Generators use different kinds of fuels. If you need a flexible solution that is not limited to a single type of fuel, you need checking dual fuel generators reviews. Such models can use several types of fuels, like propane and diesel. However, many people prefer to use propane or natural gas generators, since they have several advantages – such models do not produce much noise and those types of fuels are not expensive and are widely available.
However, dual fuel models may be quite expensive and getting a single fuel model can be a good option, but the question appears what kind of fuel should use the model you want to get?
Fuel efficiency
When you want to decide “what is better – propane vs natural gas?”, you need to pay attention to the fuel efficiency – fuel may be cheaper per cubic feet, but you may need it more to generate the necessary amount of power, consequently, you spend more. That is the case when professionals use BTU – British thermal unit that shows the heating efficiency and if you want to decide what to use – propane or natural gas based on BTU exclusively, then propane would be better.
One cubic foot of propane is around 2516 BTUs. One cubic of the natural gas foot is around 1030 BTUs
Therefore, if you take the same amount of these types of fuel – propane will provide you with more power.
Prices
The price difference between natural gas and propane shows that the latter is more expensive. 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas gives around 1.03 million BTU energy. To get the exact amount of energy from propane you need around 11.26 gallons. Even if propane costs $2.5, natural gas is still a reasonably-priced solution. The case when propane becomes more effective price-wise is when the natural gas price is over $28 per 1.000 cubic feet.
Despite the fact that natural gas is less effective, it is overall a better solution if we pay attention to its price.
Safety of fuel
Apart from price and efficiency, you may want to get a “safe” fuel. Both types of fuel are volatile, but natural gas is lighter and if you release it into the atmosphere, it will dissipate quickly and you will quickly achieve the safe “gas-air” ratio so it will not explode. Propane also vanishes in air, but it requires a bit more time.
Propane tanks require to be refilled, which means you need to control the amount of fuel you have, while natural gas is always supplied to your home without requiring any attention. However, propane allows you placing a generator anywhere you need, while natural gas lining system may introduce some limitations (you can avoid them, by adding new elements, but it will cost you some money). Propane storing units may be used as fuel for other appliances as well.