Comments on: Oil Vs Propane For Heating

By: john

john — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 15:17:39 +0000

We installed a ground source geothermal heating system two years ago and it’s true. We heated in upstate New York for about $500 last year. The up front costs are high but the payback isn’t that far out when you consider it’s at least two times as efficient as any other heating source out there.

The anti-freeze in the closed loop (water and methanol) got down to 31 degrees in January and the heat pump was still pulling enough heat from the antifreeze to heat our home.

I’m not a thermodynamics guru but am very good and counting kWh and paying heating bills!

Geothermal is the most cost-effective and efficient source out there – hands down.

By: george

george — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:58:26 +0000

300-200% efficiency ? Sorry, no such thing. Take a quick look at the 3 laws of thermodynamics. Someone is playing with advertising claims to get you to believe that there really is a “free lunch”.
In the end, there is no free lunch. You can play with energy efficiencies will up into the 90′s, but in the end, you are moving heat with electricity using heat pumps. Below 20deg F it gets really challenging.

By: Randy

Randy — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 20:43:54 +0000

John: I was baffled as to how a heat pump could be more efficient at heating than just using electric resistance heaters. Seems to break the laws of thermodynamics. With resistance heaters, basically 1 electrical input, and 1 heat output (I think all resistance heaters are considered 100% efficient). But with a heat pump, you are not warming (or cooling) the air–rather, you are moving the heat in the outside air from outside to inside. So, with 1 input of energy, you can get anywhere from 2 to 3 outputs of heat. Where I used to live, a heat pump was very efficient–heated 3640 sq. ft of house in Dec/Jan for $176 of electricity per month (Vancouver Island area), and that included water heating and lights for that period (me and my wife only). This was an air to air system. In the summer, the process is reversed, and the heat pump transfers the heat from the air, and works as an air conditioner. Basically, there are refrideration systems. A good resource for this is Natural Resouces Canada website. Good luck with your home.

By: Todd

Todd — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 17:02:33 +0000

John – Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Frankly I’m just as baffled by such claims. Please do share if you find answers.

By: John Fournier

John Fournier — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 15:24:55 +0000

Hello gents,
I am in the process of designing a water Solar home.The system will have a propane water heater . I was trying to get a handle on Propane fuel versus other energies.This article is very effective in confirming my thoughs and my design. The problem I have is that statements made by the Geothermal advocates. They get 200-300 %efficiency. 5 and 6 HP compressors seem to operate on nothing. I somehow can’t seem to wrap my head around those claims. I am in an area where there is 4000 heating degree days per year.Comments please.

By: Vote on this article at blogengage.com

Vote on this article at blogengage.com — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:49:34 +0000

Comparison of Oil Vs Propane For Home Heating | Home Construction Improvement…

Article shows you how to compare oil heat vs propane heat including a proper comparison of BTU’s….