Difference Between Propane And Natural Gas Heating

People often look at just the price without considering the fact that a natural gas furnace will burn twice the amount of fuel as it s propane counterpart.

Difference between propane and natural gas heating.

Propane in general rates higher on the btu measure than natural gas. While propane is a part of natural gas in its raw state it is a hydrocarbon separated from the other gases at gas processing facilities. The differences between natural gas and propane can be confusing. Historically when you convert between units and compare average rates it may appear that natural gas is the cheaper option.

Natural gas uses for heating purposes and as a fuel and propane gas is the gas used for heating purposes and home appliances. Natural gas can be stored as an uncompressed gas as compressed natural gas or cng or as liquefied natural gas or lng. Natural gas is fed at a smaller pressure than propane so to get the same heating value usually measured in btus a natural gas orifice has to be smaller than a propane one. If propane costs 2 50 per gallon using this example then natural gas is the more economical choice.

Natural gas consists of many gases like ethane methane propane and butane while propane gas is the type of raw gas isolated by the processing of natural gas. They will however require special gas utilization fittings for each fuel source. Especially because propane is one of the fuels that make up natural gas the other fuels being butane methane ethane. While both natural gas and propane are clean burning propane is considered a green fuel where natural gas is not.

One comparison that can help you determine the probable cost difference between propane and natural gas is to gauge and contrast the btu which is used to measure the heating efficiency of a particular fuel type. Like all fuels the cost of both propane and natural gas is prone to fluctuation over time. Natural gas rates are measured in price per cubic foot whereas propane rates are measured in price per gallon. Many appliances can work with either propane or natural gas water heaters are perhaps the biggest exception.

Propane in tanks is a liquid because it s held under pressure and it becomes a gas when it s released through the valve on your tank. While propane is a part of natural gas it becomes a unique source of fuel on its own when it s separated during processing.