Written on: November 28, 2022
Whether it’s a high-efficiency boiler or furnace, a plentiful supply of hot water, temperature-precise cooking stoves, or emergency whole-house generators, you can rely on all of these benefits in your propane home in the same way people do in homes supplied with natural gas.
However, there are some key differences between these two popular home heating fuels.
Consumer surveys have shown that people like heating their homes and water with propane because they know they will have a dependable supply available whenever they need it. Having a propane tank on their property gives them the ability to store a plentiful amount that’s always ready for immediate use.
Natural gas customers don’t get that type of security. It seems as if every winter, there are stories about interruptions in natural gas service somewhere in the country because of pipeline problems. These problems are caused by extremely cold weather, accidents, or deterioration.
Propane has a distinct edge over traditional natural gas because of the way it’s transported and stored. After propane gets compressed into a liquid, becoming what’s called liquid petroleum gas (LPG), all of it gets stored inside large tanks until Broco Energy makes a delivery to your home.
Liquid propane changes to gas before it leaves the on-site storage tank, getting released slowly and safely through pressure regulators. Compare that to the delivery system of natural gas. If an underground natural gas pipeline gets damaged—or other problems occur—hundreds and even thousands of customers may lose their supply until the gas utility completes repairs.
Serious environmental issues have been raised about methane leaks coming from the processing of natural gas. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas and the main component of natural gas. In its original form, propane is not a greenhouse gas and it’s considered a “green” fuel because of its low carbon content. It does not contain any methane gas.
Propane is kept as a liquid under pressure for safe transport and is handled by highly trained professionals using equipment and techniques that are regulated by authorities at federal, state, and local levels.
If something goes wrong with a natural gas pipeline, the situation can turn tragic. We witnessed this four years ago when excessive pressure in natural gas lines caused explosions and fires to occur in dozens of homes within the Merrimack Valley.
Propane also has a much narrower range of flammability (minimum and maximum burn temperatures) than natural gas; propane will not ignite when combined with air unless the ignition source reaches at least 920°F.
The Broco Energy team of expert licensed propane service technicians and drivers know the area well. We serve the Reading and North Reading area, along with surrounding communities in Massachusetts and up to New Hampshire.
Many of our customers enroll in our FREE automatic delivery program. This allows us to stay on top of your fuel needs and be in touch when it’s time to schedule a delivery long before your tank gets too low. We find that this is a tried-and-true method of minimizing the risk of a run-out.
You’ll never have to think about how much fuel is in your tank. You’ll also get a better price-per-gallon.
Please contact us to become a Broco Energy customer and then schedule a propane delivery.
