Propane and Natural Gas Back-up Generators
Today there is more interest in having a generator as a back-up power supply than ever before. The widespread damage from hurricanes in the Gulf Coast region over the last few years has brought home how dependent we are on electricity in our day-to-day lives. Having lost power for over eleven days during hurricane Ike, I can attest to the fact that modern day life cannot go on without electrical power. Imagine having no TV, no air conditioning, no refrigerator, and even no Internet connection for days on end. It can be truly miserable.
Hurricanes are not the only problem; floods, tornados, blackouts, brownout, or even minor rainstorms can bring down the electrical power for hours, if not days and weeks. In the past most homeowners and business owners just endured the problem of power outages and waited for the repair crews to bring the electricity back on line; however, today many people are taking the step to provide themselves with a generator as a back-up source of electricity.
There are numerous generators on the market from the smallest household gasoline generator to the largest commercial generator needed to run a hospital or large business. There are also three main types of fuel for generators: gasoline, natural gas and propane. Before buying a generator some consideration should be given to choosing the fuel type that is most appropriate to your particular situation. One advantage of having a generator that can run on gas, as opposed to gasoline, is that it can run on either natural gas or propane; normally just a small adjustment of the air/gas mixture is necessary.
Most homeowners typically have a gasoline generator since they are cheaper to purchase initially and the easiest to find in the local stores. However, there are some inherent problems with gasoline generators. The biggest problem is that during a prolonged emergency it is often difficult, if not impossible to find gasoline. Often the gasoline stations' pumps are not working because they also are without power. Even if the pumps are working, it can still mean standing in line for long periods of time only to get a rationed amount of fuel.
If the homeowner has natural gas then this could be a better choice since it normally is not shut off during an emergency. Natural gas also has the advantage, at least currently, of being much cheaper that gasoline.
Propane is also a good alternative fuel if natural gas is not available since it is more readily available than gasoline during emergencies and is cleaner burning than either natural gas or gasoline. Propane can be purchased in small 4-5 gallon containers or larger ones holding 50-100 gallons, or more. The price of propane, unlike gasoline or natural gas, will depend to a large extent on the amount purchased. If you only fill up a small barbecue type container you will pay considerably more than if you have a 50 gallon tank.
Until recently most of the propane and natural gas run generators were only available in the larger models, but this is changing. Today you can purchase these "alternative" fuel generators in smaller sizes although they will normally cost more than a gasoline generator of the same horsepower. Nevertheless, because of the advantages mentioned above, it might be worth the extra expense if you live in an area prone to power outages.
Hurricanes are not the only problem; floods, tornados, blackouts, brownout, or even minor rainstorms can bring down the electrical power for hours, if not days and weeks. In the past most homeowners and business owners just endured the problem of power outages and waited for the repair crews to bring the electricity back on line; however, today many people are taking the step to provide themselves with a generator as a back-up source of electricity.
There are numerous generators on the market from the smallest household gasoline generator to the largest commercial generator needed to run a hospital or large business. There are also three main types of fuel for generators: gasoline, natural gas and propane. Before buying a generator some consideration should be given to choosing the fuel type that is most appropriate to your particular situation. One advantage of having a generator that can run on gas, as opposed to gasoline, is that it can run on either natural gas or propane; normally just a small adjustment of the air/gas mixture is necessary.
Most homeowners typically have a gasoline generator since they are cheaper to purchase initially and the easiest to find in the local stores. However, there are some inherent problems with gasoline generators. The biggest problem is that during a prolonged emergency it is often difficult, if not impossible to find gasoline. Often the gasoline stations' pumps are not working because they also are without power. Even if the pumps are working, it can still mean standing in line for long periods of time only to get a rationed amount of fuel.
If the homeowner has natural gas then this could be a better choice since it normally is not shut off during an emergency. Natural gas also has the advantage, at least currently, of being much cheaper that gasoline.
Propane is also a good alternative fuel if natural gas is not available since it is more readily available than gasoline during emergencies and is cleaner burning than either natural gas or gasoline. Propane can be purchased in small 4-5 gallon containers or larger ones holding 50-100 gallons, or more. The price of propane, unlike gasoline or natural gas, will depend to a large extent on the amount purchased. If you only fill up a small barbecue type container you will pay considerably more than if you have a 50 gallon tank.
Until recently most of the propane and natural gas run generators were only available in the larger models, but this is changing. Today you can purchase these "alternative" fuel generators in smaller sizes although they will normally cost more than a gasoline generator of the same horsepower. Nevertheless, because of the advantages mentioned above, it might be worth the extra expense if you live in an area prone to power outages.
Source...