Posted 2012-04-29 6:24 AM (#143510) Subject: Propane Usage...Furnace?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
Most of our shows are in the summer so no need for heat. This weekend we showed Friday and Saturday and it was cold. We ran the furnace overnight (8ft lq) and used almost 5 gallons of propane which suprised me a bit. I figured a bottle of propane would last for a long time. We also have an little electric heater built in that we will probably use in the future. It's not so much the cost of the propane it's just that it is a bit inconvinient to fill the tanks.
Posted 2012-04-29 8:04 AM (#143515 - in reply to #143510) Subject: RE: Propane Usage...Furnace?
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
How full was the tank before you turned on the furnace? Most refrigerators use the propane also and your tank may be been used some before the show just keeping the fridge cold all week before the show.
On a very cold weekend, Where the temps were Zero, I went thru a 20lb bottle in two days. So yes a furnace can go thru a lot of fuel if the furnace runs constantly.
Posted 2012-04-30 10:01 AM (#143537 - in reply to #143510) Subject: RE: Propane Usage...Furnace?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385 Location: high desert, CA.
I use about that amount of propane on a chilly nite. And my LQ is about the same size as that. I too was surprised when camping on the central coast of California, and the temps dropped to the upper 40's. It was also quite foggy and drizzly, so a warm, dry place was nice. My Hot water heater didn't seem to use as much propane as the furnace, which surprised me, as we took several showers over a three day weekend with 4 people. I am now carrying an extra 5 gal bottle for the BBQ, and could use that if needed. And yes, propane IS EXPENSIVE at almost $4.50 a gallon
Posted 2012-04-30 11:12 AM (#143542 - in reply to #143510) Subject: RE: Propane Usage...Furnace?
Veteran
Posts: 211 Location: El Paso, Texas
Thats the reason I carry a Mr. Heater and an extra 5gl propane bottle. Runs all week on 5 gl and keeps the trailer 70 no matter how cold outside. and no noisey fan going on all night
Posted 2012-04-30 2:15 PM (#143549 - in reply to #143515) Subject: RE: Propane Usage...Furnace?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
Originally written by Painted Horse on 2012-04-29 8:04 AM
How full was the tank before you turned on the furnace? Most refrigerators use the propane also and your tank may be been used some before the show just keeping the fridge cold all week before the show.
On a very cold weekend, Where the temps were Zero, I went thru a 20lb bottle in two days. So yes a furnace can go thru a lot of fuel if the furnace runs constantly.
It was full and I don't use my refrigerator, I prefer a cooler. Based on what you an others have said it looks like I will use my electric heater in the future.
Posted 2012-04-30 7:24 PM (#143558 - in reply to #143510) Subject: RE: Propane Usage...Furnace?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 316 Location: Illinois
$4.50 a gallon propane? I can get a 20 gallon filled tank exchange for $16.99 at the local grocery store here in Wilmington, IL. Which reminds me, I really need to do that with my barbeque tank in case the price goes up again anytime soon. I get the camper tank refilled, because it has a gauge. Nice to know about how much propane one has left when camping. :)
Propane usage with a furnace is going to vary with the size of your living quarters. I have a small truck camper, so it's pretty efficient, though because of where it is, takes a while for the bed area over the truck to warm up. Even so, I also turn the furnace way down while I sleep and turn it up again to warm up in the morning. If I am somewhere with electric hookup I have a small portable electric heater I use instead. ;)
Posted 2012-04-30 10:52 PM (#143567 - in reply to #143510) Subject: RE: Propane Usage...Furnace?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
4.50 a gallon propane? I can get a 20 gallon filled tank exchange for $16.99 at the local grocery store
I believe you are mistaken about the capacity of your propane tank. Propane tanks are measured by the weight of their contents, not the volume. A 20 # tank hold 20 lbs of propane, not 20 gallons.
An empty 20# tank weighs aprox ~18 lbs empty, and ~38# full. Because propane weighs ~ 3.7 pounds per gallon, a twenty pound tank would have a liquid volume of about ~ 5.4 gallons.
A refill costing $16, would result in a cost per gallon of slightly less than $3.00 a gallon, still a bargan in today's economy.
Propane Usage...Furnace?
