22 Apr LPG vs Natural Gas, Which is Better?
Gas piping is an important aspect in every home. It makes the frigid months bearable, protecting everyone and everything from the harsh weather outside. It is also used in cooking, drying clothes and in providing warm water to the household. Outdoor barbeques can be connected to gas pipes included in your piping system too.
However, most households are torn with what type of gas piping system is best for their home. The battle with LPG VS Natural Gas and Propane VS Natural Gas is a very common issue for households who are installing or renovating their gas lines at home.
Before a homeowner decides which is best and which is ideal for one’s home, let us look at the difference between LPG and Natural Gas as well as Propane and Natural Gas. From here, we can arrive at a more solid conclusion on which gas piping system option is best for your home.
What is LPG?
Liquified Petroleum Gas is a combustible fuel that is produced by the fractional distillation of petroleum. It uses about 1% of the energy that it produces to produce heat, which means that it can be used in both domestic and commercial settings. This leads to LPG being more environmentally friendly than other fuels such as coal or natural gas.
It is used as a fuel in appliances such as furnaces, boilers, water heaters, and stoves. LPG has been around for over 100 years..
LPG is extracted from natural gas. Propene, propane, butene, and butane (also known as “volatile hydrocarbons”) are also categorized as LPG. It is a very portable fuel source and has been used for both domestic and industrial purposes since the mid 1800s.
What is Natural Gas?
One of the most notable characteristics of natural gas is that it is odorless. This gaseous mixture of hydrocarbons is mainly made up of methane. Natural gas is used for electric power production, residential and commercial uses. This type of gas can be also used as an alternative fuel for natural gas powered vehicles. It is also considered to be the cleanest fossil fuel on Earth.
In Australia, around 26 percent or 5 million households use natural gas. The four natural gasses used as fuel and as a source of energy include the first four alkanes – methane, ethane, butane, and propane. When mixed in the right proportions, they create natural gas used for industrial, commercial, and residential purposes.
What is the Difference between LPG and Natural Gas?
Natural gas and LPG are two different things. They have different chemical compositions so they are technically considered as two different energy and fuel sources.
Liquefied petroleum gas that flows in gas fittings for residential homes are either propane or butane. Meanwhile, natural gas is primarily methane and has a lower heat content compared to LPG. Both natural gas and LPG are considered to be crude oil products.
How LPG is distributed is also different compared to natural gas. Natural gas goes through the pipelines while LPG comes in cylinders that are refilled regularly.
The only similarity between LPG and natural gas is that they are both highly combustible.
What is the Difference between Propane and Natural Gas?
Propane and natural gas are both gasses that are used as fuel for heating and cooking. However, they have different compositions and properties.
Propane is a mixture of hydrocarbons and contains mostly propane, but also includes smaller amounts of ethane, butane, pentanes plus, iso-butane, normal butane and others.
Natural gas is made up of molecules made up of hydrogen atoms and carbon atoms. It does not contain any oxygen molecules.
Additionally, natural gas is extracted from the Earth’s surface. Propane, on the other hand, is a by-product of both crude oil and natural gasses.
Looking closely into these two types of gasses commonly used in our households, here are additional differences that can help you decide which is better among the two.
Heat and Energy Efficiency
Compared to natural gas, propane delivers twice the energy – a propane furnace would be a better and more efficient source of heat compared to natural gas. Although natural gas is cheaper, remember that it will cost you twice to burn the same amount of fuel compared to its propane equivalent.
Cleaner and Better for the Environment
Both propane and natural gas are clean burning. However, propane is considered to be a more natural-friendly fuel compared to natural gas. Propane is better for the environment before and after it is combusted. It does not release toxic chemicals and by-products that are damaging to the atmosphere. Natural gas is mainly methane and when leaked to the environment before it is combusted is considered to be a very detrimental greenhouse gas.
Mode of Delivery
Natural gas can be installed directly through a system of pipelines that is usually provided in a neighborhood. Your gas fitting can be directly installed into your plumbing system and is billed on a monthly basis. Propane gas is stored and delivered in tanks. Although propane is more expensive, it offers more flexibility to a homeowner, compared to natural gas. You can easily change your propane tank providers if you are dissatisfied with their service or have found a better price offering.
Safety
Both natural gas and LPG are highly flammable and should be always handled with care. However, leaks in natural gas pipelines are more challenging to fix compared to leaks in propane tanks. Natural gas has no scent too. However most companies that supply natural gas add a scent of sulfur to help easily detect if a leak is present. Between the two LPG is safer to use for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes
Installation Costs
Installing LPG tanks in your home requires a simple hose. You just have to worry about getting a reliable LPG supplier in your area.
For natural gas, initial installation can cost you anywhere from $10,000 or more. The process is also quite extensive and will require digging up your yard to install the pipeline, converting appliances to natural gas and hiring a licensed plumbing contractor to do the job for you. Although it is convenient in the long run, initial investment is quite high.
Which is Better? LPG or Natural Gas?
If you want to stick with a more efficient and cost-friendly fuel to power up your appliances at home, it would be best to choose LPG. It offers better heating, can be used off-grid, portable, and more friendlier to the environment.
Natural gas offers more convenience and does not require you to have them regularly delivered at home. It will always flow in your pipes as long as you pay your gas bills. If natural gas piping lines are already installed in the structure, it would be ideal to stick with natural gas instead.
The ultimate choice between the two depends on your lifestyle and current household setup. Whichever you choose, it gives you access to a safe resource of energy and fuel for your home.
Still confused on which is the best option for your home? Contact us at Easy Solution Plumbing today to talk to one of our gas fitting professionals.
