How to Convert Propane Usage to BTU
- 1). Look up your propane usage from your last propane bill, or from your records calculate your monthly usage of propane during the year. The best estimate of usage will be from bills over the entire year allowing you to get an estimate for each month. You will use less propane in the summer than you do in the winter.
- 2). Convert the number of gallons of propane to cubic feet of propane. The number of gallons of propane used as measured by the truck that refills your gas tank is not a good measure of the amount of propane used because the amount the truck delivers will depend on the air temperature. Measure the amount of propane used by dividing the amount of propane delivered by the number of days since your last refill. Multiply the daily consumption by the number of days in the month to get your monthly usage. One gallon of propane weighs 4.2 pounds, and 1 pound of propane contains 8.66 cubic feet of gas at 60 degrees. For example, assume that your usage is 10 gallons of propane in a month. The number of cubic feet of propane that you use is 10 gallons X 4.2 pounds per gallon, which is 42 gallons a month. At 8.66 cubic feet per pound of propane, your propane usage is 42 X 8.66 = 363.72 cubic feet.
- 3). Convert cubic feet of propane to BTUs. One cubic foot of propane provides 2,500 BTUs. Insert your usage values and find the number of BTUs you use; e.g., 363.72 cubic feet of propane X 2,500 BTUs per cubic foot = 909,300 BTUs.
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