[TAGoodwin]

I am having plans developed for a 1900 Sg Ft one story home on 60 acres about one hour west of Ft Worth TX. I do not have access to Natural Gas.

Insulation will all be blown in foam, metal roof, slab foundation. In general should I go Total Electric or use propane for heat, cooking and hot water.

Have been told that tankless water heaters have issues with particles in the well water.

Any comments?

 

[Windows on Wash]

I would go total electric.

Roll the cost of some solar panels into the home loan and depending on your area's net metering rules, you will have all the power that you need.

Being in Texas, the heating requirement won't be that difficult that electric shouldn't be able to keep up.

Look at passive solar for your South Facing windows and build and airtight shell and insulated well. With an airtight home and well insulated, the heating and cooling requirements will be modest.

 

[carmusic]

i would go all electric with some mini-splits for heating and ac

 

[Colbyt]

It depends on your electric rates. Here electric is cheaper than propane. Yours may be different.

 

[SeniorSitizen]

Propane is so erratic and at present such a rip off ( $0. 39 wholesale ) I would go with electric / propane. Propane only ( 1,000 gal. tank that I own ) for cook top/oven and a Generac generator.

With well water, a sediment tank, filter, followed with a water softener.

Speaking from an efficiency standpoint, HVAC ducts = PVC under slab for your heat pump and for plumbing supply lines Pex under slab sleeved in the cheapest Poly You can find.

 

[Mingledtrash]

If you can afford the cost...
Plumb your house for propane to stove, dryer, heating unit, barbecue out back, fire pit, fireplace and anything else you can think. Then run electric to everything as well. If you dont want to use the propane you dont have to just leave it capped off behind your stove etc. but, at least the option will be there for the future.

another thing to consider is, if you think there will ever be natural gas service ran into this area in the future make sure you size for natural gas even if you use propane. natural gas flows at lower pressure in your house so it needs a bigger pipe for volume.

also ask the wife she might not like cooking on electric.