The weather has cooled considerably, even if the real estate market doesn’t seem to be following suit as much as buyers hoped heading into the new year. While homes are staying on the market a bit longer and prices are beginning to incrementally lower in some areas, it’s still very much a seller’s market. For buyers, this can mean a lot of things; one of them is often a change in how willing they are to move outside their comfort zone.

In a less competitive market, many homebuyers tend to stick with what they know. For some, that means HOA restrictions and municipal natural gas lines. Moving out into more rural areas with less restriction can mean getting a lot more land and a lot more square footage for your money, but it also comes with some adjustments. Some, like making the switch to propane from electric or natural gas, can come with unexpected but highly pleasant side effects.

Why Buying a Home with a Propane Tank is a Good Idea

When you pull into the driveway for the first time at a property you’re thinking of buying, does the sight of a propane tank intimidate you a bit? If so, you’re not alone. At first blush to people who have never had an on-site fuel tank, it can seem vaguely dangerous and difficult to maintain. The truth is, there are several reasons why you should purchase a home with a propane tank.

• Versatility – When you’re paying for anything for your home, you want the greatest possible amount of flexibility and versatility. Propane allows you to power anything from a pool warming system to a whole-home heating, and everything in between. Cook indoors with propane on a gas range, and have barbecues in your outdoor kitchen with a propane grill in summer, then keep the house warm all winter long using the same fuel source.
• Safety – One of the reasons most first-time buyers of properties with propane tanks balk initially is the idea it may not be totally safe. In fact, propane produces less exhaust than natural gas and what it does produce is also cleaner than many other fuel sources. Thanks to strict safety requirements and regulations, a well-maintained propane tank can avoid major worries throughout its lifespan.
• Energy Efficiency – Propane furnaces, as a whole, tend to reach higher temperatures in shorter times than oil furnaces, while costing less than heating with electricity. Worried about your carbon footprint? Natural gas is full of methane, a greenhouse gas known to contribute. Propane, on the other hand, has been designated a cleaner-burning, lower-impact heating fuel by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

What to Do After Buying a Home with a Propane Tank

You’ve done all the legwork for inspections, made your offer and it’s been accepted. Congratulations, you’re now the owner of a home with a cleaner, more efficient and more cost-effective heating system already in place. Now all that’s left is to get settled in and learn how to care for the things about your home that are new to you, including your propane heating system.

Quality Propane, Inc. is dedicated to offering service to homeowners in the Charlotte area, which means helping our newest neighbors learn to navigate a new heating source. Our expert team is standing by to help with tanks of all sizes and types, above or below ground. Call or contact us today to learn more about the benefits of buying a home with a propane tank, and how to care for it properly so the investment pays off for years to come.