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Posted: August 5, 2024
Do you use propane gas to keep your Delaware Valley home toasty warm in the winter? What about the propane water heater that provides plenty of hot water for bathing, cooking, cleaning and everything else? If you use propane for warmth and hot water, along with many other possible uses, we don’t have to tell you what a good job it does. But what makes propane so powerful and efficient in the first place?
Let’s begin with the flame itself. Under ideal conditions, the temperature of the propane gas flame should be in the 3,560° F range, with the maximum temperature limit at 3,595° F.
With that said, a more accurate way of measuring heat generation is in British Thermal Units (Btu). One BTU is the amount of energy needed to increase one pound of water by 1˚ F. This metric can tell you how much heat energy is generated with a given amount of fuel.
So how does propane’s heat production compare to other energy sources? According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, propane generates about 91,452 BTU per gallon. This is plenty of heat, especially compared to the equivalent amount of heat produced by electricity, which is only 3,412 BTU.
To show you an example of how all this translates to your home comfort, propane furnaces have the power to generate a high initial delivery temperature — up to 140°F.
According to the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC), these air temperatures are noticeably better than an electric heat pump. PERC says the heated air from a heat pump will be below your normal body temperature (an uncomfortable air temperature for your home) about 60% of the time during the heating season.
If your propane gas burner is working properly, the flame that comes out should be blue. If your propane flame is yellow or orange, however, that means the gas is not burning completely, which could cause a carbon monoxide buildup. As you would expect, an orange or yellow flame’s temperature is much lower, at around 1,832° F. That’s about half the temperature of a normal blue flame. If you notice that your propane gas flame is not burning blue, it’s important to reach out to us. We can fix your gas burner to ensure your propane gas is burning safely and efficiently.
Propane systems and appliances are some of the most energy-efficient on the market. Today’s propane furnaces have fuel efficiency ratings as high as 98.5%. Pretty much all the fuel you burn in these products goes to heating your home, and these furnaces consistently deliver air heated to 120°–140°F, even on cold winter nights.
Propane water heaters, when new and properly sized, have about double the hot water recovery rates of electric units. Plus, propane tankless water heaters produce virtually unlimited hot water on demand — using even less fuel.
Propane dryers get laundry dry in considerably less time than electric products. They also leave fewer wrinkles, cutting down on your ironing.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg for high-performance propane products. There are also professional-quality propane gas ranges, dependable standby propane generators, propane gas fireplaces, outdoor propane products and more.
As a propane consumer, you can rest easy because propane is one of the safest sources of energy available today when managed, stored and used in accordance with industry-standard safety guidelines and practices.
By the same token, all propane gas appliances are also safe to use, as long as they have been installed and maintained properly according to manufacturer’s guidelines.
Here are just a few of the reasons why propane is one of the safest ways to power your Delaware Valley home.
Family-owned and community-focused, Wilson Oil and Propane can help with all your propane needs. We offer competitive prices and would love to share more about how propane would be a great choice for your home, whether you live in Southeastern PA or anywhere else in our Delaware Valley service area.
Reach out today to learn more about our propane services.
