You may not think about propane quite as much during the summer as you do during heating season, but you still have a propane tank installed near your home – and if you own a propane water heater, pool heater, built-in grill, or any other propane appliance, you’re using the gas year-round.
The good news is that propane is a perfectly safe and great way to keep you comfortable and enjoying your indoor and outdoor space in all seasons. But like any energy source, you have to be prepared in case the unexpected happens.
Here are six propane safety reminders for you as we head into the heart of summer 2021.
- Teach everyone in the house how to shut off your propane supply from the tank. If you’re not sure how to do that, contact us.
- Teach everyone to recognize the rotten egg smell of a propane leak – and what they need to do if they smell it.
- NEVER use outdoor propane equipment (grills, portable generators, etc.) indoors.
- Install carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in your home, following the manufacturer’s instructions about location and maintenance.
- If a storm is forecast:
- Make sure you have enough propane to last a week in case propane deliveries are delayed. If you have a whole-house propane backup generator, be sure to consider your fuel needs for that, too.
- Listen for instructions from local authorities;
- Use care when clearing debris from on and around your tank – as well as in chimneys, and flues – to reduce the risk of damaging your equipment and creating a potential CO hazard.
- If any of your propane appliances have been damaged, contact us right away for service and repairs. Remember: if you shut down your gas supply, you must, by law, contact a licensed professional to restart your system.
Koppy’s Propane is here to keep your family safe and comfortable all year round – Contact us today if you have any questions about propane safety in your Pennsylvania home!
We’ve got a lot on our mind these days – even more than usual in our hectic lives – and with all that mental activity, it’s easy to forget simple things like paying bills and scheduling fuel deliveries.
Fortunately, Koppy’s can take at least some of that load off with convenient and FREE services that can help your life run a bit more smoothly.
Here are five things you can do to simplify your bill paying and fuel management in the months to come.
- Use our MyFuelPortal customer account site – Doing business with Koppy’s has never been easier – just log in to get information about your services, check your account, order fuel, schedule service, and more. Remember to have your account number or password ready.
- Switch to a Budget Payment Plan – Choose Koppy’s Budget Payment Plan and make your bills more predictable in 2021/22. The Plan spreads your fuel costs out over 12 manageable installments using estimates based on your past use, so you’ll avoid paying for most of your fuel during the four short months of winter. There are no fees or financing charges for this service.
- Prebuy your fuel – With our Prebuy fuel buying option, you’ll lock in a preseason price for all the fuel you buy in advance. While we can’t guarantee that pre-buying fuel will save you money, fuel prices almost always rise as demand increases later in the season. Prebuy is offered before October 1, but the closer you get to heating season, the higher the price tends to be.
- Sign up for AutoPay – With Autopay, you’ll never have to think about paying your bill – or paying late fees – again. We’ll set up your account either through your bank (ACH) or with your credit card (MC, Visa, Discover).
- Go paperless – Say goodbye to bulky physical records with paperless billing from Koppy’s Propane. All your bills will be sent to your electronically, where they can be safely stored in email folders (don’t worry – we keep them your records on file, so if you ever need them just give us a call). You’ll also help us cut down on paper waste, ink, delivery fuel, and other materials needed to get your bill to you and back to us.
Take advantage of convenient services from Koppy’s Propane that will make the rest of 2021 go a little easier. Contact us today to learn more about propane delivery in eastern PA!
If you have an older propane gas furnace, one problem you may run into over the course of a long heating season is a burned-out pilot light.
The primary cause of pilot light outage is a draft (see below). But other, more significant problems could also be causing the pilot light to go out, including:
Why Pilot Lights Go Out
- A clogged intake valve – A buildup of dust or debris can cut off oxygen to the pilot light chamber, making it difficult for its flame to “breathe.”
- A damaged thermocouple – A thermocouple is an electrical switch that varies its output when temperatures change – on your gas furnace, it’s used to cut off gas supply as a safety measure. A qualified technician must repair or replace a damaged thermocouple; it’s not a DIY job.
