Propane vs Electric Heating

we're always on hookups so we mainly heat with electric...fireplace and a small portable space heater. we have a new heated mattress pad for cool nights. we don't usually use the rooftop heat pumps due to the noise. other than the first few nights of our snowbird trek we avoid traveling in very cold weather.

Are you living in your RV full time and staying in one place where they're metering your electrical use? If they aren't metering it, then use the electric heaters.

Bill

I'm currently living full time in a permanent metered location.

When we spend extended periods in SoCal, it's at a big Escapees park. They have on-site propane with VERY low prices. With metered electric, propane is significantly more economical - but I have to take a 30 lb. tank up to the filling point every week or two if the weather is cool.

Rob

I have found over the years it is just about a trade off with the use propane or electric. I am on all electric right now with Propane as a back up. I would say use whatever is most convenient.

Electric when on-grid (pay per night camping). Propane when off-grid dry camping.

If you are running on a meter, then it becomes a math problem. Electrical: Wattage of heater, hours run per day, cost of a kilowatt/hr, determine a dollar amount for daily usage. Propane: Cost to fill the tanks, estimated days per tank, determine a dollar amount for daily usage. One will be cheaper. My bet is on electric will be cheaper.

Ultimately you need to plug in the numbers and do the math. It will be different for all of us.

-Eric

Eric&Lisa wrote:
Electric when on-grid (pay per night camping). Propane when off-grid dry camping.

If you are running on a meter, then it becomes a math problem. Electrical: Wattage of heater, hours run per day, cost of a kilowatt/hr, determine a dollar amount for daily usage. Propane: Cost to fill the tanks, estimated days per tank, determine a dollar amount for daily usage. One will be cheaper. My bet is on electric will be cheaper.

Ultimately you need to plug in the numbers and do the math. It will be different for all of us.

-Eric

Ok, so I need to make sure I'm doing my math right. Most of the space heaters I'm seeing are 1500 watts. I estimate 6 hours per day (cutting on an off from 6 pm to 6 am). It might be less, but I'm not sure. 1500 watts x 6 hours = 9 kwh. Current price per kwh for electric is $0.28, which puts me at about $2.52 per day, or $35 for two weeks.

My average price to fill a tank is about $18 every 10 days or so, or about $25 per 2 weeks, so it appears on the surface that propane is cheaper.

I guess now the question is am I willing to spend $20 per month for the convenience of not having to cart the tank around every 10 days. My first guess is probably yes, lol.

Calculators like this will help you decide: Fuel Costs

If you are staying in one spot for a while, check with the propane place and see if they will place a larger tank and fill it onsite.

Bob/Olallawa wrote:
If you are staying in one spot for a while, check with the propane place and see if they will place a larger tank and fill it onsite.

I'm living in a long term trailer/RV park that doesn't allow us to put anything like that in our space. This place is way cheaper than anything else around and doesn't have stay limits, so that's why I'm here.