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Electric vs Propane range

7 years ago

My wife and I are in contract with a house that utilizes oil for heat and electric for the stove/oven.


Unfortunately, gas is not available in the area that we are buying in.


We we plan on redoing the kitchen before moving in and are doing research on converting the range to propane.


What are the pro’s and con’s of going from an electric to propane range?

Comments (9)

  • 7 years ago

    Hopefully you have seriously considered induction instead of propane.

  • 7 years ago

    Induction would be my choice even if nat gas was available.

  • 7 years ago

    We have a propane Blue Star and have been very happy with it. We came from natural gas. Would never do electric. We bought our range as a propane range not a conversion. We were not interested in induction.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Basically, you are talking about going from an electric range to a gas range. You will need to run a gas line. You will need to get quotes from a propane company on installing a tank, either purchase or lease.

    And since the electric is already in place, consider a dual fuel range (gas top, electric oven). And maybe an extra gas line outside for a grill.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    In 2002 I put in a 6 burner Wolf dual fuel range with propane top and electric oven with propane broiler. I used this range for 15 years and was very happy with it. VERY! Because everything else in my home was electric, it did not make sense to have a large propane tank installed. Instead, I used 2 smallish (2 ft tall x 1 ft diameter), refillable, propane tanks secured to the outside of my home near my range. I then ran a gas line from the tank to a gas connection on the wall by my range. The tanks I used were the size often used on motorhomes; 33 lbs. These are a size larger than the typical BBQ propane tanks used in North America. My spouse, my kids, and inlaws are foodies that cook. A lot. So we used the propone range top everyday. I would typically get 18 to 22 weeks of use from one tank. When my burners started to sputter I would go outside and switch the hookup to the other tank. Then, when time permitted I would take the empty tank into my local propane retailer to be filled, then bring it home, attach it back to its spot against the wall, and wait for it to be needed in a few months time. This worked really well and was very cost effective. Propane is not as hot as natural gas, but it was still fine to work with, even with my cast iron wok and vintage iron fry pans.

    In my experience, the pros/cons of propane are the same as that with natural gas: there is visual confirmation of heat source and a sense of "instant" on (though compared to induction this is less true). The cons are that gas is a fossil fuel and not part of a future "climate smart" kitchen design. And then there is the indoor air quality aspects which are resolved with proper venting (CFM/MUA variables). And there is this: IF in 2002 I had the option to purchase the induction and oven units available today, I would have gone with an induction cooktop and 2 wall ovens ( combi steam oven / convection oven) over a duel fuel propane/electric range.

  • 7 years ago
    Like j9swimmer we installed a 48” Wolf propane stove in 2002. Mine is all propane with 4 burners, an 18” oven, 30” oven, charbroiler and griddle. I love it. Spent the first 30 years of married life with a small electric range. Sold that house and moved to a boat that had an even smaller electric range. When we built our present home I was so over electric. We also have a propane furnace as back up to the heat pump, propane hot water heater, two propane fireplaces and a propane stand by generator 17 KW. Needless to say we opted for a 500 gallon propane tank. Since we live in a very rural area before we installed the generator, electrical outages are frequent. That gas stove was a life saver.
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    We are planning a kitchen remodel. Currently have electric stove/oven but kitchen is also plumbed for propane. We also have solar, so virtually no elec. bills, and the solar was config'd including elec stove oven. Appliance shops here (Central Coast Calif) selling gas to elec appliances at rate of about 20 to 1, but rumblings of new home construction moving toward all elec w/solar. These factors making the propane vs elec. decision a little complex.

    Appreciate any comments/feedback. Thanks

  • 7 years ago

    It's a tough call. I've had gas, I've had propane, and I now have electric (not by choice lol!)

    Propane was hard to cook with compared to natural gas. There is a difference and I just couldn't get the hang of it. We lived in a country home (owner builder), same thing, no gas lines but I wanted a gas stove. If I had to do it again, I probably would have opted for electric. (I can't believe I'm saying that lol!)