Less than 10% of U.S. households rely on propane to fuel their main source of heat. But it’s popularity is slowly growing.
Propane has a lot going for it. It is a clean-burning fuel, relatively inexpensive, and isn’t restricted to pipelines like natural gas.
If you don’t know much about propane, it’s time to check into it. Switching to propane appliances could save you a bundle on your monthly energy bills.
Keep reading to learn all about it and discover if it would be a good option for your home in Chester County, PA or northern Delaware.
What Is Propane?
Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) or propane, as it is more commonly known, is an excellent fuel. The gas is compressed and stored under pressure as a liquid in a steel tank, hence the name.
You may be familiar with it for powering RV stoves and heaters, camp stoves, and barbecues. It can also be used to power many appliances including dryers, fireplaces, farm equipment, and more. You can even retrofit vehicles to run off of propane!
Propane is actually a byproduct of both natural gas processing and crude oil refinement and each source contributes roughly the same amount of propane.
Propane is listed in both the Clean Air Act of 1990 and the Energy Policy Act of 1992 as a clean-burning fuel. In fact, it ranks among the cleanest burning of all fossil fuels.
Propane runs through about 56,000 miles of pipeline in the U.S. to reach over 6,000 distribution centers. Since it is stored in tanks, it can be used anywhere, unlike natural gas which requires a pipeline running to your home.
For homes, propane tanks are often installed or buried on the property. As a non-toxic gas, it is perfectly safe to leave the tanks underground. Even if there is a leak, it won’t contaminate the surrounding soil or water, unlike oil.
Operating Cost of Propane Appliances
Comparing the operating cost of propane appliances to appliances run by other fuel sources is not always easy. For example, propane and electricity both produce and use fuel differently. They are also measured and priced differently, making a direct comparison quite difficult.
To adequately understand the operating cost you have to consider three variables:
- Energy density
- Energy cost
- Appliance efficiency
Let’s break it down.
Energy Density
Propane is measured in gallons, while electricity is measured in kilowatt-hours. There is no way to convert gallons to kilo-watt hours or vice versa. However, it does take 27 kilo-watt hours of electricity to produce the same amount of energy as one gallon of propane.
Energy Cost
Currently, the average price of propane in the U.S. is $2.00 a gallon. The average price per kilowatt-hour for electricity is $0.13. Times that by 27 to equal a gallon and you get $3.51.
According to this, propane is drastically cheaper, right?
Yes, but you also have to take into consideration how propane appliances and electric appliances use energy. Their efficiency isn’t exactly the same.
Appliance Efficiency
Every appliance wastes a certain amount of energy. An energy efficiency rating for an appliance tells you how much of the fuel is converted to usable energy.
Propane appliances lose a certain amount of energy through unburned fuel and exhaust from burning the fuel. Modern electric appliances, on the other hand, tend to be quite efficient. To do a comparison, you’ll want to find out the efficiency rating for the propane appliance and comparable electric appliance.
Before you go to all that work, though. We’ll tell you that the difference, while it brings up the price of propane a little, is generally not enough to make propane more expensive than electricity.
Difference in Appliances
Another thing to keep in mind is that electricity and propane do not function in the same way. In short, propane appliances typically work faster. For example, propane water heaters heat water faster and propane dryers dry clothes faster than electric ones.
This translates both to using less energy and using the appliances less, reducing maintenance costs and lengthening lifespans.
As you can see, comparing electricity to propane is tricky. You also have to consider the cost of electricity and propane in your area as this can vary depending on where you live. Regardless, in most cases, propane turns out to be the winner.
Environmental Effects
Another thing to consider is that propane is a primary fuel source whereas electricity requires an energy source to produce it. This energy source may be other fuels such as natural gas or petroleum, adding the environmental impact of burning those fuels.
As renewable energy sources for electricity, wind, solar, and water-generated electricity is becoming more prominent.
However, if you’re concerned about your environmental impact, propane is a better choice. The fuel itself is clean burning and energy doesn’t have to be expended to produce it.
Propane Applications
Is propane really effective for powering your home?
They might not seem as common as other types of appliances, but there are plenty of propane appliances to choose from.
You can find propane water heaters, hot tub heaters, pool heaters, dryers, stoves and ranges, outdoor fire pits, refrigerators, freezers, and more!
Ready to Get Started?
If you weren’t too sure about propane appliances before, we hope this article has helped you decide to make the switch in Chester County, PA or northern Delaware. You’ll save money on your energy bills and help out the environment. A propane water heater will even heat your water faster and a propane dryer will dry your clothes faster. It’s win-win all around!
Getting a system set up and installed is easy for customers in our Pennsylvania and Delaware service area.
Simply contact us here at Kauffman Gas to get started. We even offer same-day excavation, installation, and propane gas hookup. It’s never been easier to get connected!