| Communities outside the Twin Cities metro area | | | | home from an underground pipe with a meter |
| do not always have the infrastructure that home | | | | controlled by a utility service while propane will sit |
| owners in the city take for granted. In rural | | | | in a tank in your yard. Natural gas is billed monthly |
| communities where homeowners live on and own | | | | by the utility company as it is used. The propane |
| acres of land, they may not have water or | | | | tank's refill is directed by the homeowner. The |
| sewer systems to the home. The electrical, cable | | | | tanks come in different sizes and can be owned |
| and gas utilities may not provide service to any or | | | | or rented from a propane provider. |
| all homes in the area. Alternatively, homeowners | | | | **Propane provides More BTUs than Natural |
| will have private services where the public utilities | | | | Gas--Heat is measured in British Thermal Units or |
| do not exist. Homes on acreage will have private | | | | BTUs. When an amount of propane provides 2500 |
| wells for water and septic systems for sewage. | | | | BTUs, the same volume of natural gas would |
| If the home does not have cable access, they | | | | provide 1000 BTU's. |
| can use a private satellite service. And if there is | | | | **Natural Gas Burns Cleaner--Propane releases |
| no natural gas line, they opt for propane. | | | | more pollutants into the air when burning due to |
| As a Realtor in the north metro, I sell many | | | | different chemical properties. |
| homes on acreage in Anoka, Chisago and | | | | **Propane is Heavier--Both gases will dissipate into |
| Washington Counties. Some of the larger | | | | the air and can pose the threat of an explosion if |
| properties do not have natural gas utilities | | | | enough gas is released and ignited. Propane being |
| available. When they see the big propane tank in | | | | heavier than air tends to collect at ground level |
| the yard, the question arises: | | | | and pose a greater risk of explosion. If a home |
| What is the difference between Natural Gas and | | | | has a basement with few windows, there is no |
| Propane? | | | | way for the heavy gas to dissipate. Natural gas |
| The two gases are basically equal in performance | | | | being lighter than air will rise and has the ability to |
| in appliances. The differences lie in portability, | | | | dissipate with time and open windows. A leak of |
| compression, energy efficiency and cost. | | | | either natural gas or propane is very serious and |
| **Propane Tank--The most obvious visible | | | | immediate evacuation is the key. |
| difference is that natural gas comes into the | | | | |