- A slow leak – Insufficient fuel reaching the pilot light can cause your flame to glow yellow rather than blue – a yellow pilot light flame usually indicates a leak somewhere in your system. Your furnace responds to that leak by automatically shutting down for safety reasons. Do not attempt to repair heating system leaks yourself – contact us for service.
However, as we said earlier, most pilot lights simply blow out. Luckily, this is one of the easiest problems to fix.
When Your Pilot Light Blows Out
If your pilot light is out, try the following before you contact us to service your furnace. PLEASE NOTE: Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions if they say something different than below.
- Step 1: Find the gas valve in the pilot light assembly; it typically has “on,” “off,” and “pilot” settings.
- Step 2: Turn the valve to the OFF position and wait three minutes or more for It to reset.
- Step 3: After three minutes, turn the valve to the PILOT setting and hold a lighted match next to (not inside!) the pilot light opening. While holding the match, push and hold the reset button on the pilot control panel until you see the pilot light ignite, then set the valve to the ON position.
- Step 4: If the pilot light doesn’t light after several attempts, contact us for service.
Need expert propane furnace repairs in Pennsylvania? Trust the pros at Koppy’s Propane. Contact us today to learn more about expert propane heating repairs in PA!
Spring weather can certainly have its ups and downs here in Pennsylvania, with average temperatures dipping into the low 50s all the way into May.
If you’re a restaurant owner with an outdoor deck or patio somewhere in our service area, you have to do SOMETHING to cope with erratic weather if you want to get the most from outdoor entertainment space – and the best “something” you can do is to partner with Koppy’s for reliable propane deliveries for your outdoor patio heaters.
Koppy’s Propane will keep your heaters fired-up so your customers can feel cozy when they settle in to eat and drink in your outdoor space. We’ll keep the propane coming as often as you need it so you can ready for whatever Mother Nature has in store this spring.
Propane: The Perfect Fuel For Your Restaurant
Of course, propane isn’t just for heating! If you own a restaurant, propane can help you keep costs low and keep customers coming back for more.
Why choose propane for your Pennsylvania bar or restaurant? Consider these benefits:
- A memorable customer experience – From patio heaters and flickering torches to fire pits, propane fireplaces, and other features, propane can help you create an ambiance your customers won’t forget – all while extending your outdoor seating season.
- Better equipment performance – Most propane cooking appliances work better and operate more efficiently than their electric equivalents. That goes for your restaurant’s space heating and water heating equipment, too.
- A better experience for your cook staff – Most cooking pros know that gas is the only way to go when it comes to working creatively and effectively in a high-volume kitchen. Propane wins over natural gas when it comes to convenience – you’ll get the same performance without relying on your neighborhood natural gas line hookup or utility provider.
- More reliability – Downtime from power outages can kill your restaurant’s reputation and profitability; with a propane standby generator, you’ll have protection against power disruption when the grid fails, so you’ll stay open for business when other restaurants don’t.
Need propane for your restaurant – or any other southeastern PA business? Trust the pros at Koppy’s Propane. Contact us today to learn more about commercial propane deliveries and propane tank refills in Williamstown, Wapwallopen, and Carlisle, PA!
After a slow start, winter 2020/21 has really hit its stride here in Pennsylvania (as we predicted in our last blog), and your heating system has been hard at work protecting your family from temperature drops caused by 2021’s appearance of the polar vortex.
These sudden dips can cause your heating system to use propane gas more quickly than you anticipated – something you’ll have to be especially mindful of if you’re a Will Call customer.
In other words, keep an eye on that propane gas gauge! If you’re new to propane or haven’t had to read your gauge before, here are the basics:
- The gauge is usually near the top of the tank; typically it’s a round dial with the numbers from 5 to 95 on it that looks a lot like a car’s speedometer.
- Keep in mind that a propane tank is never filled to 100 of its maximum capacity; about 20 percent of the tank must remain empty to allow the gas to expand as temperatures change. A “full” 125-gallon tank, in other words, only contains about 100 gallons of propane.
