Know The Basic Facts About Propane

Propane is a conventional type of liquefied petroleum gas, and it is among the country's most versatile energy sources. In fact, it supplies approximately four percent of America's energy requirements. Propane is both a liquid and a gas. It is 270 times more compact in liquid form, rather than in gas form, making it more economical to transport or store as a liquid.

Propane's atmospheric temperatures and pressure are at negative 44 degrees Fahrenheit. It is an odorless, colorless, non-toxic gas. Manufacturers of propane add an odor to make it easier to detect in the event of a leak and therefore prevents accidents (such as when somebody forgets to switch off a propane tank). Propane's vapor is a clean-burning fuel.

About 90 percent of propane supply in the United States is domestically produced, while 70 percent of the remaining supply comes from Mexico and Canada. Equal amounts of propane are sourced from natural gas processing and refined crude oil. This way, propane is readily available, and you can acquire a secure energy source that has widely recognized environmental benefits. In fact, it is an approved alternative clean fuel that is indicated in the National Energy Policy Act of 1992 and the 1990 Clean Air Act.

Propane for the Home

Approximately 60 million people use propane in the United States. In 1999, the US consumed 19.6 billion gallons of propane for residential, recreational, and commercial usage, as well as for chemical, industrial, utility, agriculture, and internal combustion engine use. For the American home, propane can be a cost effective fuel for heating and cooling systems, as well as for drying clothes, heating water, barbecuing, as well as lighting and residential heating needs.

The Energy Information Administration of the US Department of Energy found that 8.1 million American households use propane, and 4.6 percent of these rely on propane as their main source for heating. Around 16 percent of mobile homes use propane as their main heating source.

Propane as an Alternative Fuel for Automobiles

Nearly four million vehicles in the US run on propane, making it among the most widely used alternative fuels around. The US Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center found that over 350,000 vehicles run on this fuel, and that there are 4,175 public propane-refueling stations throughout the country.

Vehicles that are powered by propane are often more durable and believed to provide the best driving range and performance. Propane is not as bad as a pollutant as conventional fuel sources, making it a safer fuel for certain applications, such as indoor industrial vehicle operations and forklift trucks.

Propane for Recreation

Many recreational vehicles and equipment use propane to run because it burns cleanly and is portable. Hence, propane lets you power greenhouse heaters, generators, RV appliances, gas grills, and swimming pool heaters. Propane can economically and safely run heaters for whirlpools and saunas as well.

About the Author:

This article was written by ThompsonGas. The 16th largest retail propane company in the U.S., ThompsonGas has been family owned and operated since 1946. The propane gas dealer provides cheap propane for residential and commercial propane gas service to customers across 10 states in the East and Southeast.

This article was written by ThompsonGas. The 16th largest retail propane company in the U.S., ThompsonGas has been family owned and operated since 1946.