Propane Usage
We are in the planning stages of going full time after our retirement. When it came to the cost of propane, I was at a loss. What is the average monthly usage of propane? How long will two 30lb tan...
Forum Discussion
I started full timing in January in Florida in my 5th wheel. I quickly learned there are lots of variables to the electric/propane equation. I was in an RV resort near Gainesville and it was an unusually cold winter. Some people were going thru a 30# bottle in way less then a week and we were paying $4/gallon.
I decided to use electric as much as possible, so I bought an oil filled heater and also an oscillating electric heater. I didn't necessarily use both at the same time. I only used my propane furnace a few times in the mornings to quickly heat up the rig to room temp. Also used propane for cooking but I grilled out a lot and also used the microwave/convection oven. I was spending about $100/month for electric, at .17/kwh but ended up using less then one 30# propane bottle for the entire 3 month period I was there. Too late I realized I could have also shut down the electric water heater during the night to save a little. Duh !
So you get to pick your poison. Most people seem to feel that the cheapest thing to do is use electric as much as possible for heating as opposed to propane. When I look for a place to stay this winter I will also ask what the electric kwh rate is.
Things change when traveling since electric is normally included in a daily or weekly rate. So it makes sense to use electric since it's basically already paid for.
I have been traveling now since the end of April, running my fridge on propane when driving and also using the oven and stove (but mostly grilling out) and have not used one bottle yet. And - A microwave/convection oven is my good friend !
The furnace is what will really use up propane - the other things such as the oven and stove, and the fridge when traveling, are parasites compared to the furnace. I've never run my water heater on propane, other then to test it once in a while to make sure it will run, but I suspect it will also gobble propane at a fairly high rate.
If I had been in south Florida I would have had a smaller electric bill, but in general the monthly lot rent gets higher the further south you go.
* I should also add that I have the Splendide separates washer and electric dryer which obviously affect electric consumption - especially the dryer.
Tim.
I decided to use electric as much as possible, so I bought an oil filled heater and also an oscillating electric heater. I didn't necessarily use both at the same time. I only used my propane furnace a few times in the mornings to quickly heat up the rig to room temp. Also used propane for cooking but I grilled out a lot and also used the microwave/convection oven. I was spending about $100/month for electric, at .17/kwh but ended up using less then one 30# propane bottle for the entire 3 month period I was there. Too late I realized I could have also shut down the electric water heater during the night to save a little. Duh !
So you get to pick your poison. Most people seem to feel that the cheapest thing to do is use electric as much as possible for heating as opposed to propane. When I look for a place to stay this winter I will also ask what the electric kwh rate is.
Things change when traveling since electric is normally included in a daily or weekly rate. So it makes sense to use electric since it's basically already paid for.
I have been traveling now since the end of April, running my fridge on propane when driving and also using the oven and stove (but mostly grilling out) and have not used one bottle yet. And - A microwave/convection oven is my good friend !
The furnace is what will really use up propane - the other things such as the oven and stove, and the fridge when traveling, are parasites compared to the furnace. I've never run my water heater on propane, other then to test it once in a while to make sure it will run, but I suspect it will also gobble propane at a fairly high rate.
If I had been in south Florida I would have had a smaller electric bill, but in general the monthly lot rent gets higher the further south you go.
* I should also add that I have the Splendide separates washer and electric dryer which obviously affect electric consumption - especially the dryer.
Tim.
