Propane

[abohac]

Got a quote for $1.89 propane. I'm located in central michigan. Good price? Have not done this for 3 years but I'm done to 30%. Gotta act soon.

 

[chainsawaddict]

Still over $2 here in western Nebraska.

I might buy if it gets under $2. Im at thirty percent as well, but only need about 11%/year.

 

[laynes69]

It was 3.89 a gallon here recently. If I saw it for 1.89, I'd fill. We used 30% of our 500 gallon tank since last summer. That includes stove, and dryer.

 

[cityevader]

I'm at $4.19 a gallon....propane company quickly raised their price after I inquired about purchasing my tank (currently renting) and cost analysis of moving it to a proper location, trenching, etc....because they know they've got me in a bind. "Their" tank is on the property line, 4 feet from the house and 4 feet from a combustion source...all way against code. But they put the tank there in the '80's, and without the legal-ese language I'm been searching for, I assume it's grandfathered in. They won't pay to trench 400 feet to relocate around the house and still maintain 80 feet from the road...and they know know I'm not willing to assume the liability of placing a new tank "wherever", so my price has gone from under $3 to over $4 quite rapidly, and I cannot even comparison shop to get a cheaper company to fill a competitors tank.....sssiiiiggghhh.
So I got a logsplitter and have been hitting Craigslist often,and have next years wood nearly ready...if only the splitter wasn't a garbage Harbor Freight that I can't use anymore!

 

[NC4AB]

Paid slightly over $3.00 / gallon last month, plan on this being my last purchase for a long, long time (added my Hardy H-2 this year).

 

[irishcountry]

I was paying 1.89 the last couple of years but then got informed I had to lock in at 2.39 and that I "had" to just on it cuz it was a good price I agreed to purchase 1 fill at 2.39 all I could think about was another greenhouse owner down the road the driver said was screaming mad that he was paying 3.something this spring he let the driver have it!! It is a game I guess and I am tired of playing I only need it as backup thanks to my Harmon wood/coal burner its a wood hog but it has paid for itself in one season best investment I have made!!! irishcountry

 

[mtfallsmikey]

Fill it...NOW!

 

[HUSKYMAN]

When I filled up in August it was $2.29 or $2.39.

 

[chainsawaddict]

While were speaking of Propane
1 gallon propane=91,600BTUs
1 cord ash=21 million BTUs

1 500 gallon propane tank=2 cords hardwood as far as BTUs are concerned.

Makes you feel good about your woodpile doesnt it!

 

[wdchuck]

380 gals of LP at $2.35/gal.

water heater
dryer
stove/oven
main furnaces

Will likely need a refill in may or there abouts. It would be every three-four weeks without the wood furnace.

 

[Wood Doctor]

While were speaking of Propane
1 gallon propane=91,600BTUs
1 cord ash=21 million BTUs
1 500 gallon propane tank=2 cords hardwood as far as BTUs are concerned.

Makes you feel good about your woodpile doesnt it!

Based on these figures and even if I were able to buy propane for a "measly" $2 a gallon, that means I now have over $10,000 of firewood that is either ready to be split or already split and dry. I am sharing this with an older friend, and I'll report this to him.

Maybe it is all worth the effort.

 

[Metals406]

$2.46 a gallon here right now...

 

[timberwolf]

Originally Posted by chainsawaddict
While were speaking of Propane
1 gallon propane=91,600BTUs
1 cord ash=21 million BTUs
1 500 gallon propane tank=2 cords hardwood as far as BTUs are concerned.

Quite a difference though in efficiency new propane heaters can exceed 95% efficiency. Even the best wood stoves burning bone dry wood under ideal conditions are going to be hard pressed to net more than about 50% efficiency. Older woodstoves and fireplaces are going to be much lower yet.

Just filled at $0.80/L wich works out to about $3 cdn or $2.50 US/usg

 

[iCreek]

$2.14 per gallon here in Mid Missouri, had a co-worker that filled his up late last week. Mine is sitting at 74% and that should get me by for a few years in the off burning season for heating my domestic water.

 

[chainsawaddict]

Quite a difference though in efficiency new propane heaters can exceed 95% efficiency. Even the best wood stoves burning bone dry wood under ideal conditions are going to be hard pressed to net more than about 50% efficiency. Older woodstoves and fireplaces are going to be much lower yet.

