I've been talking to the natural gas company to find out if my existing gas meter is large enough to deal with everything I have planned for it and the response was that it needs to be upgraded. However, they want to charge me $1325 to upgrade the meter. Major OUCH! I asked what the BTUs are for the existing meter so I could gauge how much of what I have it supports and the response I got was 300,000 CFH. I did some Googling of converting CFH to BTUs and didn't understand the responses. Anyone know how to convert the 300,000 CFH figure the gas company gave me to see how many BTUs it will cover (from my list of BTUs above)? If I have to shell out $1325 to the gas company I'd guess switching the electric water heater to tankless is a "no go" based on way too expensive with tacking on the meter upgrade, just would make more sense to keep an electric water heater, I don't like it but it's hard to justify massive amounts of $$ to go tankless. But if my meter is close enough (the reality is only two people live in the house, all of the above things would not be running simultaneous) then perhaps it is a go and I skip the gas meter upgrade.0 Thanks!

We built a new home last year and I should have done more research on hot water heaters, my fault. We have a 3000 sq ft home, 3 people 2 and 1/2 baths. We have a 50 gal electric HW heater (Lochinvar) and it does fine, never ran out or anything. But another contractor who came to put our water filtration in asked why I didnt consider the GE Geospring. I admitted I was not familiar with the unit. I would love to reduce our electric cost. Lowes has them on sale right now and I would also get a $300 rebate from our electric provider. We do not have natural gas in our area. We have an air source heat pump for HVAC. We do have propane, but only for the fireplace which we use only occasional. Would it make sense for me to consider swapping out the unit being that it is on sale and with a rebate? What are the downsides? If it is exchanging heat from basement (which ranges between 60 and 63 during the winter) will it make the basement colder? Someone said it takes the need away for a dehumidifier in the basement during summer...true or false? Sorry for the questions, but you guys always have the answers here. Thanks, Jason

There is an additional issue: You need to consider the gas supply to the house and the other gas appliances. In other words, what happens when your gas supply can't keep up with the overall demand and the gas pressure drops to your water heater, furnace, etc. We know that 200k btu/h tankless water heaters can sometimes cause the total demand to be more than a gas service to a house can supply. The size of the gas line to your fire pit will also depend on the length of the line and the number of elbows. If you want to be less likely to create problems, I'd go with something under 200k - such as the 150k Don't forget you have to pay for all that gas too. I remember getting some whopping gas bills with gas logs... and they weren't anywhere near 300k btu. I agree with AIW: if you oversize the ring, and don't have the gas to match, you are likely going to end up with an effect that isn't really what you want.

Types for Outdoor Heaters- https://www.heating-air-conditioning.org/ Outdoor heaters typically use one of four main types of fuel sources — Natural Gas, Propane, Electric & Wood — each with their own set of pros and cons. Let’s take a closer look at each of the fuel types, and help narrow down which one is best for you. 1. Propane Propane heaters are pretty easy to add to your patio or yard. They don’t usually require professional installation, so it’s just a matter of putting them together, attaching the gas tank, and turning them on. Unfortunately, they cost more than natural gas outdoor heaters in the long run and you should plan on replacing the gas tank every so often if you go with this option, but the startup convenience appeals to many users. And when the propane tank does run out, it’s incredibly easy to replace the tank with a new one. Benefits: Heat up fast. No installation required. Portable; Can be moved to where you need the heat the most. To Keep in Mind: Propane costs more than natural gas. Gas tanks will need to be replaced periodically. Shouldn’t be used in a covered or enclosed space. 2. Natural Gas Natural gas outdoor heaters will usually require professional installation, since you’ll need them to be hooked up to your gas line. Because of this, they can cost quite a bit more upfront than other types of outdoor heaters — both for the heater itself and the installation costs. However, they’re the cheapest to use once you have them installed and they’re incredibly easy to maintain. Benefits: Cheap to use. Easy to maintain. To Keep in Mind: Expensive to buy and install. Can’t use in a covered or enclosed space. May be difficult to move due to natural gas line. Outdoor heaters typically use one of four main types of fuel sources — Natural Gas, Propane, Electric & Wood — each with their own set of pros and cons. Let’s take a closer look at each of the fuel types, and help narrow down which one is best for you. 1. Propane Propane heaters are pretty easy to add to your patio or yard. They don’t usually require professional installation, so it’s just a matter of putting them together, attaching the gas tank, and turning them on. Unfortunately, they cost more than natural gas outdoor heaters in the long run and you should plan on replacing the gas tank every so often if you go with this option, but the startup convenience appeals to many users. And when the propane tank does run out, it’s incredibly easy to replace the tank with a new one. Benefits: Heat up fast. No installation required. Portable; Can be moved to where you need the heat the most. To Keep in Mind: Propane costs more than natural gas. Gas tanks will need to be replaced periodically. Shouldn’t be used in a covered or enclosed space.