Most people think they have just two heating options for the houses: natural gas and propane. But are these truly the best options?
Homeowners get hit with rising heating costs, surprise delivery fees, and unpredictable energy prices—making it harder to stay warm without breaking the bank. And if you’ve ever found yourself shivering during a power outage because your heating system failed, you know how unreliable these fuel sources can be.
So, surely, there’s a better way to heat your home that would save money, be more reliable, and give you complete control. For instance, outdoor wood boilers, as they can give energy independence while saving money over the long term and delivering serious heat without high utility bills.
In this guide, we will discuss all those hidden “cost” components within natural gas or propane and how these fuels might not be as easy on the pocket as they seem; plus, how an outdoor wood boiler system is much smarter, more efficient, and cost-effective alternative.
Natural Gas vs. Propane: The True Costs of Heating Your Home
Respective natural gas versus propane heating would seem like a very convenient option. After all, what could be easier than adjusting a thermostat to warm your house? But it is not that simple and easy; in fact, it becomes costly.
Let’s break it down:
1. The Unpredictable Price of Natural Gas and Propane
The never-ending price swings of natural gas and propane often irritate the consumer. Changing market demands, international events, even weather, keep prices of natural gas volatile. In a bad winter, the cost can be doubled or tripled. This was explained by the Energy Information Administration.
- Propane is even worse-it has no regulation like natural gas, so it does not have a ceiling price and can charge at any rate at any time.
- Using propane means just handing you over to those delivery companies that control prices and then decide when to refill your tank.
Question to Consider: Have you ever opened your energy bill in the winter and found yourself shocked by the total? Now imagine having a heating system where you control the costs-as opposed to your gas company.
2. Installation & Infrastructure Costs
Many homeowners overlook the massive setup costs of installing a natural gas or propane system.
Natural Gas:
- If you don’t currently have access to gas inside your home, expect to pay just thousands to connect it.
- A run of gas line from your main supply to your house can run you anywhere between $2,000 and $10,000-before paying for a furnace itself.
Propane:
- Propane requires a large storage tank, which you either buy or rent.
- The tank itself costs between $500-$2,500 and renting it incurs continuous charges.
- Refills are also unpredictable, and running out in a snowstorm may result in waiting days for a delivery.
Question to Consider: Why spend thousands just to get locked into a system that keeps charging you forever?
3. Delivery Fees, Contracts & Hidden Charges
- Delivery fees are charged by propane suppliers even when gas prices are steady.
- Many companies will obligate homeowners into contracts that will bind them with high rates even when fuel prices have fallen.
- Delay and unpredictability, especially in deliveries, will surely make you suffer in the frigid yet blissful winter.
Power outage? The chances of getting into real trouble just increased.
- Gas heating systems nowadays most often use an electrical ignition, which means, when the power goes out, so does your heat.
- Even with a generator, it would be very costly to run a propane or natural gas furnace since fuel is burned up pretty fast.
Question That Needs to Be Asked: What on earth is the point of using propane or gas if it becomes totally useless when there is a power outage?
How Outdoor Wood Boilers Solve These Problems
With an outdoor wood boiler, you eliminate heating bills and gain total control over your energy costs.
Here’s why an outdoor wood boiler is the smarter choice:
1. Wood Is a Low-Cost, Renewable Fuel Source
- With firewood, there is independence from utility companies and gas suppliers; you either get it yourself or buy it at stable prices.
- Unlike gas or propane, firewood prices are really stable.
- This has permitted many homeowners to reduce their heating bills by 50-90% just by going wood-fired.
In other words: If you were to spend $2000 a year on propane and switched to a wood boiler, spending just $500 on firewood, you’d be saving $1500 every year. And that makes a whopping $7500!
2.You Have Control Over Your Heat
- A highly efficient outdoor wood boiler means no more dependence on gas lines, deliveries, or electronic ignitions.
- Control your own supply of fuel. Do away with surprises in price.
- Heat is transferred through underground insulated pex pipe to your home.
Question to Consider: Wouldn’t it feel great to never get another heating bill?
3. More Efficient & Long-Lasting Than Gas Furnaces
Generally, a good outdoor boiler is useful for a lifetime of more than 20 years while a gas furnace lasts only 10-15 years.
- A high-quality heat exchanger increases efficiency.
- Circulator pump heat the optimized way through your home.
- These modern outdoor boilers burn cleanly and maximize emission efficiencies in fuel use.
Conclusion: A Smarter Heating Choice
Natural gas and propane are basically expensive long-term options because such unseen costs include increasing fuel prices, supplier charges, and other unpredictable bills. Wood boilers are everything different, where you do not have to worry about heating costs, energy independence, but most importantly reliability-not by utility companies.
The only other plus is, with a wood boiler, you are using renewable firewood, which allows for sustainability and self-sufficiency. You won’t have to depend on them anymore; you can have steady and affordable heating at your terms.
Ready to cut your heating costs and take control over your power source? Visit OutdoorBoiler.com and make the switch to an outdoor wood boiler system!
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is burning wood cheaper than natural gas?
In most cases, burning hardwood would be vastly less costlier than gas if you have got cheap or free hardwood. Gas prices are never constant. In most parts of America, burning wood generally will be cheaper from the point-of-view of using it for space heating.
- Does an outdoor wood boiler need a chimney cap?
Such scenarios might really ruin the outdoor wood burner’s steel if the furnaces continue to burn into fire holding during the hours it is meant to be off. Do not forget that chimney caps ARE NOT optional equipment for outdoor wood-burning boilers.
- What is one major disadvantage of using wood as an energy source?
High carbon emission levels are considered normal when trees, or other large pieces of wood are used for biomass, as the case is in several plants. Apart from high levels of carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases, biomass combustion emits various particulates into the air.
- How many square feet can a wood boiler heat?
This outdoor boiler is coal-fired, which means that it has some handy features for easy heating of your home. The wood-burning HeatMaster G Series provides easy operation and maximum comfort in buildings ranging from 4,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet.
- How much propane to heat a 2000 sq ft home?
On average, it takes 2.67 gallons of propane per day for heating a residence spanning 2,000 square feet. While an obvious reality, the propane consumption also varies significantly based on climate and frequency of heating with a furnace. On average, however, for most homeowners in a 2,000-square-foot house, yearly consumption is about 800 gallons.
