Propane has become a very valuable gas in recent years. Many people use propane for their gas grills and for heating homes. Today, propane distribution has even moved into the realm of alternative energy.

There are many companies currently exploring ways to use propane as car fuel. This could greatly impact the environment in a positive way because liquefied petroleum gas, a 90-percent propane/gas mix known as LPG, is clean burning.

The pricing and costs of propane depends on the type of propane gas you want to purchase. The most common types are:

1. Propane gas for propane heaters.

2. A propane tank for gas grills and other appliances.

3. Propane and propane mixes for cars and other vehicles.

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Buy the right size propane tanks for your business

There are many uses for propane in a business. You can use propane to heat your office or warehouse or run machinery. Propane tanks come in sizes small enough to fit onto a common gas grill, all the way up to a tank you can bury underground. The prices of these types of tanks vary in depending on the size, but generally cost around $175 for a 30-pound tank.

I recommend: Quality Steel offers many sizes of propane tanks and you also have extra options, such a specialized coatings for underground burying. If you are not sure what size tank to get for your business, check out the guide about sizes from Mission Gas.

Choose propane companies that provide propane for heating

Heating homes and businesses with propane is another step towards offering cleaner solutions for the environment. Propane is often used in heating small and large buildings and works much the same as natural gas. Heating propane usually costs between $2 and $3, but fluctuates from week to week depending on availability.

I recommend: Home Heating Oil Prices offers you a great tool to track the current price of oil, kerosene and propane. The Propane Education & Research Council is another resource where you can read all about furnaces, water heaters, and other appliances that can use propane to work.

Consider car propane for cleaner burning vehicles

Propane for cars is not widely available in the United States, but you can buy LPG conversion kits for most makes and models of cars. And LPG gas is popular outside the US not just for cars, but also for cooking fuel. LPG gas costs about $0.04 per kg, and conversion kits cost around $1,200.

I recommend: The government's site, FuelEconomy.gov, details how to convert to liquified petroleum gas for many makes and models of cars. Omnitek offers a car conversion kit to make your car run on LPG.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  It is very important to read all the propane information your distributor provides you. This will include detailed safety information that can save a life in the event of a leak.

Oftentimes seen simply as a gas, propane can be compressed into liquid to be transported. Because it's a clean-burning energy source, many businesses believe it's ideal for powering vehicles and heating buildings. Construction-based companies use propane-powered forklifts since they don't need to be recharged. Buildings benefit from this energy source as well.

Even if it's not the main energy source, certain businesses use propane as a secondary or temporary source of fuel. Basically, the commercial uses for propane are extensive, and they should only increase as companies constantly search for money-crunching ways to run a business successfully. Before considering where to purchase propane items from, consider the following propane information:

1. Establish professional relationships with propane gas companies.

2. Purchase propane tanks, no matter what size, and keep them secured at your building.

3. Equip your facility with propane heater options.

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Solidify relationships with propane distribution companies

Propane companies can work closely with you to determine how to utilize propane efficiently. Establish a professional relationship with these companies, and you can benefit by receiving efficient, reliable service.

I recommend: The nation's largest supplier of gases and safety products, Airgas offers cost-effective propane. Search through the cylinder size you desire, and contact Airgas to determine the exact price. Ferrellgas serves more than 1 million customers in all 50 states. Contact its office to learn more about using its propane for your forklifts, temporary heating needs and motor fuel uses.

Secure the correct propane tank for your business needs

Talk with your propane supplier to determine the size propane tank you need, since you want to take into account how often you use it as well as how often you need it filled. Inform the distributor about any future changes your company may experience that might impact gas usage, as this can help in the tank selection. For example, add up the total BTUs of appliances that may use propane, and divide that number by 91,500. This should provide an idea of how many gallons of propane needed per hour.

I recommend: If you need smaller amounts of propane, then consider using disposable propane tanks offered by W.W. Grainger. Its tanks are sold in canisters of 8 ounces or 14.1 ounces. Mission Gas Company keeps propane tanks available for sale or lease in the Texas area, ranging from 250 gallons up to 1,000 gallons. Manchester Tank offers nationwide sales of its selection of forklift cylinder tanks and vertical propane tanks in a variety of sizes.

Locate propane heaters for your facility

Most often sold as portable heating units, propane heaters can heat up an entire room, depending upon the size of the room and heater. Using these types of heaters is a cost-effective way to warm up the area.

