- A 20-pound propane tank holds 4.7 gallons of propane, or 4.7*91000 = 427,000 BTU.
That’s all there is to it. You should expect a regular 20-pound propane tank to last roughly 11 days (nonstop) before you need to replace or refill it.
Note that the numbers above are simply a rough estimate. In actuality, many propane fridge owners report that their tanks last for weeks. Especially when they aren’t in use all of the time. In most circumstances, a drop in the level of gas in the tank after a day will be scarcely noticeable. As a result, I’d consider these figures to be a ‘worst-case’ scenario.
How much propane do you have? Is it true that propane refrigerators are used?
A typical 12 cubic foot propane refrigerator uses 1.5 pounds of propane per day, which translates to 1,400 British thermal units per hour or 32,225 BTU per day. Refrigerators made of propane range in size from 4 cubic feet to 18 cubic feet. Small devices may use less than 1 pound of propane per day, while larger units may use nearly 2 pounds. The amount of food consumed varies depending on the brand.
How much does a propane refrigerator cost to run?
When living off the grid, a propane refrigerator is an efficient way to keep food cool. Purchasing a propane refrigerator has numerous advantages. A propane refrigerator has no moving parts, thus there are no parts to wear out. In warmer climes, a refrigerator will cost around $0.60 per day to operate, based on the current propane price of $1.859 per gallon. A refrigerator will operate at approximately $0.45 per day in cooler locations such as northern CANADA, higher elevations, and so on. A person should be able to get 20 days of use out of a 20# propane cylinder with this quantity of propane gas usage. This is far superior to bringing a cooler and ice packs to your cabin every time you visit.
A propane gas refrigerator can be more expensive to buy than an electric refrigerator, but it is often less expensive than a 12VDC refrigerator. However, comparing an electric refrigerator to a propane refrigerator is not an apples-to-apples comparison. A compressor pump and Freon are used in an electric or 12VDC refrigerator. A propane refrigerator uses a propane gas flame to heat the ammonia and distilled water, then circulates steam vapor and liquid ammonia to cool it down. The refrigerator can be powered without the use of electricity, inverters, or generators.
To feed the gas, all propane gas refrigerators are connected to a 3/8″ copper or flexible gas line.
Many people who live in off-grid cottages part-time use a hose and regulator to connect their propane refrigerator to a BBQ tank.
Many people ask me which type of refrigerator I would select if I had to buy one: electric, 12VDC, or propane.
Most individuals believe that the answer is conditional on the application. Given this, my family and I have a propane-powered refrigerator at home. The reason for this is that, in order to live in an off-grid residence, I still believe that operating a propane refrigerator is the most cost-effective option in the long run. This is based on how much maintenance a gas refrigerator requires compared to a 12VDC solar refrigerator. Remember that a propane refrigerator has no moving components, requires no maintenance, and has a considerably longer guarantee than other refrigeration units. A gas refrigerator only needs to be cleaned twice a year, and that is by cleaning the burner area and flue tube. There is no compressor unit to fail. There are no batteries to charge. There’s no need to be concerned about the sun. Please see our EZ Freeze propane refrigerators for a recommendation on the best propane refrigerator for sale.
Is a propane refrigerator more energy efficient than an electric refrigerator?
When it comes to updating or upgrading our home’s typical household equipment, today’s market provides many more options. People usually substitute like with like. Isn’t it apparent that if you have an electric refrigerator, you’ll replace it with another electric refrigerator? That is, until now. Consumers nowadays have a plethora of excellent choices. Warehouse Appliance wants you to know that you don’t have to live off-grid, in a remote location, or in a place where natural catastrophes occur frequently (limiting power supply) to reap the benefits of a propane or natural gas refrigerator.
- Isn’t it true that almost any equipment that runs on electricity can also run on propane, making it more reliable and cost-effective? Propane is America’s natural fuel, and we produce 90% of the propane we use right here in the United States.
- Propane refrigerators have been designed and built with higher fuel economy and fewer emissions in mind during the previous few decades. Compared to electrically operated appliances, propane-fueled appliances require less maintenance, are more convenient, and are more efficient.
- A gas refrigerator has no moving parts to keep it cool. This indicates there aren’t any parts to break down. Freon and an electric compressor/pump are required for electric and 12V refrigerators. These moving parts are subject to wear and tear. Inverters and generators are also subject to wear and tear and eventually fail.
