LPG vs Electricity: Better Hot Water for Dairy Farms?

Why hot water drives dairy hygiene

Every dairy farmer knows that hygiene starts with water. After every milking, the system must be flushed and sterilised to remove milk residues and biofilms that can quickly drive up Total Bacterial Counts (TBCs) and compromise milk quality.

Getting that clean doesn’t just depend on detergents, it depends on having hot water at the right temperature, in the right quantity, exactly when you need it.

Effective cleaning relies on:

• Stable water temperatures above 80 °C to kill bacteria and sterilise equipment
• Fast recovery times between morning and evening milkings
• Consistent hot-water supply, so no wash cycle is delayed or cut short

According to Teagasc, water heating is one of the largest single energy demands in the milking parlour, accounting for around 23% of total energy use. That means any improvement in how efficiently and reliably your system heats water directly supports hygiene standards, milk quality, and energy savings.

In short, your hot-water system isn’t just another utility, it’s a hygiene tool that protects your product, your reputation, and your bottom line.

How instantaneous LPG helps reduce TBCs

If consistent, high-temperature water is essential for hygiene, the next question is: how do you get it, every time?

That’s where Calor LPG stands out. Unlike electric immersion or storage systems that can lose heat or take time to recover between milkings, LPG delivers hot water instantly, on demand.

Here’s how that consistency helps maintain low TBCs and smooth operations:

• No waiting, no heat loss: Instant heating means every wash-down runs at the right temperature, even during back-to-back cycles.
• Reliable hygiene performance: Eliminates temperature drop-offs that can reduce cleaning effectiveness.
• Faster turnaround times: Keeps milking schedules on track and removes the temptation to shorten or skip wash routines.
• Cleaner system, better efficiency: LPG burns cleanly, reducing scaling and keeping heaters running at peak performance.

Farmers using Calor LPG report fewer hygiene issues, faster wash cycles, and more consistent TBC results with the reassurance that their system will deliver every time, even during busy calving or peak production periods.

LPG vs electricity for hot water in dairy farms

For most Irish dairy farms, electric immersion heaters or point-of-use systems have long been the standard choice for hot water. They do the job but when demand peaks after milking, they can struggle to recover fast enough to deliver consistent 85 °C water across every wash cycle.

That’s where LPG  makes a measurable difference. It produces instant, high-temperature water on demand, without the need for storage tanks or pre-heating, so every wash-down runs at full temperature, even during back-to-back milkings.

Here’s how they compare in practice:

LPG provides instant, reliable hot water exactly when it’s needed, without waiting, storage losses, or grid dependency making it ideal for busy dairy parlours where hygiene and timing can’t be compromised.

Farms that have made the switch report shorter turnaround times, fewer temperature dips, and improved hygiene consistency, especially during peak milking periods.

Calor’s Agri-Energy team works directly with dairy farmers across Ireland to create heating systems that combine hygiene performance with long-term reliability and ease of use. The result? Instant, dependable hot water, precisely when you need it, without the maintenance headaches or heat losses of stored systems.

The benefit of BioLPG for dairy farms in Ireland

For dairy farmers looking to cut emissions without compromising performance, Calor BioLPG offers a simple, renewable-ready pathway.

BioLPG delivers the same instant 85 °C hot water and reliability as conventional LPG, but with up to 90 % lower lifecycle carbon emissions helping Irish farms align with the AgClimatise roadmap and Climate Action Plan 2030 targets.

What makes BioLPG especially practical is its drop-in compatibility:

• Works seamlessly with any existing Calor LPG system.
• No new boilers, tanks, or pipework required.
• Switch at your own pace whenever your supply contract or sustainability goals align.

By moving to BioLPG, farms can demonstrate measurable carbon reductions while maintaining the hot-water performance that underpins milk hygiene and low TBCs. You don’t have to choose between sustainability and reliability, with Calor BioLPG, you get both.

Switching from electricity to LPG or BioLPG

Making the move from electric water heating to Calor LPG is straightforward and designed to fit around your daily milking schedule with minimal disruption. Calor handles every step, so you can focus on what matters most: running your dairy efficiently and maintaining top-class hygiene.

Here’s how it works:

1. On-farm energy assessment: A Calor agri-energy specialist visits your farm to review your existing setup, daily water usage, and layout. This helps determine the best LPG or BioLPG system for your operation.
2. Tailored system design: Your solution is sized precisely for your parlour’s peak wash-down demand, ensuring instant 85 °C hot water on tap, no storage or standby heating required.
3. Professional installation: Above- or below-ground tanks are fitted safely and discreetly, with plumbing connections made to your new instantaneous water heaters.
4. Commissioning & setup: Once installed, your system is tested, optimised for efficiency, and connected to Calor’s telemetry monitoring, which automatically schedules refills before you run low.
5. Ongoing support: With a nationwide delivery network and 24/7 customer service, Calor ensures your system keeps running smoothly, even during busy calving or milking seasons.

Most installations are completed in just a few days, allowing farms to enjoy instant, efficient hot water without operational disruption.