Heating
Furnaces (typically 60,000–100,000 BTU/hour) and boilers are the largest residential propane loads. A typical 80,000 BTU furnace consumes 0.87 gallons per hour at full load. Whole-home heating accounts for most of the seasonal consumption in US propane households.
Water heating
Propane tank water heaters (30–80 gallon, 30,000–75,000 BTU) and increasingly common tankless water heaters (150,000–199,000 BTU peak demand). Tankless units consume more during use but only when hot water is drawn — typical annual consumption similar to tank units.
Cooking
Propane ranges (cooktop + oven, typically 65,000–80,000 BTU combined max) are functionally identical to natural-gas ranges. Annual consumption is modest — 20–40 gallons per year for a typical household.
Drying
Propane dryers (20,000–25,000 BTU) consume 15–25 gallons per year. Direct replacement for electric dryers; the heating element is replaced by a gas burner.
Generators
Standby home generators (typically 14–22 kW for whole-home, 8–14 kW for partial-home) run on propane during outages. A 20 kW generator consumes 2–3 gallons per hour at full load. Propane's long shelf life makes it the preferred fuel over gasoline for standby use.
Fireplaces and outdoor
Vented and ventless propane fireplaces (10,000–60,000 BTU), patio heaters, fire pits, pool heaters (200,000+ BTU). Combined: variable based on usage.
Converting natural gas appliances
Most natural-gas appliances can be converted to propane with a conversion kit — different orifice sizes and regulator pressure. Manufacturer-supplied kits typically cost $20–$100; installation by a licensed technician adds $100–$200. Always use the manufacturer's official conversion kit and have it installed by a propane-licensed pro — DIY conversion violates building codes and voids appliance warranties.
FAQ
Which propane appliance uses the most propane?
The furnace, by a large margin in heating-climate households. A typical winter heating load is 800–1,500 gallons; everything else combined is usually under 100 gallons annually.
Can I use a natural gas grill with propane?
Only with the manufacturer's conversion kit installed. Hooking up a natural-gas grill to propane without the kit produces dangerously high flame heights and risks combustion problems. Same logic applies to ranges, furnaces and any other gas appliance.