- Propane appliances provide excellent value for money. While they may be a little more expensive at first than their electric equivalents, you will save money and energy by using less fuel.
The bottom line is straightforward. In terms of product design and efficiency, propane appliances have come a long way. Call Warehouse Appliance at 928-636-1955 if you have any concerns about replacing your electric refrigerator with a next generation propane refrigerator.
Is it possible to run my RV refrigerator on gas while on the road?
- The most prevalent form of RV refrigerator is a two-way refrigerator. They are powered by propane and 110 volts AC.
Refrigerators in RVs function best when powered by propane, but three-way refrigerators can be powered by 12 volts DC when on the road. This saves gas but drains the battery if the motor is turned off for even a few hours.
How long will a propane-powered camper refrigerator last?
The amount of propane used by your RV refrigerator is determined by its age and size. The efficiency of older models is lower. And, in general, the larger the refrigerator, the more propane you’ll need to keep it running.
Let’s take a look at a real-life scenario utilizing the Dometic Americana 8 Cu. Ft. RV Propane Refrigerator as an example.
With 8 cubic feet of internal space, the Dometic RV fridge is rated at 1500 BTUs (British thermal units) per hour. The BTUs in a gallon of propane are 91,502. So, with 1 gallon of propane, you could run your refrigerator for about 61 hours.
The length of time an RV fridge can run on propane is determined on the tank capacity. A normal 20-pound propane tank has a capacity of 4.6 gallons.
Using the aforementioned example, multiply 4.6 (gallons in a 20 lb. tank) by 61. (the hours our fridge will run off 1 gallon). A 20-pound propane tank can power an RV fridge for 280 hours, or slightly over 11 days.
Tip: In our popular guide How Long Does Propane Last in an RV?, we provide a free propane usage calculator. can quickly calculate the propane consumption of all your appliances
Let’s take a quick look at how an RV fridge works, and then we’ll speak about how to get the most out of it. Because, while we like the notion of using our RV in remote locations, we don’t want to carry or consume more propane than we have to.
How much propane is required to keep an RV refrigerator running?
A 10 to 12 cubic foot RV refrigerator will typically use 1.5 pounds of propane each day.
The amount of propane used by an RV fridge, on the other hand, is determined by its age, size, and ambient temperature.
Absorption RV fridges
Absorption system refrigerators are propane-powered RV refrigerators. In addition to propane power, these fridges include an air conditioning option. Some RV refrigerators are also capable of running on DC power. Absorption refrigerators, unlike compression system refrigerators, have no moving parts.
A tiny pilot light heats a boiling chamber filled with ammonia and water in RV refrigerators.
The water and ammonia mixture is pumped through a series of tubes, where the ammonia is eventually converted to a gas.
The ammonia gas continues to rise, while the water returns to the boiling chamber.
The ammonia begins to cool and travels down tubes, taking heat from the refrigerator’s interior as it goes, resulting in a cold interior. RV refrigerators must be level to work at maximum efficiency, and they must be cared for and maintained.
Maintenance tips
With a little care and maintenance, an RV fridge will use less gas and last longer. Here’s what you’ll need to do to take care of it.
- Maintain the level of your RV refrigerator. Parking your RV on a flat surface will help keep your fridge from overheating. When RV refrigerators aren’t level, water and ammonia can’t flow as efficiently through the tubes, making chilling more difficult. This can cause not only your RV fridge to burn more propane, but also your RV to catch fire. Unlevel RV parking can lead to fires in RV freezers, which can be disastrous.
- By not blocking the coils at the rear of the fridge, you may allow air to circulate.
- Don’t overfill the refrigerator.
- Place the refrigerator on the shaded side of the RV. The refrigerator will have to work harder to cool the air inside the RV if it is on the sunny side. Place the RV in such a way that the side with the fridge is on the coolest side.
- Never use propane to power your RV refrigerator while driving.
- The leading cause of RV fires on highways is this.
What is the operation of a propane freezer?
A propane-powered refrigerator’s sealed system contains water, liquid ammonia, and hydrogen gas. In the generator, a propane flame heats the water and ammonia to the boiling point. After rising into a condensing chamber, the now-gaseous substance cools and returns to a liquid state. This fluid is then pumped into the evaporator, where it is mixed with hydrogen gas. A chemical process takes place here, which pushes or absorbs heat from inside the refrigerator. The ammonia in the solution returns to a gaseous state after absorbing enough heat, restarting the process. Because its self-contained system does not rely on mechanical or moving parts, it can last for years.