How to find your path to comfort and savings

You can easily lose your way trying to keep your home comfortable at an affordable cost. Here is some advice to help you stay on the right path to both comfort and savings.

Avoid wrong turns — use propane appliances 

It’s amazing how many different ways you can use propane. It’s a super-versatile fuel that can fuel fireplaces, clothes dryers, outdoor grills, space heaters, water heaters, generators and more. Of course, a propane furnace or propane boiler can heat your entire home as well. Truly, propane is energy for everyone. 

Because propane burns hot and clean, propane-powered appliances can reach efficiency ratings well into the 90% range. Propane will outperform its electric counterparts in just about any home comfort application. 

When you use propane appliances in your home, you’re going to see the savings. Because propane is such an efficient fuel, your energy expenses will go down and you’ll be getting even better value and comfort than you get from other heating sources. 

If you’d like more information about how you can benefit from propane, please contact us. Our propane experts will be happy to give you great advice and friendly assistance. 

Don’t get lost converting to another fuel 

Why switch to a less efficient heating fuel when safe and clean-burning heating oil can keep you warm even on the coldest of nights? Right now, heating oil is playing a leading role in the drive toward clean energy. 

Thanks in part to the transition to ultra-low-sulfur heating oil, particulate emissions have been reduced significantly from the already low levels of the past few decades. New heating oil systems now burn fuel 99.9% cleanly, according to studies conducted at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven Laboratory

Due to these technological advancements in system efficiency, homeowners are using about 500 fewer gallons of heating oil each year to heat their homes. That’s an incredible savings of both money and energy. 

Heating oil generates a very high number of Btu’s of heat energy per gallon, so it will warm your home reliably — and more evenly. Modern, efficient heating oil systems in well-insulated homes can help homeowners achieve the same amount of warmth while using much less fuel! 

Repair or replace: which way should you go? 

If your boiler or furnace is at least 15 years old, consider replacing your heating system soon; the performance and reliability of heating equipment typically deteriorates after 15 years (sooner if maintenance has been neglected). And just like computers and smartphones, heating equipment becomes outdated over time. 

With better technology, a new high-efficiency heating oil system can often pay for itself within a relatively short period of time with the money you save each year on heating costs. After that, you can start adding up all of your energy savings! 

At a minimum, a new system should help you save up to 20% on your annual heating costs. (If you significantly improve system efficiency, savings can be even higher.) You’ll feel the difference in comfort too. You’ll also save on repairs because you’ll minimize the potential of a system breakdown, a common problem with old systems.

Light the way 

Have you ever considered adding a propane fireplace insert? You should, since it has efficiencies that can go into the 90% range. That’s so much more efficient than a wood fire! Up to 90% of the heat produced by a wood-burning fireplace goes straight up the chimney! 

When you have a propane fireplace, it’s easy to get a roaring fire going. Just flip a switch or use the remote control! Propane fireplaces also produce fewer particulate emissions and less carbon monoxide than wood-burning fireplaces. 

If you have an open-concept kitchen-living-dining area, or any other large space to heat, a fireplace with multi-speed blowers will push warm air to the far corners of a room, providing better and more even heating. What’s more, improved gas-burner technology creates more realistic flames that flicker and dance, just like a wood fire. 

Once you get your new propane fireplace installed, count on us to keep you well supplied, so you can always keep your home fires burning!

Navigate your way to safety 

● Keep the area around your heating equipment as clean and clutter-free as possible. Never store anything flammable near your heating system. 

● If you ever smell gas, leave your home right away. Report the problem from another location as soon as possible. 

● Install carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in your home, following the manufacturer’s instructions about location and maintenance. 

● After a severe storm, carefully check your property for downed power lines, damaged gas lines or damage to your propane tank and appliances. Contact us to report any problems. 

● Make sure your outdoor vents remain clear of debris so that combustion gases don’t back up into your home.