Propane Myths And Facts

Even though propane has been heating homes for more than a century, it’s still a fuel that’s misunderstood by many people – which is a shame, considering all the incredible things that propane can do for you in your Central Massachusetts home.

Here are four common myths about propane gas, and the truth behind them.

Myth #1: Propane is good for camping and grilling – and not much else.

Fact: Sure, propane is the perfect fuel for your RV or barbecue, but it can do so much more than that. In fact, propane can power just about any appliance inside or outside your Massachusetts home, including your:

• Water heater
• Spa or pool heater
• Clothes dryer
• Patio heater
• Outdoor fire pit
• Furnace or boiler
• Space heater
• Cooking range
• Backup generator
• Outdoor refrigerator
• And more

On top of that versatility, propane will usually perform better than other energy sources (especially electricity) when powering any of these appliances – and no matter how many of them you have, they can be supplied with gas from a single, convenient tank.

Myth #2: Propane is dangerous.

Fact: Propane is as at least as safe to use as any other home energy source – and safer than most. Consider these propane safety facts:

• Most propane equipment shuts off automatically if a there is a problem with your heating equipment.
• The smell of propane makes a leak easy to detect – and if a leak does occur, the gas simply vaporizes, leaving no mess or cleanup.
• The propane industry is strictly regulated by federal DOT, OSHA, and EPA compliance codes, along with state and local fire and safety laws. Propane contractors (including ours) must undergo extensive training to ensure their work complies with every one of those laws and codes.
• Propane tanks and cylinders include a device that cuts off the filling process during propane deliveries when the tank is 80 percent full – a safety measure designed to allow propane gas to expand harmlessly when a tank is in a hot environment (outside in the sun, for example).
• Propane has the lowest flammability range of all alternative fuels, and it won’t ignite until the air reaches 940° F. Even then, it must be combined with oxygen in particular ways to ignite.

Myth #3: Propane is expensive.

Fact: Propane is one of the most cost effective home energy solutions around when you consider the total cost of ownership of propane equipment and services. Propane heats fast and effectively, with many propane appliances reaching efficiencies of 98 percent. While some electric heat pumps may match that efficiency rating in milder weather, their performance drops off dramatically once outdoor temperatures near the freezing mark.

You’ll also save money with propane in the long run because it burns clean – which means your equipment will last longer and require fewer repairs and less maintenance.

Myth #4: Propane is harmful to the environment.

Fact: Propane emits less than half the carbon of heating oil when burned, and less than electricity when it is produced by coal-fired generation plants. Propane is so eco-friendly that it is the only alternative fuel included in the 1990 Clean Air Act and the National Energy Policy Act of 1992. Neither the process by which propane is produced nor the combustion of propane gas produces significant acid rain contaminants, and because it is nontoxic and doesn’t pool, a propane leak cannot contaminate water or soil.

Considering converting to propane, or using propane appliances to supplement your current oil-fired heating system? We can help. Contact Pioneer Oil and Propane today to learn more, or get a FREE, no obligation estimate on propane installations for your Worcester-area home.