Propane vs. Electric Home Heating

According to the American Community Survey, nearly 320,000 people in New York State use propane to heat their homes – about one-third of the number that use electricity.

The question is, who is getting the most bang for their heating buck?

The fact is, while both energy sources are versatile enough to power a range of home comfort appliances, propane gas will almost always do a better job of it – especially on the heating side of the equation.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating a home in the U.S. with a propane heating system in recent years has cost far less than heating with an electric system. In part, that’s because a propane gas furnace heats air to about 130°F to 140°F and operates in short intervals to minimize operating costs. An electric heat pump, on the other hand, produces heat below body temperature (98.6°F), so the air actually feels cool when placing your hand in front of a vent.

There are other cost advantages to choosing a propane heating system, too: on average, a propane-fueled furnace lasts 5 to 10 years longer than an electric heat pump, so you won’t have to replace equipment as often. Propane systems are also less complex than electric heat pump systems, so maintenance isn’t required as often and isn’t as costly to perform.

Advantages Of Propane

Propane benefits aren’t limited to heating systems

Better heating performance isn’t the only benefit of choosing propane over electricity to power your appliance. Consider the other uses of propane in your Hudson Valley home:

• Propane water heaters operate about 30 percent more efficiently than electric water heaters – close to 50 percent if you use a tankless propane water heater.
• Propane space heaters – including direct vent fireplaces – heat rooms faster than electric models, and typically run more efficiently.
• Propane gas cooking ranges give you precision temperature control that no electric stovetop can match.
• Propane clothes dryers dry faster with less wear and tear on your clothes than electric clothes dryers.

As you can see, you’ll save money and get better performance when you choose propane appliances. You’ll also help the environment, since as much as two-thirds of the energy used by a power plant to generate and transmit electricity is wasted on the way to your home.

Propane – a smarter way to power your home comfort appliances. To learn more, or to get a FREE, no obligation estimate on propane appliances for your home, contact Bottini Fuel today for expert propane appliance installation in Hudson Valley, NY!