Gas Heat Bill vs Electric Heat Bill in NC (new house, crawl space)

[nc_green1974]

I was wondering if anybody out there could share their experience with the differnce in costs when comparing gas heat to electric heat asumming all else is equal (Sq footage, age of home, good insulation ect...) I know in NJ gas heat was much more affordable than electric, but some have told me that the milder winters here in NC make the two very comparable. Anybody out there have any experience with this?

Thanks!

[leighbhe]

In the past year, propane has really gone up, we lived with electric heat for years, and the house we have been in for a year has propane.

So, our house is new construction, sealed crawl space, three floors (we close the vents on the third floor) and we ended up doing a pay per month thing so that we pay the same amount for 10 months. We ended up paying 120 for 10 months.

When we had electric heat, we were paying, tops, 175 a month in the dead of winter so that only lasted about 2 months. Other cool months we were paying around 90 a month.

The other issue to consider is what you keep your thermostat on......we have dual zone thermostats, and in the winter we keep them on 71 during the day and 68 at night and the summer we have it on 76 during the day and 72 at night

It all depends on your comfort level!

Leigh

[cladnier]

A heat pump removes heat from outdoors, and by heat transfer, moves it to the inside of your home. It is most efficient when the outdoor temps are 38F and above. When it is below 38F and the heat pump cannot meet the thermostats demand, the thermostat will then turn on heat strips located in the inside air handler. Now, do you not only have a 6000 watt heat pump running, you also have 10kw (10,000 watts) heat strips on as well. The heat strips could be as large as 20kw depending on the size of the house. The system now becomes extremly unefficient if the temp remains under 38F. I am building a new house, and as a contractor myself I see and talk to alot of people about energy. The monthly cost on heat pumps varies. I think most high energy bills is in part from poor HVAC installations and poor to moderate insulation. I am a electrical and HVAC contractor and I am installing 95% efficient gas furnaces with a 16 seer condensing unit for cooling.

[MissingNC]

Cladnier, just curious, what is the square footage of your home?

[dedratermi]

Originally Posted by cladnier

A heat pump removes heat from outdoors, and by heat transfer, moves it to the inside of your home. It is most efficient when the outdoor temps are 38F and above.

Why don't you use a heat pump with secondary gas furnace (instead of electric strips) for those days where the temp is less than 38? It seems that this would be the most efficient way to heat a home. Even at 95% efficiency, gas is very expensive compared to a heat pump.

[adlnc07]

Originally Posted by dedratermi

Why don't you use a heat pump with secondary gas furnace (instead of electric strips) for those days where the temp is less than 38? It seems that this would be the most efficient way to heat a home. Even at 95% efficiency, gas is very expensive compared to a heat pump.

I'll probably ask about this option when I go to replace my HVAC in the coming months. The problem is that I really don't like the air temperature you get coming out of the vents with a heat pump. Yes, it's gotten better over the years as technology improves - but for me it's still chilly. Even with my crummy 22 year old gas furnace and drafty windows, my gas bill was still acceptable this winter - so in the end I think I will probably stick with a furnace & standalone AC unit setup.

[bcattwood]

Originally Posted by dedratermi

Why don't you use a heat pump with secondary gas furnace (instead of electric strips) for those days where the temp is less than 38? It seems that this would be the most efficient way to heat a home. Even at 95% efficiency, gas is very expensive compared to a heat pump.

I have this option on one of my two heat pumps (not sure why just one) and I don't know if it is really worth it in my case. In the four years I have lived in the house I have paid just as much in facility charges as for actual gas usage. For a home that is already using gas for a water heater, stove, etc, the only additional cost would be for the gas used, but unfortunately the builder/original owner cheaped out and the one gas furnace is the only gas appliance provisioned for.