Natural gas vs. all-electric TV homes

[Bill-n-Brillo]

I know what the mentality is "up north" for most regarding having an all-electric home versus one with natural gas - some like the comfort of a gas furnace over having an electric-only heat pump. Also, the cost of your utilities will be less if your home uses natural gas for heating and the hot water.

Does the latter point still hold true in TV regarding monthly utility costs for a home with natural gas for heating and hot water vs. the same home using electric-only? I know nothing of electric and natural gas rates down there.

Thanks -
Bill

[redwitch]

Okay, call me paranoid but I don't want gas in my home down here and I LOVE a gas stove. The lines go through the attic. Lightning hits the highest point of a house; ergo, to my mind gas, attic lines = bigger chance of lightning bolt destroying my home.

Also, we just don't get as cold as up north or even out west. Last winter we had a whopping 2 weeks where it got below freezing (frost on the ground even!). I still barely had to run my heat. I found that 60-65 kept the chill out quite nicely; 55 at night was comfortable.

Plus, I don't think gas is even an option in the new homes.

[logdog]

It's probably a moot point unless you're planning to buy a resale in one of the older areas. Newer houses and all new construction is all electric.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

This is regarding a resale in Duval - probably about the last of the Villages to have natural gas.

redwitch - Thanks for the feedback on the gas lines. I'd read some older posts about people having concerns about the gas lines and lightning strikes. Sounds like a lightning rod system might address the issue from what I read.

Thanks -
Bill

[mulligan]

You can also bury a tank, and use propane, with lines installed underground, and with some extra work, even under the floor slab.

[Vinny]

7 of my previous 8 homes had gas. In the home I lived in before I came here i woke up one morning to the strong smell of gas in our bedroom. I traced it to the attic where the gas lines were run. Seems that a pipe had a substantial leak and who knows what could have happened if this happened while we were out for the entire day. I am happy with electric now.

[logdog]

About 10 years ago while living in the Florida Panhandle, I switched my water heater and dryer from electric to gas. It saved me only 10% - about $20 per month. I thought the water heated faster with gas and the gas dryer seemed more efficient (hence the savings). I've had a gas cook top in the past and didn't much like it.

I prefer my all electric home. No gas smell and seems safer especially with all the lightning as redwitch pointed out. Gas won't save you much money IMHO.

[chuckinca]

Also, we just don't get as cold as up north or even out west. Last winter we had a whopping 2 weeks where it got below freezing (frost on the ground even!). I still barely had to run my heat. I found that 60-65 kept the chill out quite nicely; 55 at night was comfortable.

Red - U must be totally Eskimo!

As I recall, the winter before last everyone in TV said it was the coldest ever; last winter everyone in TV had fond memories of the warm previous winter and it was close to freezing nearly every day from Jan thru Mid March.


Chuck

(First rain of the season the last two days - 4" in Lakeport!)


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[CaliforniaGirl]

(First rain of the season the last two days - 4" in Lakeport!)
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I grew up in GA, quite used to rain...then moved to Southern Cal. Got there in June, 1st rain was in Oct, rained for about 5 minutes...lead story on the 6:00 news was "First storm of the season!" Cracked me up. I've seen heavier dewfall. :wave:

[golf2140]

We are in our second home in TV. Our first was a ranch home with gas. Our second is a block designer. The utilities are less in our new home. Very happy with being all electric.

[redwitch]

Chuck, not Eskimo -- inherently cheap. And, for some reason, I seem to be always hot in Florida. The humidity, even when cold? Whatever, I just rarely get cold here, but I will admit that 65 was the highest the heat went in California (and I did get cold there) and was always turned down to 55 at night. As I said, CHEAP!

[nkrifats]

Bought preowned. All Gas. Will put lighting rods in this year. Not overly concerned. Maybe I should be. Previously lived in FL and it was not that big of a deal then. Just my opinion.

[golfnut]

If gas is available I will take it every time, if it wasn't the most efficient it would have been replaced a long time ago....gn

[mgm4444]

Is there any rhythm or rhyme to which villages have gas or electric? The only way I can tell is when looking at the for sale homes and check out the stove in the pictures.

[bluedog103]

You can also bury a tank, and use propane, with lines installed underground, and with some extra work, even under the floor slab.
It would be nice if you could choose propane and have the lines run as the house was being built. The way it is now, you have to buy an all electric house, complete with appliances, then after the closing you can get approvals and have propane installed. We considered having propane installed for the stove and dryer but instead decided to leave everything electric. I still don't know if that was the best choice but that's the way it is.

[Pturner]

Is there any rhythm or rhyme to which villages have gas or electric? The only way I can tell is when looking at the for sale homes and check out the stove in the pictures.

Yes, TV used to build homes with gas and electric. Now, they only build all electric. So basically, it depends on when the house was built.

[mgm4444]

ahhh...the question would be WHEN (as in year built) rather than WHERE..... thanks, PT! (i.e.: I'm thinking Spanish Springs area would be gas/electric?)

[Niels]

I personally don't think the savings of gas over electric in Florida are that great. As RedWitch mentioned you don't have the high heat demands that you have up North. In addition, I don't know what the electric rates are where you live but the electric rates where I came from in New York were higher than here in Florida. These two items made for a big difference between gas and electric in New York State.

There is always at least a small safety risk with gas. When I had gas, I had a small leak develop and was lucky to find it before something happened.

[redwitch]

mgm, I don't think any of the areas around SS are gas. I know Sunset Pointe has some gas; ditto Mallory. Not sure what other villages. I think it was one of those things that home buyers asked for, so the developer had gas homes for awhile, discovered people didn't like gaslines in their attic and discontinued building them.

[golfnut]

there is a large area south of 466 that has gas, I heard they stopped using gas because the utility company could not supply their needs....gn

[chuckinca]

Believe that's where houses have issues with lightning.


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