Depends on your contract. Windows should be kept open when propane is being used as it otherwise creates a lot of moisture.

The main use of propane heaters is to keep the foundation warm so you don't get frost heave and for the masons if they're working in sub freezing temperatures--the masonry must be kept above freezing. Occasionally, some carpenters have begged for propane just to "cut" the cold when it's -OËF. Wimps!

The last place I used propane the bills came to around $1.5K for the few months we used it.

It's your house. What stage of building are you in? Our heat/air didn't go on until the very end.

Our heat has been on all fall, but I am in MN. I'm sure that normally our builder passes on that cost to the homeowner, but we did negotiate the builder to pay that if we were to build over the winter. That should have been discussed already.

In our scenario DH and I pay the heat bill but it isn't our heat they are using it is a portable furnace used by the builder. Worthy is right about the propane heater; it is dangerous to operate them without alot of ventilation.

HTH

In my jurisdiction, anybody who uses the 100 lb. cylinders is required to take a day-long course every two years on propane safety. Suppliers won't sell you the propane without seeing the safety card.

Thanks for the responses so far. Sounds like I need to clear up the propane issue. The heat is through our HVAC system but is fueled by propane (outside 500 gallon tank), not oil or natural gas. So it's not portables.

Karnog, a propane fired HVAC is not the same as a portable propane heater. You have no issues to address, except for the crew that is wasting YOUR propane. That would make me really mad.

Are you having site finished wood floors installed? If so - make sure they turn off all gas pilots and heaters before they put down the finishes since the fumes can ignite depending on the products being used.

I think you are stuck paying the heat bill since it is your hvac. You can ask the GC and subs to close windows and doors but they will forget. I visited the site eveyday - usually at the end of the day - to make sure everything was closed up. There was always a window or door left open.

You might want to check into clear plastic lock boxes designed to go around the tstats (they have air vents) which I see all the time in commercial building and hotels. I think I saw them at Lowe's. We found that the subs loved to crank up the heat so they could work in t-shirts since the heat was free to them. I wish we had locked up the tstats so that we could control the usage - thought about that at the end when it was too late. Fortunately the temps were mild through the fall/early winter when the house was being finished but they still wasted a lot of energy.

put a locking cover on teh stat. you can pick them up at most any office supply store. set it for soemthing like 50 degrees and take the key with you.

as far as who pays, it don't matter who makes the check out to the supplier, YOU pay for it one way or another. the GC will have it built into his charges if he makes out the check or you will pay it directly.

no matter what, i would have a serious talk with him.

The heating costs will be paid by you one way or another.

The construction of a new home during winter always costs a lot for heating. Windows need to be left open because of the off gassing and moisture from all the new products.

Most dehumidifers can not keep up with the amount of moisture given off by a new building. You will be happier in the long run with no mold etc.

As an aside, if you're having floors site-finished in winter and you turn off the heat, the finish may never cure properly (or at all). Floors may have to be put off until warm weather if there is no alternative heat provided. You can't ask a contractor to do something rendered impossible by external conditions outside anyones control.
Casey

In our case, we have to pay for the intitial oil tank fill. The furnace will be run but the thermostats are going to be left turned down. I specifically asked the builder about this as it's winter and expensive to be heating an unoccupied house other than during working hours.

Seems this is how they all do it. However, considering in our case it's a turnkey deal (his lot and he's building the house layout we requested) and we aren't owners of record that he should be on the hook for it.

We are also paying for the electrical bill. The furnace is not on quite yet but they run the kerosene heaters and all their power tools, compressors. Can't wait to get the first bill.

Snow removal... Owner. Propane...Owner. If it isn't in the bid.. it's yours. Best to talk to the GC ahead of time to figure out situations.
We were fortunate as most of the roof on was completed by mid april so we didn't have much involved with heating except when the drywallers were mudding.
I had to actually go pull our GC out of his own driveway one snowstorm and then make sure he could make it to the site. It was fun shoveling 3 foot drifts out of the house. Kinda wierd seeing a snow drift snaking through your house.

Peace

Do opinions differ if it's a fixed price contract? I would think so. In that case, even if the homeowner owns the land, the builder is responsible for getting the house built for $X (let's assume the contract doesn't have a clause that gets them out of it). Part of getting it done is heating it and making it accessible to subs (snow removal).

"Do opinions differ if it's a fixed price contract? I would think so. In that case, even if the homeowner owns the land, the builder is responsible for getting the house built for $X (let's assume the contract doesn't have a clause that gets them out of it). Part of getting it done is heating it and making it accessible to subs (snow removal)."

Just because you wish it does not make it so. If it's not in the contract you can not force someone to pay for it. The contractor can easily stop work saying they can not get to the job site.

You need to spell things out ahead of time or hope your contractor is one of the good ones and budgeted for the costs before bidding.

I don't "wish" it so, I believe it so, and explained why. In a fixed price contract all costs are included unless they are an allowance. If the builder contracts to deliver a completed house then he was to supply what is needed to do that, such as heat, unless the contract states otherwise. Additionally, vagueness in a contract is generally construed against the party who drafted the contract, which is usually the builder.

You asked for opinions, I gave you mine.

I work for a contractor and I deal with other contractors every day.
"A completed house" is subject to interpretation and unless all the details and conditions of work are spelled out in the contract you have no leg to stand on if you end up with a crappy contractor.

The electric service is usuually installed in the owners name so all bills go to the home owner. The same goes for gas in our area of the woods. Unless the contract deals with it the owner has no comeback.

Most good contractors will deal with snow but they can always say they can't get to the site and make you pay unless you dealt with it in the contract.

"Additionally, vagueness in a contract is generally construed against the party who drafted the contract, which is usually the builder."

Contracts can be written by both parties.and a good contractor has wording in the contract to have things go in their favour.

"a good contractor has wording in the contract to have things go in their favour."
"good" in your opinion. A good contractor will have wording that is fair to both parties and best when written with both parties present.

"a good contractor has wording in the contract to have things go in their favour."
"good" in your opinion. A good contractor will have wording that is fair to both parties and best when written with both parties present.

Yes I miss worded that

For what it's worth, my husband is a contractor if it's a brand new house he has been contracted to build, he pays the utilities (heat, water, electric) until closing. If it is a remodel job, those bills go to the homeowner.
Good luck.....

Who shovels snow in a fixed price contract on a new build?

Building on a lot that I own, I can't imagine telling the client that they have to get the snow shoveled or my guys aren't working! Furthermore, there are penalties under the mandatory government warranty programme here for not delivering a home on time.

All kinds of unforseen things have happened when I'm building on a fixed price contract. Unless they're provided for in the contract, they're my problem. I've encountered blizzards, extreme cold, flooding, excavation collapse, surveyor mistakes and more that have added to my costs. I try to account for them in the bid.

Building a fixed price house on the client's property could well be another matter. Utilities, for instance, would have to be opened in the property-owner's name.

"A completed house" is subject to interpretation

Not here! The municipal inspector decides when its completed and ready to occupy.

As I said before, look to the contract.

Thanks for all the answers. I have sucked it up and absorbed the heating costs so far. The GC has done a lot of extra things he won't charge me for that I know add up so am trying to keep everything in perspective.

Sometimes those no-charge extras end up appearing as a cost at the end of the build. Make sure you have it documented that these "extras" are freebies.