The chart below shows a comparison of annual home heating fuel costs based on the most recent infor-mation obtained from suppliers in Snohomish County. The chart also shows that electric heat pumps continue to provide a very cost-effective heating source. (Electric costs based on PUD residential billing rate of 10.4 cents per kilowatt-hour.)
The costs are based on the space heating needs for an average single family home. Individual consump-tions can vary significantly, depending on thermostat settings, air leakage, house construction, and other factors.
Electric Heat Pump
5888kWH
$612
7350kWH
$764
8825kWH
$918
Gas Furnace
667 therms
$1014
883 therms
$1266
1000 therms
$1520
Electric Baseboard
11730 kWH
$1220
14650 kWH
$1524
17575 kWH
$1828
Electric Furnace
14650 kWH
$1524
18313 kWH
$1905
21975 kWH
$2285
Propane Furnace
725 gallons
$1631
906 gallons
$2083
1087 gallons
$2446
Oil Furnace
480 gallons
$1445
600 gallons
$1806
719 gallons
$2164
- $300
- $600
- $900
- $1200
- $1500
- $1800
- $2100
- $2400
- $2700
System assumptions:
- Electric heat pump: HSPF 8.5, $0.104/kWh, 3413 Btu/kWh, 25% duct loss
- Gas Furnace: 80% efficiency, $1.52/therm, 100,000 Btu/therm, 25% duct loss
- Electric baseboard: 100% efficiency, $0.104/kWh, 3413 Btu/kWh • Propane furnace: 80% efficiency, $2.25/gallon, 92,000 Btu/gallon, 25% duct loss
- Electric furnace: 100% efficiency, $0.104/kWh, 3413 Btu/kWh, 25% duct loss
- Oil furnace: 80% efficiency, $3.01/gallon, 139,000 Btu/gallon, 25% duct loss
I highly recommend Bill from Cascade Energy Services. He did what other HVAC companies in the area weren't able to do. Instead of trying to sell me into buying a new HVAC unit (which is what I initially contacted him for), he found me a replacement part for my existing high-end Trane furnace, ordered it on my behalf for local pickup just down the road from my house. This saved me $$ by not having to replace my entire furnace. I had paid another HVAC company to come out and try to find the replacement part but they couldn't do it. Bill did it over phone / email and didn't charge me anything. I simply paid for the part (at wholesale cost) that he ordered, and once I plugged in the new part (pressure switch), my furnace was up and running like normal. I'd trust Bill on the any HVAC matters. He is very knowledgeable and cares about doing the right thing for the customer. I now have a trusted go-to source for future heating and cooling needs!