Prices are always local. With GAS LINES [NOT PIPELINE] distances and the diameters determine the price. $6k not including tank, or pressure regulator sounds steep. Plumbing used to $2/lf for CSST and $5/lf for black pipe.

Again as before in your other post. Once construction starts these item become a change order. Change orders cost more than if this was decided before construction as things may need to modified, sometimes significantly. In addition to the fact that pricing is completely location dependent. Even then no two projects are the same.

Ask locally.

Reasonable.

@BT , Always curious of peoples source of expertise. I know there are many pros, retired pros who don't list themselves.

Gas plumbing this home is 1-2 days for a journeyman and helper. You don't pay wages, but you pay a full plumber's rate. The crew will range from $100-200/hr. With 100% iron pipe the labor cost would add another day, so CSST saves labor, but the compression tools are 3-6K each. They return to check pressure for inspection, to install 3 gas appliances listed above that likely were previously electric.

It could be worse if you decided to hook up to a natural gas public utility. Some charge for hook ups via planning in lateral line charges. My last one was $4500 in fees plus my cost of trenching for about 30 feet.

Gas hookups are coming into question. How would that $6K do in solar?

5 years ago we paid $5300 to plumb 2 tankless hot water heaters (one on each side of the house), one dryer, one cooktop, gas fireplace (outdoor), outdoor grill area, pre-plumb for pool heater. We put in (buried) a 250 gallon for an additional $2800. This was in the Tampa Bay Area.

I can't comment on the actual question. I would just suggest to the OP to consider why they want to go with propane.

S. Florida would be a great place for a hybrid electric water heater. They cost less to operate than a natural gas tankless - and much less than propane. Propane is really expensive fuel. Also they provide some cooling and dehumidification.

$6k(+ tank and regulator) would also be a great down payment on solar to go with your hybrid electric heater. Again - S. Florida would be a great place for it. For $10k you could get a 6.9kw kit, for example,+ installation and then get a 30% tax credit.

@Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor

It has been years, I used to worked as a Builder assistant, the builder rarely attended the site... No disrespect, he always joked that the $100/hour he would pay to one and only one profession... And it was not a legal one. We would never pay a plumber over $30/hour, you do not need 2 people to check the pressure.... You do not need two days either. May be in California, not the Midwest.

> but the compression tools are 3-6K each

I do not have a slightest clue what are you talking about. I ran lines myself to fix some issues... All you need is $40 cutter and a pair of wrenches. Now we never done anything over 1 1/4"... You are not required to pay prevailing wages in resi. For connectors use Gastite... Much faster.

" I would just suggest to the OP to consider why they want to go with propane. "

One possible reason: power outages that can last for weeks from hurricanes.

Thank you for all the valuable input and comments. I truly appreciate it.

The big reason for propane is because we wanted a gas range (food tastes better vs electric). The propane utility company is offering a free tank and installation, so I figured it was a good deal.

That does not mean solar is out of the question. We live in the Sunshine state, so I am thinking of installing panels also (eventually).

Also, I have heard that propane based tank less water heaters are highly efficient.

We live in SW Florida. Propane is outrageously expensive., everywhere in the country. When we bought our house over 20 yrs ago, it had a propane tank buried that we ended up paying to have hauled out and junked. It was no longer functional having rusted.

In SW Florida, it's my opinion you can no longer bury a tank. But, even if you can I would really hesitate to do so.

I too wanted to cook with gas. It's really simple. You have a propane tank I think they call it a PIG.

It holds something like 48 gallons for your cooking needs, BBQ, range top fire place. It lasts a long time. The PIG stands upright and can be placed against a wall. You can have it plumbed to the kitchen which is what we did.

The rest you have electricity and solar if you want. Yes, during hurricanes you won't have electricity you also won't have water but you can cook. Sooner or later the electricity will be reinstalled and life will go back to normal. We've gone thru ....I hate to remember how many hurricanes.

In a previous house in another state, when we built we planned for nat gas (when it eventually came down the street) In the meantime, I had a little 5 gallon propane tank that fueled my range top. 2 times a year if that, I ran into town and had it filled. Probably most people want more convenience but I was young then:))

The Utah house was on propane, I had a 500 gallon tank for hot water heaters, furnaces range top and spa heater. Living by myself just heating the place and using hot water cost a small fortune. Fortunately I was able to connect to NG not cheap but well worth it in the long run. I smile every time I get my gas bill.

