What Are Some Pros And Cons Of Using Propane?
Many people choose to use propane to heat their homes, to cook with, and to dry their clothes. If you are trying to decide whether or not propane is the right choice for you to use in your home, you will want to know what the pros and cons of having propane are.
Propane
Propane is made when natural gas is refined. It's one of the by-products of that process. It gets compressed down so it becomes a liquid, which allows it to be transported to your house and stored in a tank until you are ready to use it. When it gets delivered to you, it stays in the liquid form. However, when you get a full tank of propane delivered, that doesn't mean that your tank is completely filled. There is some space left at the top which allows the liquid to start turning into a gaseous vapor. That gas gets used to start your furnace, water heater, or stove.
Pros of Propane
One of the pros of propane is that it is a clean burning gas. That means it doesn't produce near the amount of pollutants that other heating sources can produce. It is also insoluble in water, which means that it doesn't dissolve in water. Propane also tends to be less expensive. The large appliances that use propane are also generally more efficient than appliances that use other fuel sources. That means that not only are you generally paying less for the propane, you are also using less propane to heat your house, which saves you more money.
The only thing limiting where you can use propane is transportation. If you are trying to live off the grid as much as possible and are out of the reasonable installation reach for natural gas lines, you can get a propane tank and use propane to heat your house. Propane can even be used to run generators and provide your electricity.
Cons of Propane
Because propane has to be physically delivered to your tank, you have to make sure that you plan for it. If the tank runs out, you are out of a way to heat, cook, or have hot water. If that happens in the winter, you may have to wait for some time in order to get an emergency delivery, which will likely cost you more money. Ways to avoid this include scheduling deliveries to happen at the same time every month as well as keeping an eye on your gauge during times of heavy usage.
While propane is safe, an outdoor tank can become vulnerable to things like tornadoes, earthquakes, and wildfires. If your area is prone to any of those, you may want to speak to the company who you get your propane from to see what you can do to limit your tank's vulnerability.
If you are trying to decide whether or not to go with propane for your house, knowing the pros and cons can make the decision much easier. Visit a website like http://www.averyoilandpropane.com to learn more about propane.