We will be staying in Southern California this winter and our elect use will be metered. Are we better off with a small space heater or using the propane general heater? Anyone know the difference is overall cost?

Hi,Here is a link to a cost comparison calculator:http://www.maxmcarter.com/fuels/fuelscalc.htmlc_haggart@yahoo.com wrote:We will be staying in Southern California this winter and our elect use will be metered. Are we better off with a small space heater or using the propane general heater? Anyone know the difference is overall cost?

All depends on the cost of each where you are staying

In the grand scheme of things, the fuel to get where you are, the monthly rent, entertainment costs, food..etc, the difference doesn't amount to a hill of beans.

2oldman wrote:In the grand scheme of things, the fuel to get where you are, the monthly rent, entertainment costs, food..etc, the difference doesn't amount to a hill of beans.Maybe not, but many people, including myself would rather save on utilities and have more beans to spend on entertainment, dining out, etc.

While living in Yuma, friends of ours did a comparison between their propane furnace and portable electric space heaters, and found the electric heaters to be more efficient overall, but the cost (to them) was about the same as the cost of the electricity was high due to a sir-charge by the park's management. The propane would have been more expensive if it had been delivered, but instead they had portable tanks refilled and transported the tanks themselves. Eventually they found the frequent chore of refilling the tanks not worth the trouble. (They still used propane to cook and run the refrigerator, but weekly use was significantly less.)Other friends who have their own lots, where they pay the basic electrical charge from the utility, have found electricity to be cheaper than propane for heating. The cost difference was a little more than half the cost of propane. I don't know how diligent they were in record keeping, or if it was for a whole winter season. Further, they had to pay a minimum fee each month, even when they used little or now power.

Propane vs space heater | Good Sam Community

17 Replies

c_haggart
Explorer
Nov 10, 2014
Thanks for all the good information.
Lantley
Nomad
Nov 05, 2014
In the end the cost difference will be negligible. The convenience of not having to refill LP tanks makes electric the winner in my book.
LP would have to be significantly cheaper to offset the hassle of filling the tanks.
C_Duck
Explorer
Nov 05, 2014
eheading wrote:

It just seems strange to me. We pay all this money for a beautiful motorhome with central heat, that also heats are basements to keep water and holding tanks warm, and then to save a few bucks we want to use a spot space heater, use blankets, etc., to keep warm. Me, when it gets cool and we need heat, we turned the propane furnace and set it at a temperature where we are nice and comfortable.

I'm with you also but then I get upset when I can't find free or near free parking ;)
Ramair
Explorer
Nov 04, 2014
eheading wrote:
It just seems strange to me. We pay all this money for a beautiful motorhome with central heat, that also heats are basements to keep water and holding tanks warm, and then to save a few bucks we want to use a spot space heater, use blankets, etc., to keep warm. Me, when it gets cool and we need heat, we turned the propane furnace and set it at a temperature where we are nice and comfortable.

I'm with you on this one could not have said it better...
eheading
Explorer
Nov 04, 2014
It just seems strange to me. We pay all this money for a beautiful motorhome with central heat, that also heats are basements to keep water and holding tanks warm, and then to save a few bucks we want to use a spot space heater, use blankets, etc., to keep warm. Me, when it gets cool and we need heat, we turned the propane furnace and set it at a temperature where we are nice and comfortable.
cpoo
Explorer
Nov 04, 2014
Depends what you are heating. Space heater is spot heater. Propane in furnace is whole coach. Use a lap robe or put a knit cap on your head if cool. That is the best way to cut cost. Take advantage of solar by keeping windows uncovered. Heat hot water only before use. Unplug unused appliances that are instant on. LED lights are important. Good luck holding the energy cost down.
zman-az
Explorer
Nov 03, 2014
I would just move into the park and ask the locals there what they have found to be the cheapest method. They would know better than anyone on this board.
J-Rooster
Explorer
Nov 03, 2014
I would go with the space heater but, I would not run it on a hi setting.
JeepCB
Explorer
Nov 03, 2014
smkettner wrote:
Use some of each. Electric is not a bad price until you use a lot and jump into the higher tiers. But then electric delivery is a lot easier than propane. I assume no heat pump as that would produce twice the BTU per kWh. Use extra blankets at night and maybe 30 minutes of furnace in the morning. Then use the space heat in the evenings. Put on a sweater.

X2!
time2roll
Nomad
Nov 03, 2014
Use some of each. Electric is not a bad price until you use a lot and jump into the higher tiers. But then electric delivery is a lot easier than propane. I assume no heat pump as that would produce twice the BTU per kWh. Use extra blankets at night and maybe 30 minutes of furnace in the morning. Then use the space heat in the evenings. Put on a sweater.