Once people learn that propane can do more than fire up your barbecue grill, or power the generator for their RV, they start to have a lot more questions. When they find out propane is an efficient, eco-friendly, and versatile option for heating and other appliances in their homes, they want to learn more. Are you curious about propane gas and all the ways you can use it to keep your family comfortable and manage energy costs? Pico’s pros have the answers to all your questions.
Good question! When it comes to using propane, it’s not very different from natural gas. That is, any way you can use natural gas in your home, you can use propane. But propane has some distinct differences—and benefits.
To use natural gas, you need to live close enough to the infrastructure and be able to connect to the underground system of pipes that deliver gas to your home. You have to deal with a utility company, and don’t get a choice in where you order your fuel.
Propane is a byproduct of natural gas. As natural gas is processed, the liquid components are recovered, to prevent condensation from forming in natural gas pipelines. One of those components is propane gas.
Also, propane is delivered to your home and stored in a tank. You can select the dealer you choose, based on price alone, or based on the quality and reliability of the service.
It can be confusing, and we get it: on your invoice, we bill you per gallon. And the fact is, when we deliver it to you, propane is in its liquid form. To make propane easier to store and transport, it is compressed, which converts the gas to a liquid state. As it is released into the gas lines in your home, it expands into a gas. That’s why propane is also often referred to as Liquid Petroleum Gas, or LPG.
People are often surprised at how versatile propane is. Because it can be stored in portable tanks, people see it primarily as the fuel they use when they’re camping. But propane can be used for heating, water heating, and running appliances that use heat and hot water, like laundry equipment. Propane is ideal for cooking, and is the top choice of professional chefs, because a gas range offers more precise control than you can get with an electric range.
Ever wished for a fireplace but don’t have a chimney? Propane lets you add a hearth that delivers loads of cozy charm without the soot, ash or mess—no chimney needed.
Propane will also power a backup generator that will automatically go on when the power goes down. That means you’ll have heat, lights, security systems and more without waiting for the utility trucks to come make repairs.
Propane generates more Btus of heat energy than an equivalent amount of electricity, and it delivers more than twice the Btus of natural gas, so you need much less propane to produce the same amount of heat or energy. Propane appliances are also very efficient, meaning they waste very little fuel in the combustion process. (On the other hand, about two-thirds of the energy used by a power plant to generate and transmit electricity is wasted.)
Propane water heaters generate much more hot water at a cheaper cost per gallon. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, homes that heat water with propane rather than electricity can see average annual savings of $174.
Propane is one of the cleanest fuels around. It produces minimal emissions. Propane also doesn’t harm soil or groundwater – an important factor when it comes to determining whether a fuel is “green.” Additionally, propane is a domestically sourced alternative fuel that can provide steady, reliable heat for a range of appliances at an affordable price.
Propane is very safe. Propane has very low combustibility, which means when it’s combined with air, the source of ignition must be at least 940°— twice as hot as what is required to ignite gasoline. While it’s a highly flammable gas under certain conditions, leaks are rare. Propane also has a distinct rotten-egg smell to help you quickly notice leaking gas. And, propane is nontoxic, posing no threat to soil and water, so installing propane tanks (above or below ground) is not regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The team at Pico Propane has the knowledge and resources to answer all your questions about the benefits of propane for your North Carolina home. Converting a home to propane is a straightforward, easy process that will leave you with lower energy bills and support a cleaner environment. The average conversion takes about two days, with little disruption to your life or comfort.
We’re here to help you get started, with the right size propane tank for your needs, reliable propane delivery, convenient pricing and billing options, and more. Contact us for more information today.
