Gas vs. Propane Heating Systems

The debate about the right heating source to use in a home is, well, heated. Owner builders who are planning their own construction face a dilemma about energy sources. If you plan to build your own home, then you carefully need to analyze which heat provider will be the best for your family: Gas or propane.

The natural gas option
Proponents of natural gas as a heating source feel that this fuel delivered by a gas furnace is the warmest. Some homeowners, when choosing a fireplace, select vent-free gas logs, which do not need a vented fireplace and even can be freestanding as an outstanding option for space heating.

Other advantages of gas heat:

Gas is clean burning, creating few threats to your family or the environment. You don't have to worry about leaks or spills.
Gas is one of the most energy-efficient fuels.
Gas is dependable. You don't need to be concerned about running out of fuel.
Research shows that a home that is heated with natural gas uses less than 80 percent of the total energy in a comparable home that is heated with oil.
Water heaters that are gas-powered give you better temperature control and provide fast recovery between showers.
Emissions from carbon dioxide emissions are about 42 percent lower for homes heated by gas, as compared to dwellings heated by oil.
Using natural gas can help reduce air pollution because it has fewer emissions.
Gas heating systems require very little maintenance.

The propane option
The world over, the use of propane is increasing, particularly in India and China. Propane is not a natural fuel, but is a byproduct of petroleum refinement and the processing of natural gas. Propane, which is composed of hydrogen gas, also is created as a byproduct at oil refineries from gasoline and heating-oil production.

Propane proponents say that:

Propane is an efficient, versatile heating fuel.
An odor is added to propane so that it can be distinguished from other gases.
Propane is safe to use because it is stored in tanks that are manufactured for maximum safety.
Propane tanks have a percentage gauge, fill valve, shut-off valve and pressure-relief valve that generally are under the hood of the tank.
Furnaces that are fueled with propane last longer (15 to 20 years compared to five to ten years for electric-heat pumps).
Propane usage results in lower operating costs.
The exhaust that emits from propane heating elements is cooler than exhaust from other furnaces. It can be vented easily with PVC.
Builders can select central furnaces, wall furnaces or combination heaters, depending on the size and design of the home.
Central furnaces that use propane are small, and some even sit flush against walls to give you maximum living space.
Propane furnaces conserve energy with vent dampers that ensure that burners ignite only when the damper is opened. In other words, fuel is used only when heat is needed.