Propane: Ten Facts You Might Not Know

Published on: August 10, 2020

Propane is one of the most efficient fuels around today – and one of the most versatile, too. In fact, propane can power just about any home appliance – and more often than not, it will do it more effectively for less money (especially when compared to electric-powered equipment).

Here are 10 facts you might not know about clean, green propane:

1. A by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining, propane (also called liquid propane or LP) is a gas at normal temperature and pressure, but compressible to a liquid for easy transport. Its chemical symbol is C3H8. 
2. Propane has the lowest flammability range of all alternative fuels (2.4– 9.5 percent); it will not ignite until the air reaches 940° F, and even then must be combined with oxygen in a specific way in order to burn.
3. Propane gas emits less than half the greenhouse gas emissions of electricity; in fact, propane exceeds the requirements for clean fuel regulations – a key reason why propane was included in the EPA’s 1990 expansion to the Clean Air Act.
4. Propane gas doesn’t spill or pool, which makes it harmless to soil or water in the event of a propane tank leak.
5. Propane leaks are easy to detect due to the strong smell that imitates the scent of rotten eggs (courtesy of the Ethyl Mercaptan that manufacturers add to the naturally odorless gas).
6. Propane furnaces and water heaters can reach efficiencies as high as 98 percent – 10 to 15 percent higher than most heating oil models.
7. A propane standby generator can integrate with all the systems in your home, powering your lights, refrigerator, home security system, sump pump, and other equipment to protect your family and property during a power outage.
8. Unlike their electric counterparts, propane-cooking ranges enable precise temperature control – a big reason why most professional chefs cook with gas.
9. A propane clothes dryer generates less static than electric units, which means less wear and tear on your laundry.
10. More than 90 percent of the propane used in the U.S. is produced domestically; most of the rest is produced in Canada. When you buy propane, you’re contributing to our energy independence.

Propane – the clean, green fuel for your southwestern Virginia home. Contact us today to learn what propane can do for you, or to schedule your first propane delivery in southwestern VA with us!