What You Should Know When Buying Propane
Americans use three types of gas more than any others: gasoline, natural gas, and propane. Converted into its liquid form, propane is incredibly popular. 60 million Americans use it as a fuel source for things like outdoor barbecue grills, portable heaters, portable cooktops, hot tubs, cars, and even as heating for homes and buildings. When buying propane for your various fuel needs, there are a few things you should know.
1. Fuel-Efficiency
One reason propane makes such a great fuel option is that it's incredibly fuel-efficient, making it an environmentally friendly option when compared with many other combustible gases. For example, propane gas emits 139.0 Btus of carbon dioxide compared to 157.2 for gasoline without ethanol.
2. Cost-Effectiveness
Propane is also incredibly cost-effective. In fact, it produces more units of energy for the price than any other fuel source. That's a big part of the reason why 60 million Americans are burning propane for various uses.
3. Liquifying
Most propane for everyday use comes in tanks and that's how we buy propane most of the time unless it's a fuel source for your car or heating your home. Many people are familiar with the sight of a propane tank attached to a grill or RV. But before it's stored in these tanks, it's converted from a gas into a liquid by adding butane. Then it becomes what is known as LPG or liquefied petroleum gas. Liquefying propane makes it easy to transport and store for long periods. It also makes it easy to refill at your local propane gas sales location.
4. Secure Tanks
Because propane can be stored for a long time, people tend to leave tanks out in the weather for years at a time and that's ok. They're built to last. Although propane is flammable and explosive, the risk of a tank exploding is extremely rare, about 1 in 37 million. The bigger threat is that a leaking tank could cause propane to buildup in an enclosed space which then catches fire.
If you feel like your propane is running out too quickly, check for leaks. You can do this by creating a solution of liquid soap and water. Add a capful of soap to a cup of water and use a paintbrush to paint this solution onto where the cylinder valve and regulator outlet connect. A leak will cause bubbles to form in the soap.
If you or your company needs propane gas, contact supply companies such as John Graves Propane of Arizona, INC.
