For the first time we will be staying in a Arizona campground for 10 days that charges extra for electricity. Even when it drops down into the 30s at night we will only set the heat at 50. Then we will run the heat for a couple of hours in the morning after we get up. The electric rate is $.13 per kwh. So, which is cheaper to operate propane furnace or electric heat pump?

Search the posts. I know I've read that answer here before. Don't forget to factor in propane availability. If you start with a full tank, 10 days seems like a short enough time depending on size of tank(s), and size of RV.

About the same.BTW, I love Buena Vista.

Most, if not all, Electric heat pumps are not efficient at freezing temps. Mine will default to the Gas Furnace at about 35-38 degrees outside temp.

Will your propane tank hold enough for ten days? If not, how far do you have to drive to get propane and how much gas/diesel will that consume?For ten days, I can't imagine that there would be enough of a difference in cost to worry about.

It takes about 22 KW of electric in a electric heater to equal 1 gallon of propane. So for the propane water heater, it is like this.22 KW X 13 cents = $2.86 So if propane is easy to get and less than $2.90, then run on gas and buy propane. If more than $3, running on electric is less expensive. (same for the refrigerator). If you are running electric heaters (say when it is below 40F outside, or if your RV did not have a heat pump, the above also applies. However above 40F, the heat pump is "Transferrring " heat from outside to inside. They can do this at the rate of 13,500 Btu's per hour for only about 1.3 KW per 13,500 Btu's. Or 10 Btu's per hour. The electric heater is 3,400 Btu's per KW. So to collect 80,000 Btu's with a heat pump would require about 8 KW or $1.04 in your case. So much less than running a electric heater or propane. When it is less than 40F outside, then the heat pump thermostat will change over to the propane furnace. So I would have a couple of 1500 watt electric heaters. The portable heaters that I have have a thermostat, high output and low 800 watt output. I can run two heaters on low heat, or one on high and the other on low. Good luck,Fred.

Which is cheaper - propane or electric heat pump

21 Replies

Ivylog
Explorer III
Nov 10, 2014
My heat pumps do NOT switch to my AquaHot at any temp which may explain why they keep working when it 's below freezing. Home units can be adjusted to do the same but if you select a temp more than four degrees warmer than the current temp many will switch to the emergency heat which is usually resistive heat.
valhalla360
Navigator
Nov 10, 2014
No problem.

As I mentioned, geothermal systems are heat pump systems, just a specialty version.

Most standard household heat pumps are used in the south where the air/con function is primary and it's a cheap way to provide a little heat when you get the rare florida frost, rather than adding a seperate furnace.
DrewE
Explorer II
Nov 10, 2014
valhalla360 wrote:
DrewE wrote:
hypoxia wrote:
Golden_HVAC wrote:
When it is less than 40F outside, then the heat pump thermostat will change over to the propane furnace.

Do all RV heat pumps switch the heat pump off around 40? All I have in my stick house is a heat pump which works fine on the few days we get in the 20"s.

Most house heat pumps use the ground as the heat source/sink, while RV units use the outside air. Underground temperatures are much more constant and (if below the frost line) do not get below freezing even when the outside temperature is bitter cold.

I think you are confusing geothermal systems (which use a heat pump) with standard head pump systems.

Most household heat pump systems use the exact same principals as an RV heat pump will. Essentially they work as an air conditioner in reverse and they also suffer in very cold weather as the air has little heat to give up.

A little research, and I see that you are entirely correct. :S

I think my confusion stemmed from the fact that pretty much the only heat pump systems that are installed in Vermont are geothermal ones, as winters have prolonged sub-freezing temperatures. (The geothermal systems are relatively rare, I suspect due to the costly installation. Most people burn something.)
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Nov 10, 2014
DrewE wrote:

Most house heat pumps use the ground as the heat source/sink, while RV units use the outside air. Underground temperatures are much more constant and (if below the frost line) do not get below freezing even when the outside temperature is bitter cold.

I've had numerous heat pumps since 1976 and NONE were like that.
bumpy
valhalla360
Navigator
Nov 10, 2014
DrewE wrote:
hypoxia wrote:
Golden_HVAC wrote:
When it is less than 40F outside, then the heat pump thermostat will change over to the propane furnace.

Do all RV heat pumps switch the heat pump off around 40? All I have in my stick house is a heat pump which works fine on the few days we get in the 20"s.

Most house heat pumps use the ground as the heat source/sink, while RV units use the outside air. Underground temperatures are much more constant and (if below the frost line) do not get below freezing even when the outside temperature is bitter cold.

I think you are confusing geothermal systems (which use a heat pump) with standard head pump systems.

Most household heat pump systems use the exact same principals as an RV heat pump will. Essentially they work as an air conditioner in reverse and they also suffer in very cold weather as the air has little heat to give up.
DrewE
Explorer II
Nov 10, 2014
hypoxia wrote:
Golden_HVAC wrote:
When it is less than 40F outside, then the heat pump thermostat will change over to the propane furnace.

Do all RV heat pumps switch the heat pump off around 40? All I have in my stick house is a heat pump which works fine on the few days we get in the 20"s.

Most house heat pumps use the ground as the heat source/sink, while RV units use the outside air. Underground temperatures are much more constant and (if below the frost line) do not get below freezing even when the outside temperature is bitter cold.
valhalla360
Navigator
Nov 10, 2014
We run a space heater to stretch out the length between propane fills.

When you factor in the hassle of filling propane tanks, I'll pay a bit more for electricity that is right there.

(if it gets well below freezing, make sure to let the furnace run a bit so it keeps the underbelly above freezing)
hypoxia
Explorer
Nov 10, 2014
Golden_HVAC wrote:
When it is less than 40F outside, then the heat pump thermostat will change over to the propane furnace.

Do all RV heat pumps switch the heat pump off around 40? All I have in my stick house is a heat pump which works fine on the few days we get in the 20"s.
Dusty_R
Explorer
Nov 10, 2014
Propane price varies a lot. For a stick and brick with a 500 gallon tank is much better than electricity. But buying it in a 20 lb. tank and just pulling in somewhere with a mh LP is not cheap.

Dusty
Thunder_Mountai
Explorer II
Nov 10, 2014
Thanks for all the replies. This was one of those question where I thought I knew the answer but just wasn't sure. Just wanted to make sure that there wasn't a huge difference between the two. My biggest electric consumption would probably be the washer/dryer. Guess I'll just turn my underwear inside out to save on electricity until I get to the next campground that doesn't charge for electricity.