How To Improve Energy Costs Using Propane

Written on: April 18, 2022

Learn a Dozen Ways To Save Energy With Clean, Efficient Propane

Folks here in Texas didn’t face the same temperature crises as last winter, but nevertheless, energy prices across the board are up due to ongoing geopolitical situations—even as some of the supply chain issues are just starting to clear up. Efficiency is the smartest way to manage energy costs when you can’t control prices.

The good news? Propane is already a highly efficient fuel choice! Here are 12 ways to make that increased efficiency work smarter for you, so you can keep costs down, while staying as comfortable as possible:

Adjusting Your Propane Water Heater

1. Do you currently have an electric water heater? You can reduce monthly costs by as much as a third just by switching to a propane water heater. Ask us about your available options today—we’ll be happy to help you get started.
2. In tanked models, be sure to drain your water heater twice a year to remove sediment. This will help it last longer, as well as improve efficiency.
3. Lower the temperature on your propane water heater. Factory settings typically heat your water to approximately 140 degrees. However, 120 degrees is hot enough for appliances, while using less energy and reducing the chance of scalding.
4. Switch to low-flow showerheads and aerators. You can cut hot water use in half without sacrificing water pressure.
5. Upgrade to a tankless water heater. You could save as much as 50 percent on energy costs when you aren’t paying to keep a tank of water hot—and because water is heated instantly, on-demand, you’ll never run out.
6. Use appliances efficiently. Waiting to run hot water appliances like washing machines and dishwashers when they are full will save energy as well as hot water. For more useful tips on energy saving appliances, click the link here.

Maximizing Your Cooking Range

1. Look for a blue flame on your propane range. If you see predominantly yellow flames, that’s a telltale sign its wasting energy and needs maintenance right away.
2. Check the heat seals around your oven for cracks or other issues. Letting heat escape can make your appliance work twice as hard unnecessarily.
3. Keep the window in your oven door clean so you don’t need to open it to check on your food.
4. Don’t put a small pot on a large burner. It can waste 40 percent of the burner’s heat.
5. Cook in batches to use all the space in your oven once you turn it on, and freeze some for another time. Cooking less frequently can also help keep your home cooler in summer months.
6. Use glass or ceramic dishes in the oven. They’re more conductive so you don’t need as high a cooking temperature to cook your food.

Cleaner, Greener, More Efficient Fuel

As we’ve come to mention, propane is extraordinarily energy efficient. In fact, less than 10% of propane is wasted in the combustion process. In comparison, more than two-thirds of the energy used by a power plant to generate and transmit electricity is wasted.

Even if you don’t heat your home with propane, supplemental appliances like a propane gas fireplace insert can provide efficient, cost-effective supplemental heat—and add rustic charm, too! Similar can be said for propane patio heaters, grills, and so much more.

Want to learn more about the benefits of propane? Pico Propane and Fuels is the trusted propane provider for homes and businesses across Texas and New Mexico. Contact us for more information today.