Propane useage?

[trbomax]

As stated in another post,the wifes 14 x 32 is almost done. Ive installed a Goodman 95% dual stage furnace ratede at 40k. It will heat her shop and my 14 x 32 machine shop area as well. The plan is to keep it at 45 when we are not there,and run it up to 70 a few hrs a day when we are. Cielings are r 70,walls r-40,and its tight,every penetration is sealed.The problem is ,I'm not done outside around the building so setting a pig now would mean moveing it later,changeing the line too. I'm wondering how long this rig might run on a 100# cyl ?, then finish it up next summer corectly. Would I be changeing them every week? That would be a PIA and wont fly.

 

[nate379]

With that much insulation, light a freaking candle in there and I bet that would even heat it up after a bit! Most houses even up in Fairbanks and further north don't have that kind of insulation... and it gets -60*!

 

[trbomax]

Its layered wall insulation, steel sideing,foil wrap,1.5 " foam,2x4 stud wall w/r-13 fg,another 1.5" foam,3/8" foil wrap over the interior wall girts ,then 5/8 fb.

Cieling is steel,then 3/8 foil wrap,4 " foam,16" blown cellulose.#/8" foil wrap under the roof steel,powered attic ventilation.

I have issues with spending money for propane!

Edit) this system allows for a complete thermal break everywhere. My house is done the same way,the problem is that all the windows and doors require jamb extensions and it gets to be a pia! Only 2 windows in her shop,triple glazed,argon low e.,same as the house,actually left over from the house.The house is 1700 sq ft and I heat it w/45k.

 

[csp]

If anything will eat the propane it will be the surge getting it from 45 to 70. The furnace will be on its highest setting at that point.

Not sure how long it will set between times you're in the shop, but it might be best not to turn it down so low.

 

[trbomax]

Good point.

 

[Gooch]

If anything will eat the propane it will be the surge getting it from 45 to 70. The furnace will be on its highest setting at that point.

Not sure how long it will set between times you're in the shop, but it might be best not to turn it down so low.

Hasn't this myth been proven incorrect? any fuel supplier i know of and any energy efficiency info i've read say that for every 1 degree you turn the stat down for 8 hours saves 1%.

last winter was my first winter heating with LP and i had a 95% Efficient furnace installed and i used about 385 gallons to heat the house and water. the house is empty for anywhere from 10-14 hours a day that the stat gets turned down to 50*. while i never tested it, i wasn't disapointed with my LP consumption last winter doing this.

 

[mmhouse]

I'm curious, how are your door and floor insulated?

 

[HoosierBuddy]

Hasn't this myth been proven incorrect? any fuel supplier i know of and any energy efficiency info i've read say that for every 1 degree you turn the stat down for 8 hours saves 1%.

last winter was my first winter heating with LP and i had a 95% Efficient furnace installed and i used about 385 gallons to heat the house and water. the house is empty for anywhere from 10-14 hours a day that the stat gets turned down to 50*. while i never tested it, i wasn't disapointed with my LP consumption last winter doing this.

With a gas furnace, you will always save money by turning the t-stat down when the building is not in use.

The only case where you'd be better off NOT turning down the t-stat is on a heat pump system where doing so would require the emergency strip heat to come in when you turned it back up.

Check your propane price on 100# cylinders vs a larger tank. I'm thinking it will be A LOT more per gallon on the cylinders. If so, I'd get a tank. But that's just me. I'm all over cheaper.

Phil

 

[jonny o]

A couple 110 electric heaters will keep it from freezing as long as you aren't in and out of the doors all day. Then use the temp tank to get it to working level

How are you electric prices?

 

[koditten]

When I used to run propane, I had this same problem. I knew I would need to move the pig later. Before I had my pig set, I built a set of metal "skiis" for the pig to sit on. When the propane company came in with the pig, I had him set it on my skiis that I built.

When all was said and done I just hooked up to the pig and towed it to were I wanted to put it permanantly.

I do remember that my pig was around 35% full when I towed it. It wasn't as tippy as when it was at full(85%).

 

[DuluthMN]

I just locked in at $1.79 for propane on a 120 tank. Not sure if that is a good price or not.

 

[trbomax]

I'm curious, how are your door and floor insulated?

The floor has 2" foam under it and around it on the outside of the footing which is 3' deep.The doors are from C&L Ward in Davison Mi and are foam filled steel. One in her shop is a 36",mine are 6'-0 double outswing. Both have public access sills.The wall with the doors is actually an inside wall to the high bay shop,which is also insulated but only heated as required.

edit) last year the building and floor never froze,even with -20 nights. I could pull the groomer inside,all packed up after a run,and in the morning it would be about 75% melted off with no heat in the building.

 

[Kevin54]

I can heat my 28x36 in the coldest months on a 120lb tank, keeping it around 55 and around 73 when I am out there which is every other day and a tank will last me a little over a month and a half, give or take some depending on my time out there