Some homeowners use propane as a year-round source of fuel, but others use it as an ancillary or backup source. Here are four situations where you could use propane temporarily.
Off-Grid Power Backup
Living off the grid means becoming self-reliant in many ways. If you have an alternative source of energy and a backup source of energy, you don't need to rely on the power grid. For example, if you have a solar array or wind generator, you can use a propane generator as your backup energy source. That way, if your primary energy source breaks down when you're snowed in and can't communicate with the outside world, you'll still have reliable electricity. Propane generators come in both small, portable models and larger, whole-house models.
Vacation Home
You might also need temporary, portable alternative energy sources while you're vacationing. Whether you own your own vacation home or rent a different one each year, you'll want to be ready with plenty of propane as you prepare for your yearly vacation. Fortunately, because propane has a long shelf life, you won't necessarily have to source all-new propane every time. If you have some from last year's vacation, you can just use that tank.
Boating
Boating can be a fun recreational activity, but to access all the modern comforts you may need a portable power source such as propane. You'll have to follow some safety restrictions when using propane on a boat. These could include following safe storage guidelines, using the correct equipment and hardware for hookups, and more. As long as you do follow the applicable guidelines, using propane while boating is considered safe and reliable.
Camping or RVing
If you're tent camping, you may want to bring propane fuel to power your propane lanterns, heaters, camp stove, and other propane devices. And if you're camping with an RV, you may be able to hook the propane tank directly into the RV's propane hookup—check to see if your RV has one of these. This will allow you to power all of the RV's systems with propane. Like boating, RVing requires specific safety precautions for propane use. For example, you can only use the propane (or even have the propane inside the RV) while you're not driving the RV.
As you can see, propane can power many different comforts, modern devices, and appliances in a variety of unusual situations. So even if you don't want to rely on propane for your only source of electricity, you can still use it for recreational, vacation, and backup applications.