Is it cheaper to use a micro furnace to heat a small house than using the propane furnace?

Question

My fiance and I are moving into a very small bungalow that is heated by a propane furnace.

We are moving from an old apartment (100 yr old building) with base board heaters which we found too expensive so we used the micro furnace all winter long.

I am wondering if I use the micro furnace to heat the new house if it would be more sufficiant cost wise than the propane furnace as I know propane is quite costly.

If the one micro furnace isn't enough I would consider buying a second.

I tried to google the subject but didn't find much help.

Please let me know what you think I should do?

Thanks ahead of time! :)

Answer 1

Is this a 1500watt micro furnace you are talking about.

Your micro furnace is a ceramic heater and may have been more efficient than an old base board electric heat.  Base board electric heating is the cheapest to install and the most costly to run.

In the US the cost of any electric heat is higher than any gas or fuel heat.

You should be quite happy with your propane bill.

Answer 2

Even with the craziness of propane pricing this year, it is still cheaper than electricity.

Just for reference, every dollar spent on electric heat for a home costs roughly $0.93 to heat with propane. Oil would be $1.34 and natural gas heat would run you $0.54. Those numbers are based on a home heated with an electric forced air furnace or baseboard heating. Micro furnaces are not going to heat as efficiently or effectively. also, they aren't meant to run day-in day-out for weeks or months.

Stick with the propane. In fact, depending on how many people are living there, if you have an electric water heater or clothes dryer, changing those to gas appliances could save you as much or more than your heating costs. I would never tell someone to throw away perfectly good appliances, but as they wear out...change over to propane ones. Anything you can get off of electricity will save you money.   Good Luck!

Answer 3

Unless you're getting cheap 'hydro' electrcicity,

propane should be a lot cheaper than electric heat.

You might set the 'whole house' gas furnace low, and 'fill-in'

with electric heat in an occupied room.

That might save some dough.