Good luck in what ever you decide to do. Solar however has become so much more reasonable

and living in the Sunshine state, with rebates etc. Seems better than propane. YMMV

Inga

No question, if you use propane for hot water, you want to go tankless. But certainly don't count on any financial savings in your math from using propane for hot water.

Weeks without power - not likely. Possible of course just not likely. But for sure - liquid fuels are helpful in that situation. But solar + battery makes a heck of a lot more sense in Florida.

The cooking is the only decent reason but $6k - ouch.

That “free” propane tank is about as free as a “free” Puppy. Its not. Do some due diligence and make sure you understand what your fees and costs will be for re-fills. Do they charge you a monthly leasing fee? They own the tank hence they have to fill it and they dictate the price. They will also charge you if you decide to have them take it out. We own our tank and can shop around for re-fills. I have paid $3-$5 less a gallon for refills than folks I know that lease their tank from a supplier. I suggest calling around and asking about refill prices for owned (on demand refills) versus leased refills. Over the last 50 months our propane costs for hot water/fireplace/side burners (I have induction for my cooktop and an electric dryer) has run less than $20 a month. Far less than the minimal $35 a month I paid to a natural gas company when we lived in the Orlando area (that was my bill when we were not home and only keeping a hot water heater minimally warm). Our 250 gallon propane tank was paid for in 3 refills. Natural gas was not available and the gas company wanted $35K to run a line 13 houses down the street if we wanted to hook up,

We also have solar and one battery backup. It will take us about 6 years to recoup our solar investment less tax credits. We felt it was worth the investment. Our costs should be net zero for electricity and will get a check when the electric company “trues” up after our first year. Tax credits start phasing out after the end of this year unless something has changed. The battery back up was a splurge - they are still fairly expensive. We now travel extensively and are often gone during the peak of hurricane season - we enjoy being able to leave the house with some peace of mind that we will not be coming home to a mess in our fridge and freezer. If we are home without power - we have our fridge/freezer/hot water/garage door openers and lights/outlets/fans in part of the house. We can cook with an induction portable unit and toaster oven if we dont want to use the grill/side burners outside. We can charge our phones and use them to hot spot to stream tv and access the internet from our other devices if we choose - so we can live fairly well - just will not have AC.

Good Luck!

Hi, Amit,

$6K is a substantial amount of money. You are wise to explore other, non-propane options where they are more economical.

When we need to install propane, we find it is more economical to get a turnkey installation (furnish and install the tank and all piping to gas appliances) from the propane supplier. I recommend you see if that's an option in your area and whether that works for your builder.

"Also, I have heard that propane based tank less water heaters are highly efficient."

Tankless heaters are highly efficient - about 95% if it is propane or Natural Gas. That's not the issue. The issue is that Propane is very expensive. And without power your tankless won't work either.

The DOE Energy Guide for a 200k BTU Tankless Propane heater is $480 a year @$2.41 a gallon for propane

That same heater is $198 a year with natural gas.

A hybrid electric comes in at $175 a year

If you really want propane for cooking, you can do that. But I wouldn't use it anywhere else. I have always liked gas for cooking - but if it meant bringing in propane I'd learn to cook with induction.

IMO, the builder is quoting you $6K because he doesn't want you to upset his apple cart. Sounds like a typical way for a builder to price out changes to keep you from upsetting the way they do things, and make a killing on it as well. My son in Pensacola had his established house plumbed for natural gas (water heater and stove) for $800 by the local gas company. Same piping as for propane, and even if you pro-rate for a 3rd gas connection, your job would be reasonable in the $1200 neighborhood.

Shhhh don't tell this to @ Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor , he will start whining and crying, accusing you of not paying $100-$200/hour times 2 people [not even a master plumbers] x 2 days... plus the compression tools are 3-6K [two wrenches], hopefully homeowner got a yellow teflon tape for free.

1 1/4 lines got to be pretty expensive now .. $5/ft fr material only

Thank you for all your insight into the question.

From everything I am reading here, it seems like the fact that the builder can name his price without a breakdown of the cost is considered "accepted practice".

We have always wanted to cook with propane (I grew up on LP cooked food, so there is a bias).

When I asked about the cost breakdown for the $6K, the builder had no answer really.

Make no mistake, I am not against them making money. As a business owner myself, I feel it is due diligence to question when the cost seems excessively high.