Propane vs heat pump vs wood stove for the house on the hill, what did January cost you?

I know it's Memorial Day weekend and nobody wants to think about January, but the guys who do installs aren't busy right now so it's the time to get quotes. Better than waiting for the first ice storm and paying double.

We're up on a hill out in Scotland and the wind finds every gap in this place. Right now it's propane forced air and last January the bill made me say words I won't repeat here. Looking at a heat pump but I keep hearing they struggle once it gets down in the teens, which, hello, Arkansas January. And a wood stove sounds nice until you remember I'm 70 something and hauling it is my back's problem. Not short on wood anyway, I've got a hickory and oak pile for the smoker that keeps growing.

So real numbers please, not the brochure kind. What did your January bill look like and what are you heating with? Anybody regret what they put in?

Second thing, we go see the kids for about a week every January. What do you do so the pipes don't freeze while you're gone? Drip the faucets, shut the water off at the main, drain everything, just pray? Heard all of it and I'd like to hear what actually worked on the Bay.

Thanks!

Been up here a long time... house is all electric, heat pump with the backup strips. It does fine until it gets down in the teens, and then the strips kick in and that's when the meter really spins. January before last was my worst month, a little under $300, and I'm not even on a hill. Out on that ridge in Scotland I'd expect worse.

Wood stove I like, but only if you're able to haul. Your hickory is too good to burn anyway... keep it for the smoker. Little secret from my real estate days though, buyers up here ask what the heat is before they ask about the lake view.

For leaving a week, I shut the water off at the main, open the taps and let it drain, and leave the cabinet doors open under the sinks. Dripping is fine, but if an ice storm takes the power out while you're gone I'd rather have the lines empty... learned that one the hard way once.