Propane Heat
Propane heating is an option that ought to be considered carefully when installing heating equipment in a home, whether it is a new home, or replacing old furnaces, consider propane. What are the advantages of a propane heating system to another system?
Benefits of Propane Gas
Well, a big plus, especially if you are looking to make your money last and go as far as possible is that propane-fueled furnaces have operating lives of 15-20 years (5-10 years longer than electric heat pumps). So, this will save you lots of money down the road.
If down the road is not what you are most worried about, that does not mean propane heating is not for you. One big plus of propane heating is -"Whole-house comfort": Propane furnaces offer warmer air than electric heating systems. An electric heat pump produces heat only as warm as 95°F. A gas furnace heats air to about 115°F, and operates in short intervals to minimize operating costs. So, if you are someone who is always cold, you certainly will get warmer with a propane heating unit.
Another big plus, no matter what your goals are with heating is that propane heating offers lower operating costs: In general, heating with propane entails lower operating costs than heating with electricity. So, it saves the almighty dollar each month.
In addition, propane heating systems offer many design advantages, such as:
• Venting: They can be vented vertically or horizontally, so no chimney (and the associated costs) is required.
• Exhaust: Exhaust is cooler than that from conventional furnaces and can be vented with PVC piping.
• Space: New furnace models are smaller and provide greater placement flexibility in manufactured homes where space conservation is important.
So, now that you know why you should choose a propane heating unit, or in other words, a propane furnace, what are your options there: These two different options are the most common that exist, and one of the two will work best for your home type, large or small, stick built or manufactured:
• Central Furnaces
• Wall Furnaces
Propane-Fueled Central Furnaces
When you think of a furnace in a home this is what you think of, the forced-air furnace is the most common type of central heating system. Propane heated air from a centrally located furnace is forced through ducts by fans or blowers to all parts of the home.
Propane-fueled central furnaces are great for smaller homes, or efficiently designed homes because of the following features:
• Conserving space: They feature low-profile designs, even in the ultra-high efficiency models, to fit into tight spaces with height restrictions or narrow side clearances -- even into a closet. Many models can be installed and vented in a variety of ways, and some are even certified for zero clearance on side and back, to sit flush against walls.
• Maximizing safety: Many of today's propane-fueled gas furnaces are equipped with electronic ignitions that activate the burners only when fuel is needed. This enhances safety by eliminating the need for standing pilot lights. This also eliminated the hassle of trying to light a pilot light that has gone out.
• Minimizing energy: In addition to conserving energy with electronic ignition, furnaces are available with vent dampers. These "flapper" devices, installed in the flue, close when the heat demand has been met, trapping residual heat for circulation in the home. Thus, when you want or need heat, the damper opens before the burners are ignited. This allows combustion fumes to escape. Also, because the burners can only ignite when the damper is open so energy is consumed only when heating is needed.
Propane Wall Furnaces
Another name for these propane heating units are direct vent furnaces. These are very compact units that can be used to heat small homes, or for spaces within homes that require additional heating. With the wall furnace, all air for combustion is obtained from the outside and all flue gases are vented to the outside, so homeowners need not worry about exhaust fumes. Quiet burners are ignited with the push of a button. They are convenient, easy to install, and one great thing about them is that they do not use electricity, which means that you can get heat to your home or space even when the electricity is out.
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