PFM Propane is now Pico Propane. Learn More →
Written on: January 28, 2025
When you make energy decisions for your home, you checklist probably includes efficiency, cost, and environmental impact. As you research, you’ll come across plenty of information about propane.
But how does the fuel you use in portable tanks for grilling or camping stack up against electricity or heating oil? This question matters even more if you’ve lived in cold climates where heating oil is common. Does propane burn hot enough to handle water heating and space heating to keep you home and family comfortable?
Here’s how propane stacks up.
You might not be surprised to know that both propane and natural gas burn at the same temperature—3,560˚ Fahrenheit. But when you compare unit-for-unit, propane delivers more Btus of heat energy than you get from natural gas. A Btu—it stands for British thermal unit—is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by 1° F.
One degree may not sound like much, but one gallon of propane generates about 91,452 Btus. When you measure propane gas by cubic feet (the measurement used for natural gas), you’ll see that natural gas generates less than half as much, at about 1,012 Btus of heat. You would need about 27 kilowatt hours of electricity to produce the same number of Btus.
That’s a lot of math, but what it means is that propane delivers more than twice the Btus of natural gas, so you need much less propane to produce the same amount of heat or energy. That makes propane a great value. 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.
All that efficiency makes propane a smarter choice than electricity for water heating, too. For example, propane water heaters generate much more hot water at a cheaper cost per gallon. Now consider that water heating comes in at one of your biggest energy expenses. Think about it: You may not need to heat your home year-round, but you probably take a hot shower every day, not to mention dishwashing and clothes laundering throughout the year. The math is getting easier, isn’t it?
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 washers and dryers, dishwashers, patio heaters, space heaters, pool and spa heaters. It’s also a chef’s choice for cooking, because it offers power and control that you can’t get with an electric cooktop. Propane is also ideal for outdoor grills.
With propane, your supply is right there at your home. When you have a propane-powered stand-by generator, propane will keep your home powered and safe through electrical outages, too. And our automatic delivery and wireless propane tank monitoring services mean you don’t have to do a thing, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you’ll always have the propane you need to stay comfortable.
On the other hand, natural gas requires an expensive connection, that may not even be available where you live. You’re also stuck dealing with a large natural gas utility for your gas supply. If something goes wrong with their infrastructure, you could end up without gas in your home for hours, days, or longer—and require line and pressure testing before your gas can be restored, even once the problem is resolved.
Did you know that propane is a domestically sourced fuel that is also one of the cleanest fuels around? Propane is named as an alternative fuel in both the 1990 Clean Air Act and the 1992 National Energy Policy. It’s also nontoxic and nonpoisonous, so it doesn’t contaminate groundwater or soil if it leaks – which means propane tanks can be safely buried out of sight.
Whether you are remodeling your existing place, shopping for a new home, or just looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint, propane provides tremendous value.
Talk to the team at Pico propane. We have the experience and knowledge to answer all your questions and help make adding propane to your home easy—and you can count on reliable, convenient service that makes everything easy. We can help with installations, tanks and propane appliances, too!
Contact us to learn more and become a customer today.
