Propane Or Natural Gas – What’s the Right Choice For Me?
There’s a lot of information out there about natural gas and propane—two high-efficiency gas-based home energy alternatives. Some of it is accurate, some of it not so accurate.
Marketing gurus usually paint natural gas as the clear winner in a showdown between the fuels, but the truth is that propane offers key advantages over natural gas that could tip the scale in its favor, depending on your circumstances and priorities.
4 Big Perks Of Propane
Here are four propane advantages to keep in mind if you’re comparing the two fuels for your new or expanded home:
- Propane Burns Hotter Than Natural Gas – Propane contains double the amount of usable energy content per cubic foot as natural gas—about 2,490 BTUs versus 1,030. That means more heat for your furnace, boiler, or space heater, and more power for your other gas-burning appliances.
- Propane Delivery is Safer — In liquid form, propane can be moved safely and easily by technicians bound by strict federal, state, and local laws. Natural gas, on the other hand, must be delivered via pipeline and not all pipelines are maintained with equal care. And if there are no natural gas pipelines near your home, you’re out of luck.
- You Have More Flexibility with Propane – In most cases, a propane line can connect to appliances in any part of your home, as long as there’s a tank nearby (while there are some requirements for distance from the home for a propane tank, they are not overly restrictive). The placement of natural gas appliances, on the other hand, depends on how they can connect to the pipeline.
- Burning Propane Produces Few GHGs – While both fuels are considered to be “clean burning,” natural gas is a fossil fuel that releases methane—a gas that is far more potent than CO2 as a greenhouse gas.
When it comes down to it, you will probably pay a little more for propane than you will for natural gas, but it could still be the right choice for you. If you’re trying to decide between these two options, give the propane experts at Midway Gas a call today to discuss propane installation and delivery options in Pittsylvania, Henry, and Patrick counties in Virginia!
