FAQs
If you want to know…
- What is propane?
- How is propane made?
- Is propane safe to use at home?
- How does propane compare to other fuels?
Here are some helpful industry links:
How can I make sure that the gas provided by a company is safe for my home?
At Northwest Propane, our top concern is your safety. Nearly five million households in the United States rely on propane for heating, and over three million use propane for home water heating. The fuel has a narrow range of flammability and cannot be ingested like alcohol fuels or gasoline since pressurized containers release vapors. Propane performs equally to natural gas, making propane a safe fuel to heat your home. It is quite safe as long as you follow proper safety precautions. To ensure that your propane system operates safely and efficiently, we provide quality installation and inspection services. Our licensed professionals inspect and repair new or existing units before filling pumps at your house. Also, preventative maintenance programs are available to ensure proper upkeep of your appliances, guaranteeing that your family enjoys a healthy and safe environment.
Why should I use propane gas?
Propane is a reliable and trusted energy source used by millions of Americans each day. It fulfills energy needs by burning efficiently and cleanly, giving you more value for your energy dollar. In addition, the vapor is eliminated from the environment faster than it takes for it to become introduced into the atmosphere and impact the global climate, making its carbon footprint lower than most other fuels. Contact our specialists to hear more about why you should use our residential propane services. Common uses for propane in your home include furnaces, outdoor grills, water heaters, air conditioners, and kitchen appliances. Switching to propane provides tremendous financial savings. Also, after you make the switch, you will find propane is a widely recognized cleaner-burning low-carbon fuel. In addition, residential propane incentives and rebates are excellent reasons to be a Northwest Propane customer.
General Propane FAQs
Q: What is propane?
A: Propane is a gas fuel that is compressed, stored as a liquid, and used as a vapor. It is nontoxic, colorless, and naturally odorless, although a highly regulated odorant is added to aid in detection. The fuel is used for residential, commercial, industrial, AutoGas, and agricultural use. Some common propane uses include heating, water heating, lighting, fleet fueling, clothes drying, cooling, crop drying, forklifts, and greenhouse climate control.
Q: Is propane a gas or a liquid?
A: Both: propane is stored as a liquid fuel in a propane tank, but vaporizes into a gas upon release from pressurization as it raises above its boiling point.
Q: How is propane gas manufactured?
A: Propane is a natural by-product of oil refining and natural gas processing from wet wells: the vapor is captured and harnessed as a fuel of its own.
Q: What are some common uses of propane gas?
A: Propane is most often used for heating and water heating. Other uses include cooking, generators, pool heating, lighting, vehicle fueling, forklifts, irrigation, crop drying, and more.
Q: What are the advantages of using propane gas?
A: Propane is an approved clean fuel listed in the 1990 Clean Air Act. It produces fewer emissions than many other fuels. Most propane is created in North America, and sales support local economy and jobs. The US is the world’s leading propane provider and has more than enough to go around. With propane, customers know they have options when it comes to delivery and service providers. Propane is one of the cheaper fuel options and is consistently priced lower per BTU than oil and other competing fuels.
Q: Will propane gas deteriorate over long periods?
A: No. Unlike other competing fuels such as gasoline and diesel, propane does not deteriorate or lose potency over time.
Q: What appliances can I use with propane?
A: Propane can fuel a variety of appliances, including: furnaces, boilers, water heaters, fireplaces, stoves, ranges, grills, clothes dryers, fire pits, fireplaces, pool and hot tub heaters, refrigerators, freezers, space heaters, lighting, generators, lawn care equipment, landscaping tools, vehicles, fleets, buses, and more.
Q: How much does propane fuel cost?
A: Propane prices fluctuate based on region, but at a price of approximately $2.50 per gallon. If you’d like to learn today’s low price, just give us a call or request a quote online.
Q: How can I tell if a propane tank is empty or nearing empty?
A: To find the level of propane in your tank, refer to the propane tank gauge. We provide automatic delivery services so you don’t have to worry about your tank running out of fuel. If you prefer not to check your fuel level, contact us to sign up for automatic delivery. If you prefer will-call propane delivery, we recommend ordering when your tank reaches 30% or less capacity.
Q: What is the difference between LPG and propane?
A: LPG stands for liquefied petroleum gas, which represents a larger family of fuel. Butane is an example of another LP-gas which differs slightly from propane in terms of its chemical formula and certain qualities, such as the temperature at which it vaporizes.
Q: What are the different types of LP-gas?
A: The different types of propane include HD-5 propane (propane and maximum of 5% propylene), commercial propane (propane and propylene), and commercial butane (butane and butylene).
Q: How do butane and propane differ?
A: Butane and propane are both hydrocarbon gases that fall into the category of LPG, but their chemical formulas are different and they react differently to temperature changes. Propane vaporizes at temperatures above -44°F, while butane will not vaporize below 32°F.