windows aren't all that healthy. My secret is keeping it set at a steady temp. This way your furnance only has to maintain as apposed to working hard to catch up!!! IF propane is getting costly how about a wood burning stove?? My friends mom has one in theor addition and it truely heats the whole house???

Good Luck

Answer 6

try getting a electric heater the same BTU size as your propane heater, normally electric heater are cheaper to run. if is a central home furnace you might want to look into a 90+ high eff... furnace.

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