Gas boiler - Page 2

When to use butane and when to use propaneWhen do I use butane and when do I use propane? 

Any device that is suitable for butane is also suitable for propane and vice versa. 

It is primarily a matter of using the correct shutter, in other words, the appropriate pressure regulator. The maximum flow rate of the shutter should be adapted to the maximum output of the device. 

But why butane or propane? A first reason is purely economic, butane is always a bit cheaper than propane. A practical reason: A bottle filled with butane contains 12,5 kg and a bottle filled with propane contains only 10,5 kg.  

There is only one essential difference between butane and propane: butane evaporates (cooks) at + 5°C, propane evaporates at - 44°C. We use the vapor that comes from the gas cylinder, which is the gas that flows through the shutter. Butane can only be used if the room temperature where the bottle is standing is above +5°C. In other words, you can use butane for any indoor device. Barbeques and patio heaters can also use butane. The use of propane indoors is not prohibited, but if you place your cylinders outside in winter and summer, you MUST use propane. If you would use propane in winter when its freezing, your butane bottle will not produce vapor. 

Always use butane if the ambient temperature where the bottle is standing is higher than + 5°C. 

This is just something I've found. Dont think it makes a difference reading this. Both burn at the same temperatures, just different pressures.

Thank you for all the advice - been offline! - but will pm now

Yes, I found that as well, and it was the bit saying that if you store the gas outside, you must use propane that caught my eye as ours are stored outside and we have no problems with hot water with propane.

Dont think it really matters, as the temperatures rarely go low enough in Spain for butane not to be useable. 

It can´t be that then. We bought a Vaillant boiler and within the price it included a visit from a Vaillant engineer to check the installation and start the warranty but have no idea if this is standard with all boiler makes.

Not in UK as we self certify. Maybe in Spain. I'm registered with a few manufacturers but Vaillant by far the best boiler.

Try Michael

Plumbing shop next to Engel and Volkers in Torrevieja opposite marina

Chr

I disagree. Our boiler and gas bottles are outside, and the boiler is designed for butane. Temperatures where we live are often in winter too low for the butane to fire up the boiler, so I have a bottle of propane for the depths of winter. On a quick check, 19 days of January had a minimum below five degrees.

Well Jim. I was in Campello through January. Temperatures between 16 and 19 with 11 at 9pm. I think you could say there's always an exception as in the gota fria. But this is the exception rather than the rule.

Try having a shower at 5.00 in the morning, using butane, with the temperature at three degrees outside, and you'd find out that it's the norm for January.