Propane vs. Electric appliances: Which are better?
If you’re a frequent reader of this blog, you probably know that just about any appliance that runs on electricity can also run on propane. But did you know that those appliances will almost always operate more effectively, economically, and with less environmental impact than their electric-powered equivalent?
Consider these facts*:
- When you take into account the total cost to deliver energy to your North Carolina home – that is, the cost to extract, produce, process, and transport each fuel to the point of use – propane is 87 efficient. Electricity? Only about 32 percent efficient.
- On average, propane water heaters cost 30 percent less to operate than electric ones—up to 50 percent less if you use a tankless propane water heater. The average home saves about $174 a year using propane vs. electric water heaters, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (D.O.E).
- A conventional propane water heater (one with a storage tank) can heat water almost twice as fast as an electric water heater, which means you won’t have to wait as long for your shower if the kids used all the hot water for theirs.
- Propane appliances shrink your home’s carbon footprint: a propane tankless water heater, for example, emits about half as much carbon as a storage-type electric water heater.
- Today’s clean-burning, high-efficiency propane space heaters can operate with efficiency ratings of 95 percent or more. If electricity is produced by a coal-fired power plant, more than half the energy used to produce and deliver energy to your home is wasted.
- The average lifespan of a propane gas furnace is about 20 years; the average electric heat pump? About 13 years, according to the D.O.E.
Still using electric appliances? Consider making the switch. The expert technicians at Parker Gas will install and service your propane gas-fired space heater, water heater, and other appliances – contact us today to learn more!
* Sources: National Propane Gas Association; Propane Education Research Council, unless otherwise stated.
