Written on: November 7, 2022
Across America, people tend to use one of a few fuels to heat their homes—heating oil, natural gas, and propane. Ace-Robbins provides propane delivery and heating oil delivery in Northeastern Pennsylvania. We also provide natural gas services and can handle every step of the natural gas conversion process if you decide to add natural gas as an energy source for your home. If you can choose between natural gas and propane to fuel your home, it’s important that you know the difference between the two. Let’s take a look.
Propane and natural gas aren’t identical, but they are related and can do many of the same things. They can both heat your home, fuel a vehicle, and run some of the appliances in and around your home.
Natural gas is a substance that’s found beneath the earth’s surface. Natural gas contains within it other gases that can be removed from it through certain processes. Propane is one of those gases. Natural gas can be a liquid, a compressed gas, or an uncompressed gas.
Propane, also called liquefied petroleum gas (or LPG), is stored as a liquid after it is separated from natural gas during processing. So while they’re related, propane and natural gas are not exactly the same. Let’s explore some of the other ways they are related and different.
For most customers, the most noticeable difference between propane and natural gas is how each is stored and delivered. To have a home that uses natural gas, your neighborhood must have natural gas services. Natural gas is delivered to homes through pipelines overseen by a utility. Unless there is an issue, your supply to natural gas once your home is connected to the pipeline is limitless. There’s no need for delivery. There’s no need for a storage tank.
Propane, on the other hand, is highly portable, so it’s ideal for people who live in remote areas or neighborhoods without natural gas pipelines. It can come in a canister small enough to put in your vehicle (usually to power small appliances like a grill) or it can be delivered to your aboveground or underground storage tank. Propane storage tanks come in a variety of sizes, the largest of which are large enough to satisfy a home that uses hundreds of gallons of propane a month for things like home heating, running appliances, and maintaining a whole-house generator. And while you do need propane to be delivered regularly, Ace-Robbins offers a free automatic delivery service, so you’ll never have to worry about running out. We also offer tank monitors for a nominal fee which let you check your tank’s level from anywhere on your phone or mobile device.
Both propane and natural gas will run your appliances more efficiently and cost-effectively than electricity will. Which is more cost effective for you depends largely on where you live, so it’s wise to do your homework. Propane usually costs more than natural gas, but it’s also capable of generating about twice the heat. Getting a new natural gas line installed costs more than getting a new propane tank, but it could save you money on your energy bills in the long run.
Both natural gas and propane offer you many of the same advantages. They both provide efficient and comfortable home heating. They can both power appliances like water heaters and clothes dryers more efficiently than electricity. And they both offer you precise temperature control when cooking.
Whichever you choose for or use in your home, Ace-Robbins can help. We offer safe, reliable, and affordable propane delivery as well as propane tank installation and monitoring. We can also help you through the process of converting your home to natural gas while adhering to the highest standards of safety. We also install, maintain, and repair both propane and gas boilers, furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, and hearths.
Join our family of satisfied customers today. Contact Ace-Robbins for more information on the propane and natural gas services we offer.
