Propane Gas: What You Need to Know
Pennsylvania and Delaware homeowners love keeping comfortable with propane as their chosen fuel source. Propane is widely used as a home heating fuel for its versatility, eco-friendliness, high efficiency, safety, and affordability. When you use propane, you can fuel your heating system, power your stove, heat your hot water, and so much more.
If you use propane to heat and power your home, you already know some of the great benefits, but did you know each appliance you use comes with its own perks? This safe and versatile fuel can power a wide variety of home appliances—both indoors and outdoors. Below are just a few of the many uses of propane for your home.
Benefits of Indoor Propane Appliances
- Hot Water Heaters: Enjoy lower operating costs, higher efficiencies, and a continuous supply of hot water with a high-efficiency propane water heater compared to its electric counterpart.
- Cooking Appliances: Unlike electric stoves that take time to warm up, gas flames provide instantaneous heat and even temperature distribution for your cookware.
- Clothes Dryers: Propane-fired clothes dryers quickly and efficiently reach the desired heat temperature setting, faster than electric models.
- Fireplaces: Propane fireplaces are simple to start, inexpensive to run, and easy to maintain.
- Backup Generators: In no-power situations, keep your lights on, your indoor temperature stable, and your appliances running.
Benefits of Outdoor Propane Appliances
- Gas Grills: Get quick start-up, on-demand temperature control, and level heat distribution, even in the winter!
- Outdoor Fireplaces: Enjoy the warmth and coziness of a fire while sitting among lightning bugs and crickets on a cool summer’s eve.
- Fire Pits: Camp in your own backyard without the hassle of dealing with smoke and soot from burning logs.
- Patio Space Heaters: Propane space heaters provide consistent heating to keep you comfortable, no matter the temperature outside.
- Pool, Hot Tub, and Spa Heaters: Propane heaters are less expensive than their electric counterparts and can reach and maintain the desired water temperature more efficiently.
Preventative Propane Safety
While propane has many benefits, it must be used in a safe manner, like any other heating fuel. To keep your home protected from season to season, it is critical that you follow these industry-approved safety tips.
- Understand Your Tank: It is very important to familiarize yourself with the general functions of your propane tank. Know how to read your tank gauge and turn off your gas supply. Regularly monitoring your propane tank levels will help avoid the risk of running out of fuel, which can cause costly damage and serious safety hazards.
- Educate Your Family: Make sure all members of your household understand propane safety precautions. This includes proper measures for storage, like keeping flammable items clear from your heating system, and proper handling of propane cylinders, like your grill tank. Never store propane cylinders inside any enclosed building. Establish a family evacuation plan with clear instructions and a meeting point to keep everyone safe in the event of a leak.
- Take Care of Your Appliances: Be sure to schedule regular maintenance from Ferro Fuel for your heating system and propane-powered appliances. This will promote safe, unobstructed operation and improve fuel efficiency. Keep an eye on the flame in your gas-range stove. If it burns yellow instead of blue, that can indicate an issue with your burner inlet.
If you’d like to learn more about how to add this versatile fuel to your home heating and power supply, simply contact us! We’d love to speak with you.