Depends on the specs, but from what I'm reading newer highly efficient mini-splits like the hyper heat and variants will go to abt 5F at rated output. In any case I see it as a possible replacement for firewood in the shoulder seasons so above 20F wouldn't rule it out.
My unit is a cheapie attic install job. I bought the house this way. They removed the oil boiler and installed the air handler in the attic with a heat pump outside. I'm sure a real install in a new house would kick this things butt all over the place.
You can get a rough idea which is costing you more for the same heat output by comparing the cost/btu x the efficiency. There are some sites that have the calculators built in where you just plug in your particular cost for the fuel. But you need to also know the efficiency of your particular furnace. Propane is about 91,600 btu/gal. Kerosene is 134,000 btu/gal. Your kerosene heater is likely not vented so is roughly 100% efficient.
E.g. if Kero is $4/gal it's about $.029 for 10k btu ($4 /134). And if your propane cost is $3/gal and furnace is 90% efficient it's costing about $.036 for 10k btu ($3 / 91.6 x .90). So propane would be costing you about 25% more for fuel with those prices and furnace efficiency.
You can get a rough idea which is costing you more for the same heat output by comparing the cost/btu x the efficiency. There are some sites that have the calculators built in where you just plug in your particular cost for the fuel. But you need to also know the efficiency of your particular furnace. Propane is about 91,600 btu/gal. Kerosene is 134,000 btu/gal. Your kerosene heater is likely not vented so is roughly 100% efficient.
E.g. if Kero is $4/gal it's about $.029 for 10k btu ($4 /134). And if your propane cost is $3/gal and furnace is 90% efficient it's costing about $.036 for 10k btu ($3 / 91.6 x .90). So propane would be costing you about 25% more for fuel with those prices and furnace efficiency.
The best thing I did for the bedrooms in the winter is putting on heated mattress pads for all the beds in the house. I don't always need to use them but they are nice to have if it's too cold. Otherwise we are usually in the front of the house and don't need the back rooms muscle warmer than they are now. Also, a tighter house does better with hot and cold areas. They say if it's leaky they just don't keep up well.
Wattage for the King size pad is 110 each side but I have it on 1 or 2 out of 10 so it cycles on and off.
Ditto......I like it because it is noise free and holds heat. We have two that we use only in the coldest parts of winter for the rooms the furthest from the stove.I have an oil filled radiator that I move around and turn on as needed
Us and the kids use these. We only turn ours on when it is really cold outside and the bedroom gets down to 65- 66 (i like it that cool for sleeping). My oldest son uses his almost six months out of the year, but he likes it warm. I once caught him taking a Saturday nap on the edge of the hearthWe also have an electric blanket for use in the master bedroom as it also gets a bit cool.
The best thing I did for the bedrooms in the winter is putting on heated mattress pads for all the beds in the house. I don't always need to use them but they are nice to have if it's too cold. Otherwise we are usually in the front of the house and don't need the back rooms muscle warmer than they are now. Also, a tighter house does better with hot and cold areas. They say if it's leaky they just don't keep up well.
Wattage for the King size pad is 110 each side but I have it on 1 or 2 out of 10 so it cycles on and off.
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