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Northeastern Pennsylvania Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Pocono area
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Old 12-11-2010, 08:37 AM
 
Location: Swiftwater, PA
18,773 posts, read 18,145,830 times
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Here is a link to a heating fuel comparison calculator: http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/experts/heatcalc.xls

That chart claims that electric geothermal heat pumps are the most cost effective per BTU. Natural gas (unvented) came in second and Anthracite coal came in third on this chart. The most costly/BTU was propane (vented), electric furnace or boiler and electric baseboard heat. Of course/ you still have to figure in the original installation cost.

These newer outdoor wood furnaces keep the bugs and dirt out of your house - but they are expensive (it takes time to make up your original investment and what is their life expectancy). I presume that electric geothermal heat pumps systems are also very expensive to originally install?
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Old 12-11-2010, 08:48 AM
 
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Thanks for all the good information. But I don't think I want anything like coal, wood or pellets. I am looking for the best alternative to Electric(if rates are going up next year). Is it Oil, propane or natural gas?
Or is is better just to stay all electric? Does the utility still offer a discount to all electric homes?
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Old 12-11-2010, 08:59 AM
 
Location: Saylorsburg, PA
1,935 posts, read 3,144,908 times
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If you gonna stay with electric keep the thermostats in unused rooms at 55 degree's and, if you can, use available sunlight during the day as much as you can to keep the house warm...vacuum out the fins on the electric baseboard (if that's what you have) periodically because dust can settle on them robbing you of some heat and possibly creating a fire hazard...check the insulation on all windows and doors and replace as necessary (this you probably already know but just in case) and if you have some gaps at the bottom of some doors (like I have with my front door) buy those Draft Guards they advertise on TV that slide under them...I bought it for my front door and it worked beautifully...I've seen them in CVS for $10...not a bad investment to help keep costs down...
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Old 12-11-2010, 09:11 AM
 
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Interesting to say the least, so whats the cost for cooling, a/c during the hot summer months
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Old 12-11-2010, 09:12 AM
 
Location: Saylorsburg, PA
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That, fridhem, depends on the square footage of your home and how you cool it...window A/C or central A/C...
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Old 12-11-2010, 09:14 AM
 
41,813 posts, read 51,059,937 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DavidWebb View Post
If I had a setup or somewhere I can store the coal away from the elements...
Not really necessary, you can throw it into the stove soaking wet and it will burn. Most people will either have bin right in the basement or simple outdoor bin. You could store it right on the ground if you want, use a trap to keep the water out so it doesn't get all frozen together.
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Old 12-11-2010, 09:19 AM
 
41,813 posts, read 51,059,937 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fisheye View Post
I presume that electric geothermal heat pumps systems are also very expensive to originally install?
The electric that a geo thermal system uses is for pumping water and the heat exchanger. They don't use the electric itself for heat like an electric element heater. They are very expensive to install but the long term savings are very real. Most people in this are will have backup for them, they become less effective in colder climates especially if you smaller system.

You will need a pretty good sized yard/ well because they they basically extract the heat from the ground. Also works for air conditioing in the summer.
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Old 12-11-2010, 09:21 AM
 
Location: Saylorsburg, PA
1,935 posts, read 3,144,908 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thecoalman View Post
Not really necessary, you can throw it into the stove soaking wet and it will burn. Most people will either have bin right in the basement or simple outdoor bin. You could store it right on the ground if you want, use a trap to keep the water out so it doesn't get all frozen together.
The elements I understand aren't too much of a worry...I learned that awhile back from you...it's the sticky fingers that worry me most...that's why I would need somewhere outside the house where I can store it securely since I have a crawlspace and not a full basement...
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Old 12-11-2010, 09:23 AM
 
41,813 posts, read 51,059,937 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by log living View Post
I am looking for the best alternative to Electric(if rates are going up next year). Is it Oil, propane or natural gas?
It's not an easy question to answer but at the moment if you have a gas line to your house undoubtedly the Natural gas will be cheapest.

Find out what the rates are for each, then use the calculator I linked too. It will aslo help if you know the exact efficieny of the heating unit. You may also want to consider installation costs...

There lots of additional things to consider, or example if you don;t have NG line I believe they charge to install one.
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Old 12-11-2010, 09:27 AM
 
41,813 posts, read 51,059,937 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fisheye View Post
These newer outdoor wood furnaces keep the bugs and dirt out of your house - but they are expensive (it takes time to make up your original investment and what is their life expectancy).
I don't know what it is for wood boilers but a coal boiler will go about 50 years if not more and even then will only need some minor work to keep it going a few more decades. If you're young it's once in a lifetime purchase.

EFM makes indoor coal/wood boiler:

http://nepacrossroads.com/about4927.html

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