Propane vs. Oil (Charlton: new home, live, prices)

[katiet41]

Hi All,

Does anyone have an opinion on the propane vs. oil heat debate? I am building a new home in Charlton, MA and the baseline price includes an oil burning furnace with forced hot water bb heat. Originally, I was going to prop a propane tank outside for cooking, but am now considering burying a 500 gallon propane tank and using it to cook and heat the house. Propane burns more efficiently and is therefore a cleaner fuel, but am wavering because of prices. Oil has been cheaper than propane in the past, but is skyrocketing now. The home will be 2208 sq. feet with 3 heat zones. Any input would be appreciated.

[gf2020]

It's definitely a roll of the dice.

On average, for the past 20+ years oil has been cheaper than natural gas or propane. In the past 2 or 3 years we are seeing a shifting where natural gas is the cheapest heating source and oil and propane are about equal.

Propane is not a more efficient fuel, however.

1 gallon of propane will generate 91,600 BTUs
1 gallon of heating oil will generate 138,000 BTUs

The difference is that the propane fired burner will typically operate at a higher rate of efficiency than the oil burner so that tends to net out the greater heat capacity of oil.

There was a propane shortage in the Northeast earlier in the winter due to a closed terminal in Selkirk, NY, so prices increased. That problem has been alleviated now so prices have moderated.

If I were building today I would probably go with propane.

[Justin Sparks]

That's a tough choice. I don't know which way I'd go. Natgas is not in the area I take it? I've heated with oil but last year the natgas company put a half mile extension line in the ground to the area I live and I'm making that conversion.

Whatever you choose, any thought on an alternative back-up like pellets or wood?

[NY'er lost in MA]

I'd look into Hydro-Air systems.

I also second the idea about an alternative fuel heating source (pellets). If you have an open floor-plan get a stove for the 1st floor and you can zone off the rest and barely use the furnace in shoulder seasons...

[snatale1]

I've never had Propane for heat, but had it for cooking / drying and it defenitly doesn't pack the punch that natgas does. The plus is it only had to be filled 3 times a year. But took an extra 45min to dry clothes vs natgas (same dryer).

[Massmailinator]

Oil doesn't explode

Seriously, I am so paranoid about the stuff. Got a new propane furnace installed.

Valve in the furnace was defective, took a week to figure out that leak, and this is a new Trane furnace.

2 months later smell propane in the basement, have a leak in one of the joints.

Had an oil furnace for 20 years no problems.

Want to build a house, now I am not so sure about gas/propane the next time around.