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AR15.COM
12/30/2013 8:58:55 PM EDT
Need a check on what's normal.  We used 300 gallons from Nov 11- Dec 31 this year (at $3.10 a gallon!).  Didn't pre-buy this year because we thought we were selling.  House is 2 story with finished basement, 2500 sqft total, built 1997.   Many MANY windows.  Water heater is electric, furnace, dryer, and cooktop are propane.  95% efficient furnace.  Howell area.  We keep the house at 63 all the time.

We're installing a woodstove to try and bring costs down, and will be switching propane companies as soon as the weather warms up enough that we can get the tanks switched out without the house freezing.
12/31/2013 11:46:35 AM EDT
[#1]
I do HVAC repair. Last 6 to 8 weeks have been brutal cold. I've been busier than hell.
Temps haven't  been this cold for this long for a couple of years now. 8 gallons a day
(if my math is right) doesn't seem too crazy, given your appliances that use propane.
12/31/2013 3:36:41 PM EDT
[#2]
That price per gallon seems high I'll ask the wife what the current price is here. The usage doesn't seem out of line its a very cold year this year.

She said 2.54 here no contract north of Lansing area.
12/31/2013 9:55:32 PM EDT
[#3]
Usage is about normal. We are in a similar sized house/furnace.

If it weren't for running wood heat as primary, we would be in the same boat, and have been when unable to run the stove.

On the wood, we might run 300Gal annually, usually less, for water heat, stove, and furnace taking off the edge when it's too early or late in the season to burn.

Do yourself a favor, and purchase your own tank. That way you can shop around, and get MUCH better rates.

Hell of a time to need gas right now.
The whole state is running short, and the transfer bottle drivers are running ragged trying to keep up. The Governor declared an energy emergency last week and suspended work hour limitations on drivers, but there's still a 5 hour wait at the hub thanks to so many trucks bieng backed up.

The cold early winter caught a shitload of Farmers with Corn that had to come off before it was dry, so Propane consumption is off the friggin' charts, even before home heat use.
Be prepared to get wallet RAPED!

Get the stove in, get the wood lined up, and good luck man!!
1/1/2014 9:11:04 AM EDT
[#4]
Thanks everybody.  Good to know that our usage isn't completely out of line.  I'm going to try to run the chimney pipe for the woodstove this weekend when it warms up a little.  That last bill gave me heart palpitations, haha.
1/1/2014 12:35:38 PM EDT
[#5]
My wife and I live in Tawas. Without woodstove the bill would be huge. Wood heat is good