For homeowners and businesses that depend on propane, keeping your propane supply at a safe, adequate level is an important part of managing your property. Waiting until the tank is nearly empty can create unnecessary problems, especially during periods of heavy use.

 

Propane may power heating equipment, water heaters, cooking appliances, generators, fireplaces, outdoor equipment, and commercial systems. When several of these applications depend on the same tank, propane consumption can increase quickly.

 

 

One of the biggest mistakes propane customers can make is treating the tank like a vehicle fuel gauge and waiting until the last minute to refill it.

 

 

Loss of heat

No hot water

Cooking interruptions

Generator downtime

Business disruption

Emergency service requirements

Potential equipment issues

 

The risk becomes more significant during extremely cold weather, when a propane heating system may operate for much longer periods.

 

 

Propane usage isn't always predictable.

 

A home that normally uses a certain amount of propane may consume considerably more during a stretch of freezing temperatures. A restaurant can experience increased usage during a busy period. A commercial building can require additional fuel as heating demand rises.

 

That's why tank monitoring should be part of your normal property routine.

 

Keeping an eye on the tank gives you time to arrange your next delivery instead of discovering that you are almost out of fuel when you need it most.

 

 

Maintaining an adequate propane supply provides an important advantage: you have fuel available before you need it.

 

For homeowners, that means greater peace of mind.

 

For businesses, it can mean avoiding an interruption that affects customers, employees, equipment, or daily operations.

 

For property managers, maintaining sufficient fuel can be part of responsible building management.

 

Oil For Less provides propane delivery options for residential and commercial customers where service is available.

 

 

Properties that use propane for heating should pay particular attention to fuel levels during the winter.

 

Cold weather can significantly increase propane consumption.

 

A furnace or boiler may run much longer during a prolonged cold spell than it does during mild weather.

 

Checking the tank regularly during winter can help homeowners identify increased consumption before it becomes an emergency.

 

 

Hot water is another year-round propane demand.

 

Homes use hot water for showers, laundry, cleaning, and other daily activities.

 

Commercial properties can have considerably greater demand.

 

Restaurants, hospitality businesses, and other operations may use large amounts of hot water every day.

 

If propane supplies both heating and hot water, consumption can be especially important to monitor.

 

Protect Your Backup Generator Fuel Supply

 

Propane-powered generators provide backup electricity when properly installed and maintained.

 

But a generator cannot operate without fuel.

 

Homeowners and businesses that depend on propane generators should make sure they have enough propane available before an outage occurs.

 

An extended power outage can create additional fuel demand, depending on generator size and operating conditions.

 

Maintaining an adequate propane supply is therefore an important part of backup-power planning.

 

 

For businesses, propane management should be more than simply ordering fuel when the tank gets low.

 

Commercial customers can benefit from establishing a regular delivery schedule based on:

 

Tank capacity

Historical consumption

Business hours

Seasonal demand

Equipment requirements

Expected weather

Generator use

 

Keeping delivery records can help businesses determine how quickly they normally consume propane.

 

That information can make future purchasing decisions much easier.

 

 

Having propane available is only part of the equation.

 

The delivery area should also be accessible.

 

Keep the area around the propane tank or delivery point clear of vehicles, debris, stored materials, snow, landscaping, and other obstructions.

 

Customers should never attempt to move, modify, repair, or alter propane tanks, valves, regulators, or piping themselves.

 

Qualified professionals should handle propane-system work.

 

 

There is an important distinction between maintaining an adequate propane supply and physically filling a propane tank beyond its permitted capacity.

 

Propane tanks are designed with safety limits and are not normally filled to 100% of their physical capacity. A qualified propane supplier should handle filling and follow applicable safety requirements.

 

The goal is not to overfill a tank.

 

The goal is to avoid letting your usable propane supply become dangerously low.

 

Make Propane Part of Your Routine

 

A simple routine can prevent many fuel-related problems.

 

Check your tank.

 

Keep track of deliveries.

 

Know approximately how much propane your property normally consumes.

 

Pay attention to increased usage during cold weather or periods of heavy business activity.

 

Arrange delivery before the supply becomes critically low.

 

This approach is much easier than dealing with an unexpected loss of fuel.

 

 

Whether propane powers your Staten Island home, restaurant, business, generator, heating system, water heater, or outdoor equipment, maintaining an adequate supply is an important part of responsible fuel management.

 

Oil For Less provides residential and commercial propane delivery where service is available.

 

Don't make an empty tank the point at which you start thinking about your next delivery.

 

Keep your propane supply ahead of your needs. Keep your home comfortable. Keep your business operating.