Heating. Propane vs Electric vs Wood Pellet

[MRollins10]

I need some advice. I am currently building my bard /shop. The main shop will be 30 x 40 fully spray foam insulated. What is my best option for heating it? Should i go electric, propane, or wood pellet stove? What are the pro's and con's that you have experienced. Which would be the most long term economical option? Everything that i have been reading about Pellet stoves is positive. They say that with the cost difference in fuel, IE: Electric vs Propane vs pellet costs, that you will pay for the cost of your Pellet Stove within two years. (since wood pellets are so much cheaper).

I need advice so i dont regret a decision later.

 

[Jack Murdock]

I need some advice. I am currently building my bard /shop. The main shop will be 30 x 40 fully spray foam insulated. What is my best option for heating it? Should i go electric, propane, or wood pellet stove? What are the pro's and con's that you have experienced. Which would be the most long term economical option? Everything that i have been reading about Pellet stoves is positive. They say that with the cost difference in fuel, IE: Electric vs Propane vs pellet costs, that you will pay for the cost of your Pellet Stove within two years. (since wood pellets are so much cheaper).

I need advice so i dont regret a decision later.

Go propane with in floor radiant if you have the budget. I heat my 3 car garage with LP radiant heaters in each bay so when I am working in 1 bay I only heat 1 bay. Enerco was the brand they are inexpensive to purchase and 99% efficient. I only use them when I am out there and do not keep the thermostat set at a given temperature. If used as a sole source of heat the moisture produced could be an issue its a 1/1 ratio. I have been doing heat for 40 years here in the NE.

 

[LouNY]

The attached link goes to a fuel cost calculator,
it will give you the cost in million of btu's for most any fuel you can find and you can set the efficiency of your heater;
Fuel Comparison Calculator for Home Heating | Coalpail.com

Also the last I knew there was considerable maintenance / cleaning of pellet stoves.
In Texas I would be tempted to go with propane or else a heat pump so I could have AC in the summer.

 

[ericm979]

Lots of people are putting mini splits in their shops. You get heat and cooling and a dehumidifier too. The heat's more efficient than regular electric heat.
One problem is they don't heat well in low temps (single digits). But in TX that's probably not an issue.

To find the least expensive solution you need to use the prices in your area. They vary wildly across the country.

There are calculators that you can use to find out how much cooling and heating you'll need for your building and the temps you want to maintain.

 

[nybirdman]

Go propane;as stated pellet stoves need to cleaned(shut down),do you want to carry/store 40# bags?I leave mine(propane) set on 50 degrees and when I need more just turn up the thermostat.My BIL had one for his house,ran it for two years and switched to a propane boiler.PITA!

 

[ovrszd]

In your locale I'd look hard at Mini Splits. One for your main shop. One for MILs space?

As mentioned Pellet Stoves require input.

 

[zoedog2012]

2 questions ovrsd, what does it cost you to heat your shop, and when you measure plow bolts do you measure overall length? I need to replace the bolts that fasten the mouldboard on my back blade.

 

[RickB]

2 questions ovrsd, what does it cost you to heat your shop, and when you measure plow bolts do you measure overall length? I need to replace the bolts that fasten the mouldboard on my back blade.

Overall length on the plow bolts.

 

[zoedog2012]

Thanks, need to order 10. Jerry

 

[MRollins10]

In your locale I'd look hard at Mini Splits. One for your main shop. One for MILs space?

As mentioned Pellet Stoves require input.

For the main 30x40 shop is this the one you would recommend? It has received some excellent reviews. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ductles...-Speed-Inverter-220V-60Hz-DA2421-H2/300696785