I recommend: Ranging from space heaters to patio heaters, radiant heaters to portable heaters, The Heater Shop from Contractors Depot has numerous propane heater options. TOPP Portable Air is a leading source of temporary heaters, so check out its line of indirect heating units. FlagroUSA sells a propane construction heater that is lightweight and easily portable.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Talk with your propane company to see if it offers a propane tank exchange. This could save in costs and is an environmentally-friendly option, as it eliminates the need for extra tanks.

Propane tanks have become one of the most trusted resources for heating houses, businesses, food and a variety of other commodities. It can also be used as a fuel for certain types of vehicles. Companies that specialize in propane distribution can make a good amount of profit while providing their customers with a clean, safe and environmentally friendly gas.

Although using liquefied petroleum gas is safe, it is essential to respect the dangers propane can present. Every employee who deals with propane heaters, gas and accessories must have a proper level of propane education and training. Be sure your staff is ready to do its job safely and accurately by:

1. Providing them with all the latest propane information and educational materials available;

2. Making sure they are properly certified before sending them out on any job on behalf of your propane company;

3. Sending them to national seminars and trade shows where they can learn about any advancements in the industry.

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Keep up with the latest articles about propane usage

There are vast amounts of information that could help your propane-based business. You can learn how to make sure your employees know how to operate in the most efficient manner possible, find out about propane gas prices and check out the most recent safety measures or regulations. Make a point of keeping well informed about your business.

I recommend: Read the latest news about propane from the Propane Education & Research Council. Check out safety tips from Lin-gas.

Show your staff it is important to attend propane education and training classes

Anyone who deals with liquid gas, a propane heater or even an empty propane tank can put themselves and others at risk if they are not trained to handle the products and equipment properly. With the right training courses, you can be certain that your employees act in a safe and responsible manner. Everyone must respect the gas they are dealing with and the danger it holds if it is not handled correctly.

I recommend: Get trained to use propane from the Railroad Commission of Texas, the National Propane Gas Association or Northwest Propane. Purchase safety training software from SafetyManager.

Find out about the propane information others have already learned

Every year there are propane seminars and trade shows and your company could greatly benefit if your employees attend. Schedule a business trip for your staff so it can learn from the keynote speakers and other people in the business from all over the country. These events are a great opportunity to spread knowledge, safety tips, learn about new regulations and keep updated on everything about propane.

I recommend: Attend propane-related trade shows hosted by the Propane Education & Research Council or the National Propane Gas Association.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure your employees are aware of any Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations regarding propane.
• •  Even if your entire staff can't attend a seminar or trade show for propane companies, one trusted employee can go and bring back any new and relevant information to share with everyone in the office.

Propane is a clean-burning, efficient and reasonably inexpensive fuel. From boats and automobiles to gas-powered grills, people widely use propane in both commercial and consumer contexts. As gasoline prices have risen, automakers have also begun to explore using propane as an alternative fuel for cars, trucks and other vehicles. Although it has yet to go mainstream, propane does offer numerous benefits that gasoline doesn't, which could make it an excellent replacement.

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Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)

Liquefied petroleum gases are a mixture of butane, methane and propane. A refinery separates the gases to make three different alternative fuels.

I recommend: You can find information about LPG at E-LPG. This website offers information about where LPG comes from, the refining process, and its properties.

Overfilling prevention device

An overfill protection device, or overfilling prevention device, is a requirement on DOT propane containers with a capacity of 4 to 40 pounds. This device measures the amount of propane in the container and automatically stops the influx of propane when it reaches capacity. This is important, because propane liquid expands more than 14% as it converts to gas.

I recommend: Propane 101 offers information about overfill protection device requirements.

Clean-burning

Propane is a clean-burning fuel source. This is because propane is insoluble in water. It's also non-toxic.

I recommend: The Propane Education & Research Council offers information about the benefits of using propane in various applications and explains why it's clean.

Prins VSI

Prins VSI, or vapor sequential injection, is a popular conversion kit used to make gasoline engines run on propane. Part of the system's appeal is its ability to smoothly integrate with the existing engine, but it garnered praise for producing relatively low-emissions.

I recommend: Wired ran an article on propane conversion kits that discussed the benefits of the Prins VSI.

Octane rating

Propane has an octane rating of about 105, higher than that of premium-grade gasoline, which usually falls somewhere in the mid- to upper-90s. Fuels with high octane ratings are less likely to cause engine-knocking than those with low ratings, making them great for use in spark-ignited combustion engines.

I recommend: The Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center has a detailed guide to propane that discusses its octane rating and applications as an alternative fuel.

Cylinder

Propane gets stored in tanks, also known as cylinders. They may be large or small, but they generally have excellent impact-resistance and will not leak or explode unless exposed to extreme heat.

I recommend: Cabela's provides pictures of small propane cylinders.