Propane Vs Oil Heat for Home

Propane

• Propane is natural gas that has been processed into a liquefied form. Hence, it is commonly referred to as "LP" (liquid propane). Millions of people in the United States use propane for heating. It is growing in popularity as an alternative to natural gas and electricity for heating homes. It meets qualifications and standards for classification as a "clean" fuel, set by the National Energy Policy Act of 1992. Within the continental United States, there are over 56,000 miles of pipelines that used to transport and distribute propane gas. Users store propane in under or above ground tanks, connected to a home's furnace or HVAC unit for heat disbursement.

Oil

• Today, most homes that use home heating oil are located in the Northeast region of the United States. Historically, this region relied first relied on coal for home heating, especially given its proximity to coal mines. In the 1960s, fuel oil became the "new" fuel of choice, eliminating the need for emptying ashes and keeping furnaces full of coal. Homes that use oil for heating must have furnaces and boilers made for heating oil. The oil is used to heat the home as well as water for bathing, laundry and cooking.

BTU Comparison

• The cost of purchasing heating oil will more than likely be less than propane. Heating oil also contains more BTUs (British Thermal Units) per gallon. A BTU is the standard measurement for heat. The more BTUs per gallon -- the more heat the fuel can produce. One gallon of grade 2 home heating oil (the standard grade used for home heating) contains 138,690 BTUs, whereas one gallon of propane contains 91,333 BTUs. This means that heating oil contains 34 percent more BTUs per gallon than propane.

Considerations

• There are quite a few things to evaluate and consider if you are comparing the differences between using propane or oil for home heating. If you go with oil, your home must have a chimney and the appropriate types of furnaces and boilers. If you don't have a chimney, you will have to first figure out if your home is structurally capable to accommodate one -- which will add to overall costs. Whichever you choose you will also need the appropriate furnace and boiler system. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a new high efficiency oil system will be 89 percent efficient, while a furnace that uses propane will be 97 percent efficient. Additional advantages to consider with propane are that you don't need a chimney, and propane will not only fuel your heating and water, along with other appliances such as your stove, washer and dryer and even your outdoor barbecue grill.