Posted: April 14, 2025
There are all sorts of facts to know about propane and propane tanks. If you are someone who uses the fuel, it can only help to get as familiar as you can with it.
That is why Medway Oil & Propane has put together the below facts and information about propane. Let’s take a deep dive so that homeowners here in Eastern Massachusetts can really take their knowledge about propane to the next level.
Let’s first cover BTUs.
A British Thermal Unit (BTU for short) is the amount of heat you would need to increase the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. It indicates how efficient a piece of equipment is.
Propane produces double the amount of BTUs by volume when you compare it to natural gas.
A single cubic foot of natural gas delivers 1,030 BTUs. Propane gives off 2,516 BTUs per cubic foot and 91,500 BTUs per gallon.
Thanks to this high BTU, appliances that are powered by propane use less energy than they otherwise would while they operate. Therefore, a homeowner or business owner who is using these appliances reduces the amount of fuel he or she uses and ultimately cuts down on his or her utility costs.
Natural gas and propane happen to burn at the same temperature – 3,560 degrees Fahrenheit. However, their resulting combustion products are quite different considering how many BTUs propane is able to produce.
Instead of the typical orange flame, you want a propane flame to be blue.
An orange or yellow flame indicates that something isn’t operating efficiently or that there’s not enough oxygen. This could lead to dangerously high carbon monoxide levels, which is a serious safety hazard.
A blue flame means complete combustion, which ensures you’re safely and efficiently burning propane at its maximum temperature while minimizing waste.
Your propane tank is considered full at 80%. Filling it beyond that is a safety risk because propane needs space to expand as temperatures rise.
Order your next propane delivery when the tank gauge reads 20% (or earlier). This gives you flexibility in scheduling without risking a propane run-out.
Medway Oil & Propane proudly serves Framingham, Newton, Waltham, Needham and surrounding areas in Eastern Massachusetts. Here’s what we offer:
Propane is energy efficient, convenient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly—and you can start enjoying the benefits today.
Contact Medway Oil & Propane to learn more about the propane services we offer.
