It’s winter and you’re shivering at home. Could it be because you have run out of propane?
Furnaces, hot water heaters, and gas fireplaces use the most propane in your home. Home furnaces, for example, typically use 500-1,200 gallons per year. Hot water heaters, depending on the number of bathrooms, use about 1.5 gallons per day. And so on.
To avoid a scenario of shortage, where you’re caught off-guard with no propane, here are some easy tips for monitoring current quantities available – and how to get propane delivered.
# 1: Watch Your Gauge
Avoid a lot of hassle just by keeping an eye on your propane tank gauge. Don’t wait till the tank is empty to call for delivery. Once you see the gauge indication in the 25% to 30% range, it is time to call for a delivery. This leaves you with enough propane to keep you warm until your delivery arrives.
# 2: Prepare For Your Delivery
Extreme winter conditions can make roads hazardous and your propane delivery truck is carrying an extremely flammable fuel. Be sure to make everything easier for the driver by keeping your driveway clear. Remove vehicles, snow, ice, debris, and even any kids’ toys that may have been left out there.
You will need to shovel snow keeping in mind that propane trucks are wider than even an SUV. Here’s a useful tip: the minimum dimensions of a propane truck are 10-feet-high, 10-feet-wide, and 30-feet-long, so now you know around how much space to create. Make things easier for the driver, who has a difficult job as it is. You can bet they will appreciate it.
# 3: Propane Tank Access
The path to your propane tank has to be kept clear and free of snow as well. Remember, the truck driver’s job is to deliver your propane, not to clear pathways! If your fill pipe is not accessible, you may have to come out of the house to clear the path, or worse, the driver may just choose not to make the delivery.
A handy tip is to also mark your tank with a stick or flag, making it easy for the driver to spot. If your tank is covered with snow or ice, you will have to remove that yourself, as propane truck drivers will not have the tools to do the job for you. It is also a waste of their valuable time.
Good luck!