Just filled at $0.80/L wich works out to about $3 cdn or $2.50 US/usg

yep, I agree, still though even at 50% efficiency the dollar amounts add up when compared to $3 gallon propane.

 

[Wood Doctor]

yep, I agree, still though even at 50% efficiency the dollar amounts add up when compared to $3 gallon propane.

Suppose you figured 2.5 cords of firewood for 500 gallons. If you've collected 5 cords of wood to heat your house and burn it all, that's the same as buying 1,000 gallons of propane.

At $2 a gallon, thats $2,000 of propane equivalent heat. $2,000/5 cords = $400 per cord equivalent.

At $3 a gallon, thats $3,000 of propane equivalent heat. $3,000/5 cords = $600 per cord equivalent.

 

[chainsawaddict]

Suppose you figured 2.5 cords of firewood for 500 gallons. If you've collected 5 cords of wood to heat your house and burn it all, that's the same as buying 1,000 gallons of propane.

At $2 a gallon, thats $2,000 of propane equivalent heat. $2,000/5 cords = $400 per cord equivalent.

At $3 a gallon, thats $3,000 of propane equivalent heat. $3,000/5 cords = $600 per cord equivalent.

I dont think many people charge $400-$600 for a cord of hardwood, and Im talking ash, 21 million btus/cord. When you compare oak at around 26 million thats another 25% better.

The efficiency of your woodstove is far less than that of a furnace because of the exhaust, but if you find a way to capture that heat on the way up, you can get quite a bit out of it. My central brick chimney does a pretty good job of heating my upstairs.

Doing the math sure does make a guy feel good though!!!

 

[danrclem]

Suppose you figured 2.5 cords of firewood for 500 gallons. If you've collected 5 cords of wood to heat your house and burn it all, that's the same as buying 1,000 gallons of propane.

At $2 a gallon, thats $2,000 of propane equivalent heat. $2,000/5 cords = $400 per cord equivalent.

At $3 a gallon, thats $3,000 of propane equivalent heat. $3,000/5 cords = $600 per cord equivalent.

From my own experience I'd say that your figures are very close. I used to use 600 gal. of propane or maybe a little bit more each year. The last two years I've used a little less than 100 gal. of propane a year. That's for cooking and a little bit of heating.

I haven't kept real close track but I'm pretty sure that I've never burned three cords of wood in one winter. I've got my wood stacked so I can tell how much wood I'll use this heating season.

I've spent $850.00 on saws and a little bit more on gas and oil this year but I'll save more than that this winter. There shouldn't be anywhere near that much cost next year (unless I buy a 346 ) because I've got almost four years of wood stocked. I'm going to try and stay at least four years ahead because I have room for at least three years under roof.

 

[Wood Doctor]

I dont think many people charge $400-$600 for a cord of hardwood, and Im talking ash, 21 million btus/cord. When you compare oak at around 26 million thats another 25% better.

The efficiency of your woodstove is far less than that of a furnace because of the exhaust, but if you find a way to capture that heat on the way up, you can get quite a bit out of it. My central brick chimney does a pretty good job of heating my upstairs.

Doing the math sure does make a guy feel good though!!!

Even if you drop the firewood down to willow or basswood, the numbers still make your cordwood seem attractive. To be sure, we cannot really beat the conveniece of propane, natural gas, fuel oil, or electricity, but we can still beat the price per BTU.

Problem is, the firewood price does not include the collection price that everyone who gathers it, delivers it, and processes it must absorb. Add that in, and the other home heating fuels usually win. So, I burn wood for the comfort, and many other reasons, but not for the money that it saves.

 

[chainsawaddict]

Even if you drop the firewood down to willow or basswood, the numbers still make your cordwood seem attractive. To be sure, we cannot really beat the conveniece of propane, natural gas, fuel oil, or electricity, but we can still beat the price per BTU.

Problem is, the firewood price does not include the collection price that everyone who gathers it, delivers it, and processes it must absorb. Add that in, and the other home heating fuels usually win. So, I burn wood for the comfort, and many other reasons, but not for the money that it saves.

I agree! By the time you factor in what I would be paying for therapy if I didnt cut wood I am WAY ahead. It is a lot more than just a heat source. That has definitley been the common theme on this board the last week or so!