Propane Gas And It's Common Uses
Propane gas is common in most households. Even if you do not have any gas appliances, you more then likely have a grill or torch that uses propane. The gas is inexpensive and relatively stable, so it is used a lot of ways.
Propane for Appliances
Propane is a good, clean-burning gas and works well in gas appliances and heating systems. It is available in most areas and is pretty efficient, so most homes don't go through it too quickly. Gas dryers are popular as well as gas stoves and forced hot air heating systems that use propane in the burner. Storing propane outside your home is safe in most situations and most propane companies will supply the tank for you as long as you are a customer.
What Is Propane?
Propane is a colorless and odorless gas that is refined from crude oil. It is stored compressed and as a liquid but when the pressure is released, the liquid converts to vapor or gas. Without the pressure, you would need a tank significantly larger than those used in a residential situation. Propane is heavier than air, so if it is released, it will settle to the ground and pocket in low spots. The odor that you smell when gas is leaking is added when the gas is refined so that you can detect a leak in the tank or gas line.
Filling Storage Tanks
Often small tanks filled with propane come with a new grill or outdoor stove. The tanks are twenty-pound cylinders and are refillable as needed. The tanks are filled by weight because, in smaller tanks, the weight is the most accurate way to determine how much fuel in the cylinder. As the tanks get larger, it is no longer practical to pick them up and weigh them. Because of them, the large tanks are measured in gallons.
The filling station for small tanks transfers gas from a larger tank directly to the small tank while weighing the tank as they fill it. Once the tank hits twenty pounds, it is considered full. For large tanks, a truck brings the fuel to your home and transfers the propane into your tank. The truck has a meter and gauges on it to tell when the tank is full, They will track your usage in gallons, and that is the measurement you will see on your bill. While the system of measurement is different from smaller tanks to those large ones in your yard, the system is the best option for accuracy and safety.