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the big heating debate

pagoda | Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on December 7, 2005 03:40am

trying to get a straight answer as to which costs more to  operate   (a) a high efficency  pr0pane furnace  or (b) a high efficency oil furnace using a stainless steel chimney liner

the propane is 66 cents a litre and oil is 69 cents a litre

rumour has it that propane is roughly  1/3 more  to use

checked with a supplier who sells both and  he says their both about equal

installers seem to lean towards  which ever one is easier to install

the installation is in a restricted area and will intail  opening up a floor

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  1. User avater
    BillHartmann | Dec 07, 2005 03:58pm | #1

    Forget the prices, but look at the BTU/unit of 2.

    "Propane(95,000 BTU/gal)@$1.55 per gal= $16.25 per million BTU
    Oil (140,000 BTU/gal)@$2.00 per gal= $14.30 per million BTU
    Elect (3410 BTU/ KwHr)@ $.10 per KwHr= $29.00 per million BTU
    Nat Gas is a little more complicated to compute but "

    http://experts.about.com/q/2441/3774715.htm

    The other thing that you need to know if the efficency of the 2 units for a more accurate answer.

    But it would be impossible to make up the differnece between oil and propane with any eff unit.

    1. NRTRob | Dec 07, 2005 08:29pm | #4

      Not really impossible. You can jump up to 15% in efficiency between a gas fired modulating/condensing boiler vs a conventional oil boiler, with the right kind of heating system (3 guesses as to which is best, if you don't look at my sig hehe). Plus the gas burns cleaner and requires less maintenance, it's silent, etc etc.-------------------------------------
      -=Northeast Radiant Technology=-
      Radiant Design, Consultation, Parts Supply
      http://www.NRTradiant.com

  2. junkhound | Dec 07, 2005 05:44pm | #2

    Have you considered a heat pump?

    Even way up in Ottawa, with Ontario hydro elec prices, you will be ahead. I'll keep this all metric.

    Even at -20C the coefficient of performance of (COP) a heat pump is 1.7, which means you get 1.7 times the heat out that you put in in  elec. 

    Say ontario hydro is 5.8 cents kW-hr (from internet price search)

    Say you need 3 kW heat to keep your house warm at -20C.

    Equivalent 1 liter fuel (either propane or oil with efficiency included) is approx. 8.9 cents per kW-hr.

    So, per day, you pay about 24*8.9*3 = $3.77 for oil or propane; or, $2.45(24*5.8*3/1.7) for electricity via a heat pump.

    You save more then it is warmer than -20C! since the HP can have a cop of 3.5 at +15C.

    Now you need to consider initial cost.

    1. atrident | Dec 07, 2005 10:03pm | #5

      At low temperatures a heat pump runs on straight electric resistance . I dont believe you can factor in 1.7

    2. GaryGary | Dec 07, 2005 10:56pm | #6

      Hi,"Even way up in Ottawa, with Ontario hydro elec prices, you will be ahead. I'll keep this all metric."Even at -20C the coefficient of performance of (COP) a heat pump is 1.7, which means you get 1.7 times the heat out that you put in in elec.
      Say ontario hydro is 5.8 cents kW-hr (from internet price search)
      Say you need 3 kW heat to keep your house warm at -20C.
      Equivalent 1 liter fuel (either propane or oil with efficiency included) is approx. 8.9 cents per kW-hr.
      So, per day, you pay about 24*8.9*3 = $3.77 for oil or propane; or, $2.45(24*5.8*3/1.7) for electricity via a heat pump.You save more then it is warmer than -20C! since the HP can have a cop of 3.5 at +15C."I can't make that example work:3KW used in 1.7 COP heat pump delivers:
      (3KW)(3412 BTU/KW)(1.7 COP) = 17400 BTU1 litre of oil in burned in an 80% efficient furnace delivers:
      (140000 BTU/gal)(0.264 litre/gal)(0.8 efic) = 29600 BTUSo, it looks to me like 1 litre of oil produces about twice as much heat at 3KW, not the same amount?Gary
      http://www.BuildItSolar.com

  3. experienced | Dec 07, 2005 06:27pm | #3

    Sounds like your oil furnace is not a high efficiency condensing unit but a mid eff @ 82 -87%. A high eff would not be using a chimney due to acidic condensation and deterioration of the stainless flue. In my area there are no true high eff oil furnaces being sold, so the mid becomes the highest available and  by default "high" efficiency.

    Propane has about 1/3 less BTU's per unit volume.

    Need to adjust it all to the cost per million btu's after eff losses up the chimney, price/btu differences per unit of fuel.

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