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Old 03-11-2015, 03:11 PM   #1
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Propane usage

We have a 3905 Voltage. We moved in full-time a week ago and went thru two 7 gallon propane tanks in a week. We were not being especially frugal in how we used it (cooking and heating), but I was surprised it went that fast. We have begun using more electric heating. Anyway, just wonder if others can comment to how much they are using in a given period of time and how they best approach use of propane versus electricity for heating, water heating, etc.
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Old 03-11-2015, 03:25 PM   #2
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We full time as well. We can get a month or more on our propane refills. We keep the furnace set at 66 degrees (low to mid 40's at night)and supplement with space heaters. Electric water heater is always on, gas gets turned on for the kids showers. We cook almost everything on our Traeger and/or the convection microwave. We don't do this for propane savings, it is just how we live.

Cale
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Old 03-11-2015, 04:09 PM   #3
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To many factors involved here to come up with a answer. Outside & inside temperature. How you use propane. Shore power compared to boondocking. Just to name a few.
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Old 03-11-2015, 04:20 PM   #4
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I only use propane for cooking, If you have shore power, run everything on electricity. The heater will use massive amounts of propane, I only heat with small electric heaters.
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Old 03-11-2015, 05:50 PM   #5
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What is your nighttime temp getting down to? Using heat during the day? These would be the 2 biggest factors IMO. That being said we go through one tank (about 3 gal) every 2 weeks or so here in So Cal. This includes it occasionally kicking on the heat at night (not often) cooking on stove top, oven and grill.
7 gallons in a week sounds excessive but again not if it's cold and the heater is working hard.
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Old 03-11-2015, 07:02 PM   #6
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I'd say the usage sounds about right if only using the furnace for heat, with outside temps below 50.

Last year I got stuck in Texas for 4 days because of snow. Daily temps were in the 30s, and the furnace ran pretty much on & off all day. I went through both of my bottles too... and it was then that I purchased a couple of small ceramic heaters to supplement the furnace.

After that, my propane use went way down.
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Old 03-11-2015, 09:56 PM   #7
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All I know is if you fill up a hundred ponder spring will come. I filled a 30 and the 100 pounder last week and now the birds are chirping.
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Old 03-12-2015, 02:04 AM   #8
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I blew through two 7 gal in 4 days over our New Years trip. It dropped into the 20's at night for four days. Don't think it got above 50 the whole week we were out.
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Old 03-12-2015, 09:21 PM   #9
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Here in Alabama where we full time, it has been near freezing at night for almost 2 months. During that time we routinely went through a 30 pounder (7.5 gal) in about 4 days. We began supplementing with space heaters, but found the fireplace is a very powerful space heater when left "on". We stopped using the space heaters around the camper, and just shut the door to the heat sink that is the garage. I started running the furnace only at night to keep the tanks and underbelly/wet bay above freezing. It's been warming up, so usage has gone down, but that fireplace let us reduce our propane consumption to a 30 pounder every 7 or 8 days. My wife also cooks with the stovetop about 5 nights a week.
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Old 03-13-2015, 01:00 AM   #10
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I don't mean to hijack the thread.... but this question is for those of you with fireplaces:

I know they run on propane, but I'm wondering if they are like the ones in my home? in other words, is there an actual flame in the fireplace... or does the propane simply power a heating element that lights up to provide a 'fireplace-like' glow?

A friend and I were discussing this, and he didn't think there was an actual flame, as in a residential unit. I thought there was... so I figure y'all can help settle our bet.
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Old 03-13-2015, 01:10 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ATCguy View Post
I don't mean to hijack the thread.... but this question is for those of you with fireplaces:

I know they run on propane, but I'm wondering if they are like the ones in my home? in other words, is there an actual flame in the fireplace... or does the propane simply power a heating element that lights up to provide a 'fireplace-like' glow?

A friend and I were discussing this, and he didn't think there was an actual flame, as in a residential unit. I thought there was... so I figure y'all can help settle our bet.
All of the RV fireplaces I have seen are electric not propane. So they won't provide heat if you don't have a big generator or shore power. We looked at one trailer with one and that was a no-go for me.

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Old 03-13-2015, 01:12 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ATCguy View Post
I don't mean to hijack the thread.... but this question is for those of you with fireplaces:

I know they run on propane, but I'm wondering if they are like the ones in my home? in other words, is there an actual flame in the fireplace... or does the propane simply power a heating element that lights up to provide a 'fireplace-like' glow?

A friend and I were discussing this, and he didn't think there was an actual flame, as in a residential unit. I thought there was... so I figure y'all can help settle our bet.
Too much sun there in Arizona, it's clouding your thinking. The fire places are electric man. We have flame speed controls, brilliance control and of course temperature.

The glass doesn't get hot but it does blow hot air out of the top of the unit.
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Old 03-13-2015, 01:27 AM   #13
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Originally Posted by wahoonc View Post
All of the RV fireplaces I have seen are electric not propane. So they won't provide heat if you don't have a big generator or shore power. We looked at one trailer with one and that was a no-go for me.

Aaron

In your wildest dreams could you visualize the blind installers of Dutchman being trusted with properly installing a gas fireplace inside these things? I mean with wiring, plumbing, A/C and carpentry screw ups could one expect them to seal exhaust ductwork so we don't croak in the middle of the night?

Triple wall exhaust stack, we don't need no stinkin triple wall pipe
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Old 03-16-2015, 09:02 PM   #14
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My fireplace is electric.

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Old 03-17-2015, 12:52 AM   #15
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Originally Posted by sundancer 87 View Post
In your wildest dreams could you visualize the blind installers of Dutchman being trusted with properly installing a gas fireplace inside these things? I mean with wiring, plumbing, A/C and carpentry screw ups could one expect them to seal exhaust ductwork so we don't croak in the middle of the night?

Triple wall exhaust stack, we don't need no stinkin triple wall pipe
Oh HELL NO! I am not sure I would trust them to wire an electric free dog house either!

Aaron
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Old 03-17-2015, 07:35 AM   #16
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Oh well... so much for what "I know".

Thanks...
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