Posted: May 1, 2023
Propane is the perfect fuel source to keep your home or business in Southern Pennsylvania and New York’s Finger Lakes Region running with its versatility, efficiency, and numerous advantages! Not only that, but it also reduces environmental harm.
Don’t be intimidated by propane if you don’t know much about it! We’ve gathered helpful resources to help expand your knowledge and understanding.
The full name of propane is Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). Propane’s chemical formula is C₃H₈.
Edmund Ronalds, who was a British scholar and industrial chemist, discovered propane in 1864 while studying the chemical makeup of crude oil from Pennsylvania.
While conducting research for the US Bureau of Mines in Pittsburgh in 1910, Walter O. Snelling discovered that some gases that evaporate can be converted into liquids.
Snelling discovered that propane was the most abundant gas and then developed and patented a method to bottle LPG. Later, Frank Philips, the founder of Phillips Petroleum, bought Snelling’s patent for $50,000, which would be equivalent to approximately $1.4 million today.
To make propane easier to detect, it needs to be given a scent because it does not have one naturally. The most common odorant added to propane during production is ethyl mercaptan, which smells like rotten eggs or a skunk’s spray and makes it possible to quickly identify leaks. If you notice that distinct smell in your home, follow these propane safety best practices:
Evacuate the house right away and move to a safe place. Avoid staying in the house or searching for the origin of the leak.
If it is safe for you to do so, turn off the propane supply valve on your propane tank
Once you are at a safe distance, call both 911 and Sweetwater Propane.
Please wait for clearance from first responders or our service technicians before returning.
The increase in shale gas production has led to a rise in the production of propane in Canada and the U.S. This is because propane is mainly obtained as a by-product during natural gas processing, where various gases like methane, ethane, propane, and butane are extracted.
Almost 70% of the propane supply in our nation is obtained from natural gas processing, while the remaining portion is sourced from crude oil refining.
Propane is transported through pipelines, tankers, ships, trains, and trucks to bulk propane distribution centers. Local vendors, including Sweetwater Propane, receive the propane from these centers and deliver it to our customers.
Our propane delivery is reliable and, if you choose Automatic Delivery with FREE wireless propane tank monitoring, you’ll never have to stress about running out of propane. We also provide propane tank installation and leasing.
Both the 1990 Clean Air Act and 1992 National Energy Policy have recognized propane as an alternative fuel that is both efficient and environmentally friendly. Propane is a cleaner option than natural gas since it doesn’t emit methane, which is a greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. Propane does not harm the air, soil, water, aquatic life, marine life, or plant life in the rare event of a leak.
Propane is both a clean and efficient source of energy. Modern propane appliances and heating systems have efficiency ratings of 95% or higher, meaning you can reduce your home’s carbon footprint without sacrificing comfort or convenience.
Get all the benefits propane offers your home with reliable propane delivery and service from Sweetwater Propane! Become a customer today.