Propane prices

[leftmyheartintennessee]

not trying to highjack this thread but my question is related to the cost for heating. What is the price for a full cord of seasoned hardwood nowadays in northeast TN?
Trying to determine which would be cheaper to heat with.WOOD or
PROPANE
Now back to the regularly scheduled program...or in this case...question.

[hiknapster]

Just so you know, electric in Knox County is very cheap, possibly the cheapest in the country thanks to the TVA. I haven't bought wood in awhile. We have two fireplaces but we've had a couple of storms and there is a lot of wood around. It's still cheapest for me to heat with electric.

[TheShadow]

Hik,
If your fireplaces are designed as an open-front woodburning fireplace, they are NOT economical to heat with. Open front fireplaces, without some sort of heat-recirculating fan-type set up are not designed to heat the home, and will actually make the home colder, since the heated air goes up the chimney and household air is pulled into the front of the fireplace, requiring additional air to be PULLED INTO the the home from the cold outdoors through any cracks and crevices throughout the home. This type fireplace should be considered to be for ornamental, ambiance purposes.

If your fireplaces are sealed front insert-type fireplaces with a fan to recirculate from the room, around the firebox, and back into the room (or a sealed woodstove type fireplace), then heating with wood can be economical if you have a source of cheap (or free) firewood. You also have to weigh if you are the type of person who wants to also spend the effort to buy or cut wood, stack it, store it in a dry place, carry it in several times a day and clean out the ashes on an almost daily basis and then have a place to dispose of all those ashes. Also, when bringing wood into the house, sometimes bugs, dirt, splinters etc, are coming in with it.

If you want to save money on your heating bill, make sure your home is well insulated, all the doors and windows are sealing well, airleaks around pipes, fireplace dampers, recessed light and other shell penetrations are well sealed, install a programmable thermostat and learn how to use it properly.

Your mileage may vary, and I'm sure people may disagree, but I have worked as residential and commercial energy specialist for the public utility here in CA for over 20 years. I can hijack, I guess, since I'm the OP.

[hiknapster]

I'm from New England and I definitely agree, TheShadow. That's why I rather heat with electric. If I stay here I might change the setup but for now it is more for ambiance. It does take the chill out of the family room but that's because of the way our house is situated. Anyway, I suspect not everyone knows about fireplaces and such so it is useful info. But electric prices are so good through the Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB) that it's easier to just use that. Now my heatpump is a different story...

[TheShadow]

Oops, I guess I should have addressed that one to Leftmyheart, not Hik. Oh well good for general knowledge. My question was reropane prices was answered. Thanks all.