Natural Gas vs Propane Generators: Fuel Choice

Natural gas and propane as listing words

A generator title states its fuel early. 'Dual Fuel' means the unit runs on gasoline and propane. 'Tri Fuel' means gasoline, propane and natural gas. A standby generator listing may name natural gas directly, because a home standby unit is usually installed where a fuel line already exists. See generator fuel types comparison for the full set of fuel words.

Natural gas is a fossil fuel whose largest component is methane, the EIA explains. Homes receive natural gas through a pipeline network, which is why a natural gas generator listing fits a home that already has gas service.

Propane is a hydrocarbon that occurs as a gas at atmospheric pressure and is stored under pressure as a liquid, the EIA explains. On a listing, propane appears on dual fuel and tri fuel units, and on standby units in homes that use propane.

• Single fuel listing: gasoline only.
• Dual fuel listing: gasoline and propane.
• Tri fuel listing: gasoline, propane and natural gas.
• Standby listing: may name natural gas or propane as the fuel the unit is installed for.

Supply: pipeline versus tank at the home

For a home on natural gas service, the generator draws from the same fuel that heats the house. The shopping question is whether the listing names natural gas and whether the maker's page states watts for natural gas. The local utility answers availability and service questions; the installing electrician and the maker answer connection questions. A fixed backup unit is compared in the best whole house generator guide.

For a home using propane, the generator draws from a tank on the property. The shopping question is whether the listing names propane and what the maker's page states for propane. The reader asks the local propane supplier and the maker about the tank arrangement. This article gives no tank, line or conversion advice; the maker's manual and the supplier decide those details.

Storage and delivery as shopping questions

Propane is delivered to the property and stored under pressure as a liquid, the EIA explains. The tank that feeds a generator is a property arrangement; the reader asks the local supplier and the maker about tank sizing and delivery. This article does not advise on fuel storage.

Natural gas arrives by pipeline, so a natural gas generator has no on-property tank. Supply and connection questions go to the local utility and the maker. For a portable that accepts both gasoline and propane, the best dual fuel generator guide compares listings that name those fuels.

Stated performance per fuel

Performance on propane versus natural gas is a stated figure on the maker's page, not a number in the listing title. A tri fuel title names the fuel set and one watts figure; the maker's page lists the stated figure for each fuel. A dual fuel title works the same way for propane. The best tri fuel generator guide compares listings that name all 3 fuels.

This site compares stated details from listings and maker pages; it does not measure output, runtime, fuel use or noise. The reader who wants a runtime figure for propane or natural gas reads the maker's page and the owner's manual.

Matching the listing to the home's fuel

A home standby listing names the fuel it is installed for. A standby unit is installed and its fuel connection is made by a licensed electrician, the maker's dealer and the local permit office; that decision falls outside a listing comparison.

For a portable unit, the fuel words are the same: dual fuel names gasoline and propane; tri fuel adds natural gas. The reader matches the listing words to the fuel available where the generator will run, and reads the maker's page for the connection details.

Related reading: dual fuel versus tri fuel reading the title and fuel type availability cover the fuel words on portable listings in more depth.

What this site cannot say about fuel choice

The catalogue states the fuel words and the watts groups; it does not state which fuel is 'better', how long a fuel lasts, or how much fuel a unit uses. Those figures belong to the maker's page.

A generator that runs on any fuel produces carbon monoxide; the CPSC safety page states that portable generators must be used outdoors, away from windows, doors and vents, and the maker's manual gives the specific operating instructions, so read both before running a generator.

What to pick for your situation

Questions

Does a natural gas generator use a tank?

No. Natural gas reaches the home through a pipeline, so the supply is the utility connection that already exists. A propane generator draws from a tank on the property; the local supplier and the maker answer the tank arrangement.

Can one generator run both natural gas and propane?

A tri fuel listing names natural gas, propane and gasoline. A dual fuel listing names propane and gasoline only. The maker's page explains how the fuel is selected and what the stated watts figure is for each fuel.

Which fuel lasts longer in an outage?

Runtime figures are stated by the maker on the product page, not by the listing title. Supply is a separate question: a pipeline is continuous while a tank is finite, but both depend on the reader's situation and the maker's stated figures.

Is propane quieter than natural gas?

The listing does not state noise figures. The maker's page is the source for noise, and this site compares stated details only, without promising any quiet level.

What should I ask the maker about a natural gas or propane unit?

Ask for the stated watts and runtime per fuel, the fuel connection requirements, and for a standby unit the installation process. The maker's dealer and a licensed electrician answer connection and permit questions.