Propane vs Diesel Burners

AZ PowerWash Pros

AZ PowerWash Pros

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The way diesel is rising has me thinking about propane burners. I believe propane is cheaper right now. Diesel is $3.10 gallon here. How many of you guys use propane fired burners? What are the advantages and disadvantages in your opinions?

We work with a company that uses a propane hotbox and the owner claims his water gets hotter. I have just started looking into it but would like the opinions of the board. He also only has to fill once every couple weeks.
 
I doubt if the guy's water gets hotter using propane vs. diesel. If you already have a diesel burner then I would stick with it. If you don't have hot water then I would say propane is a great alternative fuel.

Keep in mind that a 50 gallon propane tank will run you about $500 or so. Manchester tanks is the manufacture that makes the ones I have.

I'm paying $2 a gallon for propane here. Simply because I have been using the same guy for over 5 years and I get it discounted.

There was a discussion here once regarding the BTU ratings on the burners, how much fuel each uses propane versus diesel. It all boils down to personal preference I believe. I have 18 gallon fuel tanks and 50 gallon propane tanks for my pressure washers. I don't like carrying around gas/fuel cans on the truck.

Alot of repair shops know little or don't like to hassle with propane burners so if it breaks down you could be on your own or you could just call me.

Look around on Craigslist or e-bay for a used propane fired hot water pressure washer. They aren't that many out there but if you do find one I'm sure the guy selling it won't be having his phone ringing off the hook for it.

I picked up 1 on a trailer 5.5 GPM 4000 PSI 18HP Kohler complete with water tank, surface cleaner and hose reels for $1,000 back in July right there from Avondale.
 
Here is some good info on btu's on different fuel.

The guy that is saying that his water is getting hotter is probably running a lower gpm machine or not using hot water as much or not as hot as others, there are so many variables involved so the propane burner is able to heat the slower moving water to a higher temperature and by burning less propane, he is not filling the tank as often.

Some of the carpet cleaners have propane burners but most of the common truckmount machines are only like 2-3gpm and most have heat exchangers to pre-heat the water so the propane has less of a job to do. When you pre-heat the water then the burner takes it to the specified heat increase based on the gpm. So with a truckmount propane burner, that tank lasts a very long time because it does not heat as many gpm's like pressure washer hot water rigs do.

Here is the website and info:

http://www.cogeneration.net/FuelAndEnergyConversionandEquivalence.htm

Propane:
1 Gal Propane = 91,600 Btu's
1 Cu Ft Propane = 2,500 Btu's
Gasoline:
1 Gal Gasoline (mid grade) = 125,000 Btu's
Ethanol:
1 Gal Ethanol = 76,000 Btu's
Fuel Oil:
1 Gal of #2 Fuel Oil = 139,000 Btu's
1 Gal of #4 Fuel Oil = 145,000 Btu's
1 Gal of #6 Fuel Oil = 150,000 Btu's

All of the following fuels are equivalent to 1,000,000 Btu's.


Propane 10.917 gallons
@ 91,000 Btu/gallon
Gasoline 8.0 gallons
@125,000 Btu/gallon
Fuel Oil #2 7.194 gallons
@ 139,000 Btu/gallon
Fuel Oil #6 6.67 gallons
@ 150,000 Btu/gallon

So, when you look at these numbers, to get to the same increase of heated water, you would spend about 51% more fuel to do the same job of heating water using 1 million btu's but most on the bbs don't have rigs that need that much heat but I think that the ratio is close when dealing with heating the water in most rigs.

When you do the math of Propane $ vs. Diesel $ you would spend a little less money using propane because you have to use more propane to do the same job.

Diesel at $3.10 x 7.194 = $22.30
Propane at $2.00 (discounted price) x 10.917 = 20.39

If you are able to get propane at a discounted price of $2.00 per gallon then that is great but if not, adjust prices and do the math and see if it is really going to save you money besides the cost of the propane burner, tank, hoses, etc...​
 
No problem.
 
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