Propane generators are similar to the more common, gasoline (or diesel fuel) powered generators except that they are, of course, designed to run on propane instead of these other fuels. A generator that uses gasoline or diesel is not, as it is sold, ready to run on propane. But it can be easily converted (there are plenty of resources and instruction guides available on the internet: just make sure to choose on that is reputable). Or you can buy a propane generator to begin with if you know that this is the fuel source you prefer and intend to use.

Propane generators have a lot of advantages going for them. From the outset, propane is a more affordable fuel than either gasoline or diesel. Make sure you buy liquid propane, as propane in gas form (such as that used in gas grills) is not the same and will not work to power your generator.

In addition to costing less, propane has a longer shelf life than many other fuels. This makes a propane-powered generator ideal, since most generators sit around for quite a long time between use. That’s because most people who have a generator in their house or on their farm or other property have it in case the electricity goes out for more than a few minutes.

Using a propane generator can help keep the heat running in your home if the power blows in the winter. It can power a refrigerator or freezer to prevent food from spoiling (especially in the summer months). It can provide much-needed power to medical devices for people who rely on them. The ways in which a generator is helpful are as numerous as the ways in which we rely on electricity: countless.

Another advantage of the propane generator is that propane burns quite efficiently. You get more fuel for your dollar when you buy the propane, and more power per gallon over other fuels, too. It also releases smaller amounts of harmful by products when burning (but still gives off carbon monoxide, so is not safe in closed spaces).

As generators run on propane become more and more popular, the fuel will become continually easier to find. However, it’s quite prevalent already. Check with your local gas station or hardware store, or wherever you buy the generator, to learn about availability.

Deciding that it is time to buy a backup generator for your home or property is a smart decision. But now the task is to pick what type of generator you want to use. In all likeliness, you will come down to a decision between the propane generator and the gasoline generator.

Let’s look at some of the differences between these two generator types, to help you make a better decision about which would be better for you and your needs.

Initial Cost

The cost of a generator is essentially the same either way. And if you already have a gasoline generator, you don’t have to buy a brand new one to run on propane. You can convert your existing gas generator into a propane generator. Just make sure you use instructions that you trust, and follow them to a “t”.

Fuel Cost

Almost without exception, propane is more affordable per gallon than is gasoline.

Fuel Availability

Gasoline is generally easier to locate, as you can fill a qualified container at any gas station. For propane, you can ask that the gas station, a hardware store, a farm supply store, or possibly where propane for grills is sold. (Note that grills use propane in gaseous form, but a generator needs liquid propane to operate. The two are not interchangeable by any means.)

Fuel Efficiency

Propane burns more efficiently than gasoline. That means that $10 of fuel in a propane generator will produce more power than $10 of fuel in a gasoline generator.

Fuel Emissions

Gasoline produces more emissions, or by-products from burning to make power, than does propane. Therefore propane as generator fuel results in cleaner air than does gasoline.

Safety

Both propane and gasoline create carbon monoxide when burning to make fuel. Neither should be used in an enclosed space without sufficient ventilation, because this is dangerous to health. Both should be kept away from places where flame and heat may cause ignition and fire.

Fuel Longevity

Propane has a longer shelf life than gasoline. If fuel is being placed in storage for use only with the generator, it is good to check on it periodically; gasoline may need to be replaced sooner than would propane.

You can never be too safe when it comes to using a generator of any sort. Of course, propane generators make safety a bit easier simply by the nature of the fuel. But even so, it is essential to keep abreast of safety precautions, proper usage, and the condition of your generator and fuel tank. These things will ensure that you maintain the safest environment possible. After all, you want your generator in tip top shape should a time come when you need to use it. When the power goes out, you really don’t have time to go get more fuel; that’s what you have the generator for. So follow these pieces of safety advice to have a safer home when your electricity goes out.

• Read all directions and labels. This is the most important thing you can do when you buy a propane generator. You wouldn’t drive a car if you didn’t know how the steering wheel, pedals, and turn signals work. All the same, you should not operate a generator, propane or otherwise, until you’ve familiarized yourself with the instructions, safety precautions, and maintenance suggestions.

