Switch from Propane to Natural Gas

[skives]

We just found out the natural gas is being run down the road that connects to our road. The gas company is offering to run it to our house for approximately $3,600 lump sum or $45 a month for 10 years. The calculator on the gas company website says we will save $585 a year based on the amount of propane we use and the amount we are paying this year.

What do you guys think is it worth it to switch?

[Jluke]

What appliances run on gas - furnace? Stove? Water heater? Dryer?

may need to convert them in some way.

for instance my furnace has an adapter specific for propane.

otherwise switching probably makes sense

[skives]

Only furnace and water heater run on propane. I might have to buy a new water heater if the current one can’t be converted.

[kork13]

Not that I don't trust them (but I don't), can you find a propane vs. natural gas calculator that is NOT affiliated with a gas company?

$585/yr (if legitimate) is somewhat interesting, plus you rid yourself of whatever hassle it is to get the propane refilled periodically.... But I assume you're not desperate to rid yourself of propane, so it's really down to preference & a straight numbers comparison. Your breakeven (assuming no major appliance conversion costs) ends up around 8-9 years, accounting for inflation/opportunity cost. So not what I'd call compelling.... But again, it's interesting.

Me? I'd probably do the switch, and pay for it upfront (I hate owing debt payments to anybody). I like having natural gas, and natural gas is also typically more appealing to a buyer or renter than propane. And if you plan to stay in the house FoReVeR, then you'll probably (eventually) get the benefit of lower energy costs.

[Fishindude77]

You will save $$ by making that switch.
Also won't have to worry about monitoring your tank level or ever running out, and you'll get the big ugly tank out of the yard.

Your gas appliances will need new gas orfices (spelling?) to make the switch, but that's a rather inexpensive deal.

[skives]

I found out what we used and paid for propane in 2022 and according to the companies calculator we would have saved $868 by using natural gas. This doesn’t include using less wood pellets if we switched.

[bjl584]

Natural gas will most likely be cheaper than propane. Propane tends to be expensive, and a lot of suppliers try to rope you into a contract if you don't own your tanks.
Converting appliances isn't a big deal. There are kits available to convert anything that runs on one gas or the other.
The change is usually just the orifice, as natural gas burns at a different pressure than propane.

[rennigade]

I'd make the switch if I were you. Constant flow and never having to worry about running out or your tank needing maintenance.

Here's a random story about propane. Buddies parents have a propane tank. One day a random propane company stopped by and filled their tank. They were supposed to fill next door neighbors but screwed up. Buddies parents called and told company. They said they can pay the amount they filled, at a cheaper rate mind you, or they will come back and suck it out of tank.

Buddies mom works at a courthouse. She asked couple lawyers about it if they would have to pay. Apparently in PA, even if the propane company screwed up and delivered propane, you either have to pay or have them remove it, by law. Propane company is protected. How strange is that?? Literally any company can fill your tank and you're on the hook, or they can suck it out. Strange. Never mind they were trespassing.

[myrdale]

Lump sum is $3,600 the 10 year loan is $5,400. The calculator I used showed that to be 8.7% interest. If you're going to do it but not pay out of pocket, you might consider shopping around for the loan.

If you can afford the lump sum, I would do that.

Keep in mind there will be other cost. I suspect the burners on each of your appliances will need to be changed. I'm assuming $1,000 will cover everything, but that is a guess.

[Drake3287]

I'd do it in a second! Almost like going from septic to a city sewer system, no more worries. It's just to bad one of our political parties wants to band natural gas all together. Already happening here in California. Having had natural gas stoves, driers, furnaces and water heaters all my life, it'll be a nice change for you.

[ua_guy]

I'd make the switch if I were you. Constant flow and never having to worry about running out or your tank needing maintenance.

Here's a random story about propane. Buddies parents have a propane tank. One day a random propane company stopped by and filled their tank. They were supposed to fill next door neighbors but screwed up. Buddies parents called and told company. They said they can pay the amount they filled, at a cheaper rate mind you, or they will come back and suck it out of tank.

Buddies mom works at a courthouse. She asked couple lawyers about it if they would have to pay. Apparently in PA, even if the propane company screwed up and delivered propane, you either have to pay or have them remove it, by law. Propane company is protected. How strange is that?? Literally any company can fill your tank and you're on the hook, or they can suck it out. Strange. Never mind they were trespassing.

Not to change subject too much, but I don't think the (wrong) propane company was trespassing. The worker probably thought he was doing the right thing and filling the right house, and he would have had legal permission if he hadn't made a mistake. And the propane company should be paid for its product. Here in WA, I remember the law is kind of murky. You basically have to be informed you are trespassing, and then you're in the legal wrong. But people have an unclear permission to approach your door even if you have "No trespassing" and "private property" signs posted. I did 7 years of this next to a popular hiking trail that bordered our land. Uck.

We've had a couple of homes on propane now and if the gas company came down the road, we'd switch. At the end of the day it's easier, and the price is more even-keeled (natural gas). Depending on how long I intended to stay, I'd have to look at that $45/month option versus the full assessment in cash.

[myrdale]

I'd make the switch if I were you. Constant flow and never having to worry about running out or your tank needing maintenance.

Here's a random story about propane. Buddies parents have a propane tank. One day a random propane company stopped by and filled their tank. They were supposed to fill next door neighbors but screwed up. Buddies parents called and told company. They said they can pay the amount they filled, at a cheaper rate mind you, or they will come back and suck it out of tank.

Buddies mom works at a courthouse. She asked couple lawyers about it if they would have to pay. Apparently in PA, even if the propane company screwed up and delivered propane, you either have to pay or have them remove it, by law. Propane company is protected. How strange is that?? Literally any company can fill your tank and you're on the hook, or they can suck it out. Strange. Never mind they were trespassing.

How do you know they actually filled the tank? How do you know they will pull the correct amount out?

[ua_guy]

It's metered when pumped in or out and usually corrected to a baseline temperature of 60 degrees. You do have to trust their meter is accurate, but like any fueling station or company, meters are regulated and regularly checked.

[Jluke]

How do you know they actually filled the tank? How do you know they will pull the correct amount out?

My tank has a gauge so I can know how much is left. If I had 60% left and they filled it to 90%. Then when they draw it out it should go back to 60%.

of course if I used any propane then the number would be lower. I imagine they have a gauge to measure how much they pump out.

Also wanted to add the nightmare stories where oil gets delivered to a home but they have since removed the oil tank and the oil is just pumped into the basement because they never removed the outside connection to add oil to the tank.

[skives]

So after some research and talking to some professional heating and cooling places. If we switched to natural gas we would need a new hot water heater. Our furnace could be converted but it is 20 years old. I figure if we replaced both including the costs from the gas company we are looking around $10k-$12. There are rebates and tax credits that add up to $1,700. I also think our savings per year could be anywhere between $1k-$2k. This includes going tank less on the water heater.

Would you guys do it?