Monday, May 12, 2014

Interesting Propane Facts

By Cath Buhr


Millions of people in the United States use propane every day. Often it is used as a source of central heating in a home and for cooking in the home. Propane also is a common source of fuel for camping stoves and your barbecue grill. While you certainly already knew that propane was a source of fuel, here are a few facts that are not as widely known.

Propane is interesting because it can be both a gas and also a liquid. When you see those propane trucks on the road, they are full of propane in its liquid state. Propane is a natural by-product of the processing of natural gas and also the refining of petroleum. The propane that is produced is stored in huge salt mines, the largest of which is in Texas. It can be carried out of the mine in trucks or via a pipeline.

Propane was discovered in 1910 by a chemist named Walter Snelling who was studying the components of gasoline. He managed to separate gasoline into liquid and gas components and discovered both propane and butane in the process. It was quickly discovered that propane was an excellent source of fuel and within just a few years was used as a source of fuel for the home, mainly for cooking.

In addition to heating your home, running your clothes dryer and powering your range, propane also is an excellent source of vehicle fuel. In fact, propane has been used as a vehicle fuel source since 1913 and it is quite common in many countries around the world. For instance, if you were to visit South Korea, you would find that about half of the vehicles use propane. In the U.S., about 150,000 vehicles are powered by propane. Propane is a much cleaner fuel than gasoline or diesel fuel, producing about 50% less carbon emissions. It also doesn't hurt that propane is quite a bit cheaper than gasoline.

Even as a home fuel source, propane is cheaper and better for the environment than many other fuel sources. Using electricity from coal or another fuel source typically is twice as expensive as using propane. Running your dryer or range with propane is quite cost effective. In addition to the cost difference, the fuel is far cleaner than other common sources of fuel, such as coal. Coal actually emits double the amount of carbon into the atmosphere as carbon. So if you are trying to reduce your carbon footprint, propane can be an excellent and cost-effective option.

When you purchase propane for your home, it is important to note that consumers should look for a propane source that sells only HD5 propane, which is the highest quality propane. HD5 propane burns hotter and cleaner than other types of propane and is healthier for your family. Consider using Thrifty Propane as your home propane source. They offer the lowest prices for the highest quality HD5 propane.




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