• Use the right kind of fuel. Propane generators run on liquid propane; gas grills run on propane as a gas. The two are not interchangeable, so make sure you get a fuel that is correct for the generator you are using.

• Be on the alert for a sulfur or egg type smell. Propane itself is odorless, so the fuel is mixed with a substance that makes it smell like eggs (rotten eggs) if it leaks. This is a safety precaution to keep you and your family out of danger. If you smell sulphur, check to ensure the valves are turned off, then get out of the area and call emergency personnel who can come check the area.

• Don’t keep your propane generator by a source of flame, or anything that can spark. Propane is flammable; if you happen to have a leak in your tank and then light the pilot light to your furnace right next to it, you could start a fire.

• Make sure to use the propane powered generator (and all generators) in a ventilated area; your instruction manual will probably specify outdoors or in a garage with the doors wide open. Even propane gives of carbon monoxide when it burns. Be safe.

If you’re looking for a backup power source in case to have in your home or on your farm in case the electricity goes out, a propane generator is an excellent bet for a number of reasons. Here are the top 5 reasons that propane is a smarter and more environmentally friendly, resource-friendly, and budget-friendly fuel source for having your own backup generator.

1. Propane burns cleaner than regular gasoline or diesel fuel generators. This means that the by products created when the fuel is burned and converted to electricity are much less in amount, and also much lower in toxicity, from propane than from other fuels.
2. That lower toxicity is not just environmentally friendly, but better for humans as well. It still produces carbon monoxide in small amounts, though, so a propane generator should not be used in a small, confined space.
3. Propane is more fuel efficient. As a fuel, propane can put out the same level of power in a generator as can gasoline or diesel. The difference is that if you fuel one generator on 10 gallons of propane, one on 10 gallons of gasoline, and one on diesel fuel, the one using propane will produce energy for a significantly longer amount of time. By burning less fuel to create the same amount of power, the propane-fueled generator is more eco-friendly.
4. Propane is more affordable. This doesn’t have a direct impact on the environment, but by being more affordable and burning to create more fuel, propane is clearly desirable. So while people may not flock to propane because of it’s other advantages alone, the lower price can draw them to it, thus still having the environmental benefits of being a cleaner-burning, more efficient fuel source.
5. Propane has a longer shelf life. This is important for generators because often, a generator is essentially a machine that is “on standby.” It is not used regularly, so if you have fuel for it sitting there in the event of emergency, the gasoline may go bad, but the propane will last a lot longer. Pour out fuels that has spoiled is the least fuel efficient you can be, so a propane generator is also eco-friendly by the nature of being longer lasting.

When something goes not according to plan, the best thing you can do is to already have prepared. This doesn’t mean you know exactly when the unexpected will happen. But it does mean that you can be prepared by having some things around that will benefit you if or when something out of the ordinary occurs.

If you lose power for any amount of time, a generator is an excellent investment to have on hand. A propane generator is particularly helpful for a number of reasons.

Many people may thing first of gasoline generators when they think of generators. These have been a traditional back-up plan for power for a number of years. But propane has a lot of advantages that make a gasoline generator not nearly as desirable when you compare the two side by side.

One of the biggest advantages of the propane generator is that propane is a much cleaner fuel. When it burns, it does not release nearly the level of toxic by-products that a gas-powered generator will. This is good for the air from an environmental perspective, but it is also good for people, since gasoline’s fumes are harmful to human health.

In addition to being healthier and more environmentally friendly by burning cleaner, propane also burns more efficiently than gasoline or diesel fuel. This means that when using the same amount of fuel, a generator run on propane will produce the same level of power, but for longer than its gasoline- and diesel-based counterparts.

Another advantage is that propane usually sells at a lower cost than either gasoline or diesel fuel, making a propane generator more affordable at the outset as well as over the course of operation.

Running a generator on propane is easy. You can either buy a generator that is built from the start to process propane, or you can convert an existing generator to do so. Then you buy the fuel as you would for a propane grill: in a tank, or in a larger cylinder. (Note that the propane used to power a grill comes in gas form, but for a generator you need it in the liquid form. Often you can get both in the same locations, though.)

From the cost of fuel to the benefits of efficiency and safety, a propane generator is a great way to ensure power to run essential appliances in your home when the electricity goes out.