What is LPG? A plain-English guide.
Liquefied petroleum gas powers farms, factories, kitchens and building sites across the country. Here is how it works.
Independent, family-run LPG supplier near York since 1988
The basics
LPG in a nutshell.
LPG stands for liquefied petroleum gas. It is a flammable gas that becomes a liquid under modest pressure, so a lot of energy can be stored in a small space.
LPG is produced during natural gas extraction and oil refining. Stored as a liquid in a tank or cylinder, it turns back into gas when it is released, ready to burn in heaters, burners, engines and appliances.
It is especially useful for businesses that aren’t connected to mains gas, because it can be delivered anywhere a tanker or delivery vehicle can reach.
Two gases
Propane and butane.
| Propane | Butane | |
|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | Around minus 42°C | Around 0°C |
| Works in cold weather | Yes | Struggles near freezing |
| Typical business use | Heating, catering, agriculture, holiday parks, forklifts, bulk tanks | Some indoor equipment designed for butane |
| Supplied as | Bulk LPG and cylinders | Cylinders |
More detail in propane cylinders and butane cylinders.
Why businesses use LPG
The benefits of LPG.
Off-grid energy
Controllable gas heat where there is no mains gas connection.
Instant, controllable heat
Precise control for cooking, drying and processes.
Clean burning
Burns cleanly with no soot or ash, and lower carbon emissions than oil or coal.
Flexible
From a single cylinder to a large bulk installation.
For commercial customers
Switching your business gas is on us.
We’ll cover your outgoing tank uplift fees with up to £1,000 in account credit.
Account credit
up to£1,000
towards your outgoing supplier's tank uplift fees
Bulk commercial customers only, with a minimum usage of 20,000 litres per year. We’ll cover the outgoing supplier’s tank uplift fees up to a total value of £1,000, paid as credit on your Rectory Gas Supplies customer account. Terms apply.
Get a quick quote
Find the right LPG supply.
Three quick steps and one of our team will be in touch to talk through your options.
- We review your details and check your site postcode.
- We give you a call to talk through your usage and site.
- We prepare your quote for bulk LPG, cylinders or both.
Prefer to talk?
01759 371 305
Monday to Friday 7am to 4pm
- 1What you need
- 2Your supply
- 3Your details
Step 1 of 3: What you need
No. Mains natural gas is mostly methane, delivered by pipe. LPG is propane or butane, stored as a liquid and delivered by tanker or in cylinders. Appliances are set up for one or the other.
Yes, when it is stored and used properly. Read our LPG safety advice.
Roughly 13.8 kWh per kilogram of propane, a useful figure for estimating how much gas equipment will use. See cylinder sizes.
Use our quick quote form or call us on 01759 371 305, Monday to Friday 7am to 4pm. Tell us your site postcode, what you use gas for and roughly how much, and we’ll do the rest.