Finding the Right Fuel Source for Your Generator Doesn’t Have to Be a Struggle.
Are you thinking about installing a propane generator for the house? There are several powerful advantages propane provides when you’re looking for a reliable source of backup power. These include…
- Clean burning fuel
- Reliable in widespread power outages
- Easy to source
- Quite machine operation
- Long fuel shelf life
Today, we’ll break down some of prominent benefits of propane generators and compare them against other industry options. By the end, you should have working knowledge of these machines and understand whether or not they’d be right for you. Let’s get started!
How a Propane Generator Works
Like other machines in the industry, a propane generator stimulates energy by burning fuel. The increase in temperature heats up a water and ammonia solution. Soon the fluid turns into a gas that quickly circulates through the machine, and this mechanical energy is converted into an electric charge that is driven out of the generator for use.
Propane Generators and Carbon Monoxide
Propane-Powered Generators Run Quieter and Have a Much Clean Fuel Burn.
One of the downsides of generators is the production of carbon monoxide, a toxic gas byproduct created during the burning process. Compared with other familiar fuel types in the generator market, propane has what is called a “clean burn”. That means that it has a relatively low rate of carbon monoxide production. If you are looking for a safe generator to keep around the house, propane machines considerably safer.
What Kind of Gas Does a Generator Use?
There are all kinds of generators available on the consumer market today. There’s the accessible gasoline generators, which only need a short trip to and from the gas station to fuel. Diesel generators may run on many variants of the fuel, including emulsified and bio-diesel. There’s even natural gas generators. Of course, consumers can also choose propane machines, which have some great advantages.
Generator Comparisons
Efficiency
Fuel Efficiency
“What is the most efficient fuel for a generator?” This is a question we regularly hear at Heine Propane. It makes sense, because efficiency is a crucial element in a consumer’s purchase decision. There are two factors to consider when we answer this question: fuel consumption and power output.
Propane Vs Gas
Propane generators typically consume fuel at a considerably faster rate (4x) than gasoline products. There’s a catch however, as the typical propane generator will also produce much more energy. For the amount of energy (in watts) produced, gasoline products are generally considered less fuel efficient.
Propane Generator Vs Diesel
While propane may be a more reliable source of fuel in extended power outages, diesel engines are much more energy efficient. That’s because they consume fuel at a slightly slower rate (typically), and they also produce more power. The gap between the two will fluctuate based on the quality of generator and what type of diesel fuel is involved, but diesel generally wins out in efficiency.
Convenience
Convenience and Accessibility
Diesel
Not many homeowners utilize pure diesel generators, despite their excellent energy efficiency and power output. Why is that? Because they’re much more expensive. While you could easily find a gas or propane model at your local Walmart store (in the hundreds), diesel models often run in the thousands. They are more commonly found in corporate and industrial settings, rather than residential.
Gasoline
Gasoline generators on the other hand, are the most accessible on the consumer market. They’re very cheap and they make convenient (albeit loud) portable generators. Running a gas generator all the time can get expensive however, as a machine can consume a small car’s worth of gas (18 gallons) in one 24 hour period. Storing gasoline jugs can be a dangerous proposal as well, considering the emissions and fire risk.
Propane
Propane fuel is considerably more convenient in the long run. For one, the fuel can be conveniently delivered to your home when you need a generator propane refill. It’s great for emergencies, because homeowners can store it safely (in tank form) for extended periods of time. You needn’t worry about extended power outages making this fuel unavailable, because you don’t need a working gas pump to purchase it.
Rapid Fire Questions and Answers
- Are propane generators more efficient?
When compared to gas-powered products, propane generally offers better fuel efficiency in terms of the amount of power produced over the amount of fuel consumed. Diesel is typically the most efficient, but they are also much more expensive to purchase.
- Are propane generators better than gas?
That depends entirely on what you’re looking for in your search. If you want a long-term solution that’s capable of supporting your family in an emergency power outage, a standby (automatically activated) propane generator is generally much more practical and pleasant. Operation is quieter and fuel burn is cleaner with propane.
Gas generators are more about short-term convenience and limited usage. If you’re looking for a mobile generator to power equipment in remote areas, gas might be a better choice for you.
- How long will a generator run on one gallon of gas?
If You are Looking for a Long-Term Solution, Propane is a Reliable Backup Power Source.
That’s going to vary a little bit based on the make and model of the gasoline generator, but you can expect that gallon to run out somewhere around 1 hour and 20 minutes into operation.
Ask About Our Generator Refill Service!
When an emergency strikes, the power runs out, and you’re concerned about the safety of your family, there are a lot of crucial needs to take care of. While we can’t help with water purification or food supply, our team at Heine Propane can help make sure you have all the propane you’ll need to keep the generator running! If you’d like to learn more about our services, give us a call at 817-341-7240.