Posted: December 23, 2024

From Propane’s Production Pipeline to Its Practical Home Uses

Driving around countless residential communities in upstate New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Vermont, you are likely to see quite a few propane tanks connected to homes. The Mirabito Energy team is proud to be filling many of these tanks to power essential household equipment.

But where does propane come from, and why has it remained such a fantastically popular energy source in the United States? In this article, we’ll provide a primer on this efficient, eco-friendly, American-made fuel.

Where Propane Comes From

Nearly all the propane you use is produced right here in the United States. In fact, the U.S. generates far more propane than it consumes, making it a net exporter of this fuel since 2011.

Most conventional propane is a co-product of natural gas processing and oil refining. During natural gas extraction, liquid components like ethane, methane, propane, butane and other heavier hydrocarbons are separated, with propane being the most prevalent co-product. Additionally, propane is produced as part of the crude oil refining process, where it’s separated from heavier products like gasoline or diesel.

There’s also renewable propane, which is chemically identical to conventional propane but derived from organic and recycled sources such as animal fats, vegetable oils and restaurant grease. Although renewable propane production is still limited, it’s becoming more widely available with each passing year.

Why Propane Is Popular with U.S. Homeowners

Here are a few of the considerable benefits of using propane to fuel your home comfort equipment, appliances and amenities:

1. Heat Generation: According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, one gallon of propane can produce 91,452 Btu of heat energy, the equivalent of roughly 27 kilowatt hours of electricity!
2. Efficiency: Propane-powered equipment tends to have exceptional efficiency. Today’s propane furnaces boast fuel efficiency ratings as high as 98.5%. A new, properly-sized propane water heater can heat up water twice as fast as an electric counterpart. Propane dryers also have shorter cycles than electric dryers.
3. Affordability: While propane isn’t totally insulated from global energy markets, its price tends to be more stable.
4. Eco-Friendliness: Propane is a low-carbon energy source that contains zero methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Propane also emits virtually no particulate matter, a carcinogen.

What Propane Powers in Your Home

Another significant reason that propane is extremely popular is that it’s amazingly versatile. You can use it to produce robust, reliable heating from furnaces, boilers, garage heaters and space heaters.

Propane water heaters keep showers steamy and the warm water flowing to faucets and appliances. If you want virtually infinite hot water and minimal energy consumption, a propane tankless water heater can’t be beat.

Homeowners love the chef-quality cooking experience offered by propane gas ranges and ovens, and propane dryers quickly dry laundry while leaving fewer wrinkles and less static cling. You can transform your living spaces by adding a propane-powered fireplace, gas log or freestanding hearth.

Propane also elevates your outdoor spaces with safe, high-performance amenities like grills, outdoor kitchens, fire pits, outdoor fireplaces, patio heaters, lighting and pool heaters.

Finally, you can enjoy total peace of mind when the power grid fails by backing up your home’s electricity with a whole-house propane generator. These standby systems come on automatically when your home loses power and keep your lights, refrigerator, HVAC equipment, security system and at-home medical devices running for as long as you need.

Mirabito Energy Services Is Your Propane Delivery Partner

When your essential home comfort equipment depends on a full propane tank, you need to be able to have faith in your fuel provider. Since 1927, the Mirabito team has been the heating fuel delivery partner of choice across our service region. When you use our automatic propane delivery, we handle all the planning for you. You don’t need to check a tank gauge or worry about running out of fuel — and it doesn’t cost you one penny extra!

Interested in enjoying the best propane delivery in the region? Join the happy family of Mirabito customers today.