Heat pump or propane

Get the heat strips! Also, since we don't have heat strips, we use small "ceramic" heaters to keep the over night chill off. Same effect, really cheap!

I think you'll find (unless the campground is really ripping you off) that BTU for Btu the cost of energy is about the same. Propane of Electric.

I think you might be getting close to where propane is getting cheaper. Right now you are paying 15 cents per KW. What is your propane rate?. Will you have to move your RV to refill your tank? you have to figure that troubles also. I spend my winter in RGV. Our park have two propane company trucks going through it every week. I don't have to move my RV to fill. Also like you am paying a high KW charge. I use propane.

The heat strips and ceramic heaters will use a lot of electricity for the heat they generate. The heat pump is much more efficient but will only work down to about 40°. Both of the A/Cs on our unit are heat pumps and we have found they work very well. Whether they cost less than propane I am not sure, but they do eliminate runs to get propane tanks filled. In a S&B situation in Florida, the heat pumps are the most efficient and economical way to heat a home. I would imagine it would be the same for an RV. Since your unit is ducted it will definitely warm the entire unit better, again as long as the outside temp is higher than 40°.

I am not able to do the calculations of Propane v/s Electricity cost because I do not have all the factors.. But others have done 'em and if you search on that phrase you should find the formulas.

One thing to consider.. If your RV has heated basement (Wet bay) the heat pump will NOT heat it.> This may make a difference.

Heat pumps are 3-4 times more efficient than heat strips down to 40 degrees... but are still 2X better down to below freezing. Yes, my 13 year old units will keep working down to 32 degrees. You do not need heat in the basements until it gets below 28 for several hours...rarely if you are staying below Orlando.

Propane heartens in RVs are 75% efficient at best so no way it can compete with a heat pump even if propane was $1 delivered.

We use the heat pump till the forcast is below 35degrees. We only have one AC in the living room but it's ducted. We're ordering a new 5er with two ACs but only getting heat pump on the living area. Seems like the BR is always warmer anyway.

We have heat pumps but the furnaces kick in automatically first, until the temp is us to thermostat setting then the heat pumps kick in. That way you have warm floors and entire coach quickly.
That's on electric heat setting.
But many times we have wakened up with chill in the air and the heat pump up front frozen over apparently and always cold floors. Hopefully we have the switching problem resolved.
When we go to bed if it is real cold furnaces are selected and we have toasty warm floors. Sometimes from front register it felt like you could fry bacon. ha a hole under shower letting lots of air in going down road.
In Florida Disney World Feb 2010, it was freezing and maybe below we felt more comfortable with the furnaces. Up during the day the hat pumps were plenty but switched automatically to furnaces some time during the nights.
Those little heaters, we carry two and they work but don't spread throughout the
Whole coach and the floors are still cold.
We get another Mh it will have basement heat pumps, and furnaces and heated floors.

Spend their inheritance and run the furnace. If Your old and cold be comfortable

For what it's worth here's my take on this and what/why we'll be using propane for heating this winter, and we're in the Lakeland Fl. area. I have an extend a stay T installed and will be setting a 100lb. tank beside the coach for heating during the 4 months we'll be there, why? Because the furnace also heats the basement which in turn heats the floor leaving it a lot warmer to walk on in sock feet. Also the furnace is a lot quieter then the heat pump units.

Ivylog wrote:
Heat pumps are 3-4 times more efficient than heat strips down to 40 degrees... but are still 2X better down to below freezing.
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Propane heartens in RVs are 75% efficient at best so no way it can compete with a heat pump even if propane was $1 delivered.

CONCUR ! But you need some type of propane heat when it drops below freezing !