Posted on 01/19/2025 1:28:27 PM PST by DallasBiff
gas. hands down.
Northern Virginia here. I have a new heat pump for when the temp is about 35F. Propane for when it is below. A large, free-standing Harmon pellet stove that will do the job, too.
And I have a 20x20 greenhouse that will heat up nicely when the sun is shining. I have a fan and motor set to send the hot air into my house at 80F and it returns from the basement back to the greenhouse, again, when the sun is shining. That will heat the 2,400sqft house during a sunny day.
One problem, good wood pellets are now 8 dollars a 40lb bag in my area (Turman). I can’t seem to find cherry pits or corn for burning. Must be a northern thing.
gas. either natural or propane but gas
“””Brass flex lines were used and sold at all hardware stores.”””
By the way, you didn’t remember the push on hoses, do you remember the use of flared copper tubing for gas? or even using copper pipe for the entire house gas lines?
In almost all cases natural gas is considerably cheaper than electricity on a per million BTU basis.
I’ve never lived in a place that had gas. Growing up we had oil heat and everything else was electric. Now I’m in a condo that’s all electric...including heat. And we just got a notice saying we’re getting “smart” meters. So it won’t be long before our bull dyke Governor gets to set my heat...my A/C...my hot water...my stove.
I built a heated floor. The floor is a 125,000 lb slab of concrete with water circulating in it that is hooked up to an outdoor furnace.
I usually burn coal in it, but can burn wood if necessary.
The heat is wonderful.
I accidentally over fired the furnace one winter when it was cold. The floor got so hot that my dogs refused to lay on it. Had to open the windows and it took two days to cool down.
I bought 50 ton of raw anthracite coal straight from the deep mine near me. One of my clients owned and operates the mine.
Problem was, mine run coal had boulders of coal the size of a sofa. I just lifted them up to full height with my backhoe and left it shatter when it hit the concrete pad the furnace sets on.
Hillbilly living can be fun.
Yes, I remember the variations on gas appliances. From the early 60’s to present. Never saw anyone use rubber hoses for natural gas or propane.
I grew up with it, you didn’t, how about the copper supply tubing for appliances and soldered copper pipe for the entire house’s gas lines, do you remember any of that?
You need electricity for the fan, controller and gas valve. Right now if the power went out I would have the power line to it opened up and wired to an extension cord to my back porch in about ten minutes by flashlight. Then fire up the generator to get heat running again.
If I have any major rewiring done I'll put it, the fridge and the Internet connection (gotta Freep!) on a separate circuit with an easy disconnect between line and generator power.
I’m at the LA house this week and loving the woodstove right now.
I have two propane heaters in my two story home with two central heat and air systems. They require no electricity, and can heat the entire home if/when power goes out.
Dang, is that from pre 1900? You got me, I’m not that old.
Valves like that were still being used in the 50s and early 60s, as in my home as a boy, just like I said.
I remember rubber hoses on those.
More than once the smell of plastic army men wafted through the house.
I have Dearborns adapted for propane and use polyethylene tubing in Texas. Move them into storage 10 months out of the year. Main lines in house are rigid copper for oven and water heater.
We have gas heat with electric ignition...We are so scr**** when the power goes out.
“””I remember rubber hoses on those.”””
I’m guessing you didn’t grow up rich?
Just bought a 100 year old house well outside Portland, OR.
Installed a new quiet gas heater for the main floor. Installed a heat pump for A/C in the summer. Mini-splits in the two upstairs rooms that will get little use, so I can keep them mostly turned off. Adding a soapstone woodburning stove next. So I’ll have three options I’m my tree-heavy neighborhood.
My home:
Heat:
primary: wood stove (wood harvested on property)
secondary: propane central heat
Water:
Electric
Cooking:
cook top: propane
oven: electric
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