Price propane. We got rid of it and put in a heat pump when propane hit $3.00 a gallon. It cut our heating bill by 2/3. We are in a TVA area, so power was cheap when we made the decision. It's gone up a bit, but is still much cheaper than propane.

Our winters are a little milder than Eastern Washington, but there isn't a big difference.

There will be some years you will really come out on top with Propane for the backup heat source and there are other years that the tank will try to eat every dollar you own. A good heat pump with staged strips will be relatively easy on the wallet and you won't have a big tank to feed that one time might eat for 1.15 a gallon and another time 3 bucks like creek said.

A new 15 seer heat pump with 10+hspf will be a lot cheaper to run than that 11yr old unit. It will also be able to run down to a much lower temp which will save all the more money.

nerdy

propane costs tend to follow oil prices and I think we know where they are going. I always recommend that one totally understand available fuel costs including electric so they can make an informed decision. I am attaching link to a fuel comparison calculator that can help guide your decision.

I am not a fan of propane or oil unless you live where winters are long and harsh, nat gas not available, or electric rates skyhigh. I suggest you ask yourself this question. For your area/climate, how many days are you below freezing?

IMO
Good Luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Fuel Comparison Calculator

Thanks for the responses. I have printed a copy of this page just for reference. Thanks especiially for the link tiger. When the time comes it looks like it will be a more modern heat pump unless they start destroying the hydroelectric dams like some of our local environmentalists want. Then I'll be back to find the right one. My stepson just upgraded at a cost that astounded me. I think I'll start now investigating local contractors. I read a lot about doing the heat balance calculations and how only a few are qualified. Was wondering if it would be appropriate to pay to have one done so I wouldn't be tied to that contractor's products? Thanks again.
Nerdy

nerdy

Unless you have a home with poor insulation qualities, windows, doors, etc., I think correct system sizing is way more important with a good load calculation over balance point calculation.

here are my minimum specs for new HP system

15 SEER, 12.5+ EER, 9 HSPF
best matching VS air handler
full BTUs in both cooling and heating for your rated size
R-410a refrigerant(same as Puron)
scroll compressor preferred
electronic demand defrosat preferred
thermostat with "dehumidify on demand" feature
staged backup heat strips
new and correctly sized refrigerant lineset

IMO
Good Luck!

Propane is one of the most expensive heating fuels.

Tough to compare your neighbor's utility bills because of differences in windows, insulation, life-style, indoor temp setpoints in summer/winter, etc.

With a 10 year-old heat pump, you're probably looking at a 20 to 30% reduction in power consumption from your old system to a new 15 SEER system.

Propane is so expensive it is not used by power companies to generate electricity.

They use natural gas, oil, coal, and even diesel fuel for peaking power, but not propane.

Straight electric heat is often the most expensive type, unless you have very low rates.

If the area rarely gets below 35 F, a heat pump should give very good service.

Electric as the emergency backup may be lower cost than propane.