Natural gas vs. all-electric TV homes
 

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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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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:

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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.