Written on: January 31, 2022
If you’re shopping for a new home and are looking at a house that heats with propane, you’re probably wondering what exactly that means. Truth be told, you aren’t alone—currently, only about 5% of homes in the U.S. use propane for heat. Most people are only familiar with portable propane cylinders that fire up their grills or fuel their RVs… but that is beginning to change.
In areas where electric heat tends to be more common, people are often surprised at the benefits that propane offers. In fact, propane is one of the cleanest, most versatile, and most efficient fuels around! It’s a domestically sourced alternative fuel that can provide steady, reliable heat energy at an affordable price. Propane also offers exceptional performance and efficiency in a wide range of home appliances at a much lower cost than electricity.
When it comes to environmental impact, propane gas is a fantastic choice. It burns cleanly and produces minimal emissions. Propane also doesn’t harm soil or groundwater—an important factor when it comes to determining whether a fuel is “green.”
Propane is also made right here in the U.S.A. In fact, about 90% of the United States’ supply of propane is domestically generated. Most of it comes from the processing of natural gas.
Propane generates more Btus than an equivalent amount of electricity. What does this mean? It means you need much less propane to produce the same amount of heat or energy. Also, propane appliances are very efficient, so they waste very little fuel in the combustion process. On the other hand, about two-thirds of the energy used by a power plant to generate and transmit electricity is effectively wasted.
Because propane is so efficient, it’s a smarter choice than electricity for a wide variety of appliances, in addition to heating your home. For example, propane water heaters generate much more hot water at a cheaper cost per gallon. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, homes that heat water with propane rather than electricity can see average annual savings of $174.
The same technology that makes propane ideal for water heaters makes it a smarter choice than electricity to power all kinds of appliances that use hot water or heat, including:
When storms knock out power, a propane-fueled backup generator will keep your lights and everything else running until the utility companies can make repairs. In addition, a gas stove will continue to work during a power outage. Now that’s convenient—especially here, where hurricane season is getting more and more active every year.
With all those benefits, propane offers more bang for your buck, all while protecting the environment. It’s a win-win for South Florida homeowners who care about the environment but also want to keep costs under control.
As a local company with more than 70 years’ experience, Pico Propane are the pros that South Florida residents from Ft. Lauderdale to Homestead trust for propane deliveries, appliance and equipment installations, maintenance and more. We’ve got the knowledge, skills and resources and can answer all your questions about the benefits of a propane-heated home. Get in touch with us today to learn more—or stop by our showroom to see the best selection of propane appliances and grills!