A relative newcomer in the arena of household fuels, propane is much younger. We’ve only been using it for the past century or so, and it’s still rare in homes when compared to natural gas. The distinct pressure levels for each fuel mean they need specific fittings and regulators. Transitioning might require specialized conversion kits for your devices. Unfortunately, if you have electric appliances, switching to gas might not be feasible.
How long does a propane tank last compared to natural gas supply?
Processing of natural gas and refining of crude oil results in the production of LPG. LPG is processed and then stored in gas cans or storage tanks under pressure as a liquid. Most people in the UK are aware of natural gas, as it’s the most commonly used fossil fuel to heat homes.
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Instead, you’ll have to consider more eco-friendly options such as solar panels and heat pumps. These will reduce your carbon footprint and also make your home more appealing to buyers in the future. LPG and natural gas, have very different important aspects, which is their main distinction.
Propane is an LPG (C3H8), whereas methane is found in natural gas (CH4). The processing of natural gas and the refinement of petroleum results in the production of LPG. The boiling point of propane is -42˚c, which makes it suitable for lower temperatures, and it’s usually used for appliances and heating in caravans. LPG has a very low boiling point, so it must be stored outside the home in either a storage tank or LPG gas bottles. This is so that the LPG doesn’t evaporate back into gas once it reaches room temperature. Instead, you’ll use lpg vs natural gas fuel from a tank or a portable canister in your home.
This blog post will compare the two gasses and highlight the greatest differences between them. So instead, you need to multiply the amount of natural gas by about 2.5x to achieve the same results that you can get from propane. This balances things out and will show that propane costs less than natural gas.
What are the Cons of Propane?
- When considering the environmental impact of your primary energy source, you’ll want to look at the entire life cycle.
- So, it’s almost the same as when getting a water supply that you can use any time you need, and then you get billed based on how much you consume.
- Natural gas combustion releases a larger amount of methane — a gas with significant environmental and climatic repercussions, compared to propane.
- On the other hand, propane (C₃H₈) emerges as a secondary product when refining various petroleum products, natural gas included.
- You’ve decided on a gas-powered furnace, but have you compared the benefits of natural gas vs. propane gas?
As you can probably imagine, both of these fuels are highly flammable. This makes it important to handle them with care and to understand the best practices for safety. For many homeowners, the cost of their home fuel is the most important factor when deciding which to use. Using our proprietary cost database, in-depth research, and collaboration with industry experts, we deliver accurate, up-to-date pricing and insights you can trust, every time.
BTU stands for British Thermal Units and is a measurement of thermal energy. That means that if you use the same amount of both fuels, you get 2.5 times the energy from propane. In conclusion, when it comes to choosing between LPG and natural gas, there are several factors to consider. Whether you prioritize cost, efficiency, environmental impact, or safety, both energy sources have their pros and cons. To find out which burns cleaner, we need to compare the BTU of the two methods. BTU, or British Thermal Units, is the standard measurement for heating efficiency.