Natural Gas Vs Electric Baseboard

markm4 · Post by **markm4** » Wed. Oct. 22, 2008 4:30 pm

I figured you guys would know the answer to this.

What is the diffefence, and what is a better deal in the Scranton area?
Sranton has PPL and PA natural gas utilities. I am asking because I have a rental property there, and don't expect the tenants will want to mess with coal.

Whats a better deal.... besides coal of coarse, I just fired up my leasure line pocono last night and it is working like a charm.

Mark

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Wed. Oct. 22, 2008 4:53 pm

If you tell me the cost per therm for the gas & the cost per kilowatt hour for electricity I can tell you.

NEPANewb · Post by **NEPANewb** » Thu. Oct. 23, 2008 8:28 am

Initially there are 2 questions you really need to think about 1st being that it is a rental.

#1. I assume the tenenant will be paying the electric bill.
#2. Is there already gas service ACTIVE at the house?

Remember...you need to approach this as a business decision...not what is cheapest for who is living there. I can't imagine a prospective tenant deciding agaist renting a place just because it had electric hot water over gas.....the VAST majority of rentals have electric hot water for a number reasons. Cheaper install and replacement costs...no gas connection charge...no running a gas line....not having to worry about the tenent blowing themselves up while screwing with the hot water..ect...ect..

There are a lot less safety issues involved if you go electric...you need to think in terms of liability now that you are renting. I'm sure your insurance company would have an opinion.

Just my 2 cents.

markm4 · Post by **markm4** » Thu. Oct. 23, 2008 9:47 am

Gas service and single steam boiler is already active int this 2 family house. I recently got a proposal from an electrician to convert the now vacant unit to electric baseboard and leave the gas boiler for the other apartment.
Then I will be able to have have the tenant pay the heat when I rent out this apartment. I will probably have to charge a little less rent, but my expenses will be less. I guess what I am wondering is if electric baseboard will be very costly or precieved to be very costly in the Scranton area, affecting my ability to fill the vacancy.

Mark

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Thu. Oct. 23, 2008 2:31 pm

In Maine Nat gas would have to be $5.26 a therm to be the same as electricity. Oil would have to be $7.29 a gallon to be the same as electricity.

NEPANewb · Post by **NEPANewb** » Fri. Oct. 24, 2008 8:39 am

Ok...so I'm assuming you own both units in the 2 family...are they side by side or is it a 1st floor 2nd floor setup? If you are putting the electric in the 2nd floor then you may find the bill lower than you expect...it will heavily depend on how tight the house is and the level of insulation. I somehow thought we were talking about just the hot water aspect...I think I got this thread mixed up with another. Being that you are talking about electric for the actual heating of the house I would certainly hesitate going that route due to the coming deregulation. If the unit is very tight and well insulated then it's still an option...if that is not the case then I would stay away from electric. I'm going to guess that forced hot air is not an option here? There are quite a few direct vent, gas fired hot air options out there. I'm not sure what you were quoted for the electric install but the direct vent gas options are not tough to install once the gas line is in place and they are very efficient. There are a lot of variables out there that depend on the type of unit, house, insulation ect. I will tell you from personal experiece that if the place does not have a ton of insulation and is not very tight then electric will be a fortune....and electric as primary heat WILL make people shy away unless you can show them bills to prove that the cost is not over the top.