The more you know about propane and heating oil, the more you can take advantage of all the benefits. That includes saving money and being more comfortable—inside your home and outside too!
Warm up to the Great Outdoors
No other fuel can do as much as propane can to make spending time in your backyard a pleasant experience. And thanks to modern advances in flexible piping, you can now extend your use of propane to a wide range of outdoor products, even refrigerators and fireplaces!
Among the most popular trends today are “outdoor rooms,” particularly kitchens that feature everything from high-end grills to cooktops, ovens and rotisseries.
Also hot in 2016 are propane-fueled fire bowls, which allow you to enjoy a cozy fire yearround. A large one can be used as a centerpiece for your yard, or you can set up a series of small ones around the pool or at the entry of your home to wow your party guests. Many models have ignition systems that can be turned on and off with a smartphone or tablet.
Summer Safety Tips
Summertime means backyard barbecues, lounging in your pool and hanging out with friends on your patio or deck. That’s the fun part. Summer also means being prepared for violent storms that could knock out your power and damage your property. Here are a few tips to help you cope with extreme weather this summer.
- Discuss an emergency plan with your family—including instructions on how to turn off propane systems during a power outage.
- Once the storm passes, check your appliances for water or other damage. Never turn on a light switch, use a power source or inspect your appliances while you are standing in water. You run the risk of electrocution.
- Ask us to inspect your appliances if you believe they have been damaged.
- If you have a separate tank for your propane generator, check it today and call us for a fill-up if necessary. You never want a power outage to occur and discover that you don’t have enough fuel to run your generator.
- Don’t operate your outdoor appliances and generators in enclosed spaces—you run the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
- If you smell propane in your home, leave your house immediately and call for help.
7 Reasons Why You’re Smart to Heat with Oil
Heating oil remains one of the cleanest, safest and most reliable fuels your money can buy. The plunge in prices over the last two years means it’s an even better value, proving once again that heating your home with oil remains one of the wisest things you can do.
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Greener fuel.
There is continued movement toward using ultra-low-sulfur heating oil. By July 1, all heating oil dealers in Pennsylvania will be required to deliver low-sulfur heating oil. This is a clean-burning fuel that produces fewer carbon emissions than natural gas, which has become more of a carbon producer due to the growing use of liquefied natural gas. Meanwhile, methane leaks from natural gas have become a big environmental concern.
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Clean-burning technologies.
Modern oil burners emit near-zero levels of pollution; heating with oil today means no odors, soot or other residue in your home. (See chart.) Widespread use of ultra-low-sulfur fuel oil, combined with cutting-edge emissions-control technologies, can reduce already low emissions even further.
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Fuel conservation advances.
Oil heat systems are cleaner, greener and more economical than ever. The latest heating systems are small, smart and super-efficient and can save you as much as 30% on your annual heating costs.
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High-tech hybrids.
Solar and geothermal energies are being integrated with oil heat in hybrid systems for water heating. That means a household’s water can be heated with little or no fuel required. A solar water heater can reduce water heating bills by as much as 80% and reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by 6,000 pounds.*
*U.S. Department of Energy.
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Abundant supply.
The new American oil revolution is now a reality. Domestic oil production has reached its highest point since the 1970s. As a result, most experts expect oil prices to stay lower for the foreseeable future.
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Great value.
Crude oil prices recently plunged to their lowest level since December 2003! The price drop has been so significant that heating oil is once again less expensive than natural gas when you apply an apples-to-apples comparison — a gallon of heating oil generates 40% more Btu’s of heat than an equivalent amount of natural gas. What’s more, gas utilities impose a surcharge on their customers that adds to the cost of heating a home with gas. They also charge customers for lost gas!
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Guaranteed service response.
You can always expect a fast and courteous response from us whenever you need our help — a guarantee that you simply cannot put a price on.