When you pick up a propane cylinder for your grill or receive a propane delivery from the LG Jordan team, you might hear your fuel referred to as liquid propane gas. That might seem like a contradiction in terms. How can something be both a liquid and a gas?
Let’s take a moment to discuss how propane functions as liquid and gas — and how your propane equipment uses it. We promise you don’t need an advanced science degree to follow this!
Propane has a boiling point (the temperature at which it becomes gas) of -44°F! By comparison, water must be heated to 212°F to boil and become steam. So, at standard room temperature, propane exists as a gas. When the burner in your grill, water heater, gas log or any other propane appliance turns on, it’s burning propane gas.
However, propane is stored and transported as a liquid by applying pressure to it — a lot of pressure. In our delivery trucks and inside your propane tank, the fuel is pressurized to about 150 pounds per square inch. That’s roughly double the pressure of an inflated truck tire.
When a propane product needs fuel, pressure is relieved in the tank, and propane travels to the burner as a gas.
To a certain extent, propane is a liquid natural gas. Most propane in the U.S. is a coproduct of natural gas extraction. Propane is denser than natural gas. Also, while natural gas is primarily composed of methane, propane is methane-free.
(Most of the rest is a coproduct of oil refining, but an increasing amount of renewable propane is being produced in the U.S. and abroad. Renewable propane is chemically identical to conventional propane but comes from renewable feedstocks like those used in biodiesel.)
On rare occasions, propane tanks and cylinders can leak, causing propane gas to escape. You can generally detect a propane leak by its odor. Propane is scented to smell like rotten eggs, spoiled meat or skunk’s spray.
If you notice the smell of propane gas, it’s crucial that you immediately leave the area and extinguish any sources of ignition, like cigarettes or candles. Do not use light switches, thermostats, cell phones or other electronic devices in the area of a potential gas leak. If it is safe to do so, close the shutoff valve for your propane tank or cylinder.
Once you’re away from the possible propane leak, call emergency services and LG Jordan Oil & Gas. Let the professional technicians identify the issue, fix it and get your propane system back online. Then, you can return.
If you use propane to generate your home’s heating and hot water or power its appliances and amenities, LG Jordan can guarantee you never run low on fuel. Our free automatic delivery removes all the guesswork from filling your propane tank. We’ll track your usage and deliver fuel right when you need it.
Join the family of LG Jordan customers today.