The most important thing about reading your propane gas gauge, though, is to remember not wait for the last minute to schedule your propane delivery – especially when temperatures are low or dropping. Contact us for a fill-up when your gauge reads no less than 25 percent full; that will give us enough time to get to you before you run out of gas.
If you do experience a propane run-out, don’t panic – call Koppy’s right away for emergency service. We’ll get your tank topped off, then performed safety leak and pressure test as required by law so you can get back to normal in your southeastern PA home.
The Free Automatic Delivery Solution
Simplify your propane management with FREE Automatic Delivery
If you want to make things easier on yourself this winter – and year-round, if you have a house full of propane appliances – switch from Will Call to automatic propane delivery from Koppy’s Propane. Here’s how it works:
- Our delivery teams will estimate how much fuel you’re likely to use based on your past bills and the current weather (if you have recently become a Koppy’s customer, we’ll estimate based on local averages for a home your size).
- Your delivery will be scheduled when your tank is about one-quarter full.
- With automatic delivery, you’ll drastically reduce the likelihood of a propane run-out, and you won’t have to worry about scheduling a propane delivery. You’ll also get priority service over Will Call customers – a benefit that can really come in handy during unpredictable weather.
Don’t risk a propane run-out – sign up for FREE automatic propane delivery from Koppy’s Propane. Contact us today to learn more about reliable propane delivery in Dauphin, Cumberland, and Luzerne counties, PA!
We’ve had a mild winter so far here in Pennsylvania, but that could soon change pretty drastically as we could be welcoming our old friend the polar vortex (remember him)?
Yes, that’s the same polar vortex that single-digit lows and below-zero windchills for much of the state in 2019, and record lows for the region in 2017.
Here are some key things to consider as we head into our first winter weather challenges of 2021:
- Make sure you have enough propane. Keep in mind that a propane furnace typically burns about one gallon of fuel per hour when it’s running, and that it will be running almost constantly during a polar vortex to keep you warm. Propane space heaters and fireplaces use about half that amount per hour, which can add up quickly. Please don’t wait until the last minute to order propane! Order propane when your tank is no less than one-quarter full.
- Don’t forget your generator. If you have a propane backup generator, make sure you have enough propane for that, too – keeping in mind that it uses about 2-3 gallons per hour, depending on the number of appliances you are powering. If you haven’t had it serviced yet this year, strongly consider it – if you have, be sure to test-run the generator before severe weather arrives
- Mind your space heater safety. If you use supplemental heaters (fireplaces, space heaters, etc.), please keep the following in mind:
- Keep children, pets and things that can burn at least 3 feet away from heating equipment, including propane space heaters and propane hearths.
- Never leave a fireplace or space heater unattended; turn off portable space heaters every time you leave the room or go to sleep.
- Always place portable space heater on a level, hard and nonflammable surface – never on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes.
- If your space heater is a direct vent model, make sure vents are cleared after a significant snowfall to prevent exhaust gases from entering your home.
- Never use a propane cooking range or oven to heat your home.
- Have all propane heating equipment inspected and serviced if you haven’t done it already.
- Check batteries and test all propane and CO detectors, if you haven’t already.
- Help us deliver to as many customers as possible. Please clear at least an 18” path to your propane tank and any surfaces that lead to it, including your driveway. On delivery day, make sure someone is home or accessible by phone, and make sure all gates are opened and pets are secured.
Stay safe and warm with propane heat this winter – delivered by the pros at Koppy’s Propane. Contact us today to learn more about propane deliveries in southeastern PA!
It’s going to be a long winter for all of us this year – one where we’ll have to spend a lot of time indoors dealing with far more than the usual winter stresses.
In other words, it’s the perfect winter to spend A LOT of time in front of your fireplace.
The problem with doing that is that starting, maintaining, and cleaning up after a fire takes time and effort that you might not be willing to invest for a few hours of pleasure. If that’s the case, and you still want to enjoy the warm, healing glow of a fire, a propane gas log set could be perfect for you.
A set of propane gas logs offers an efficient, convenient alternative to burning wood if you have an existing masonry fireplace that doesn’t work particularly well, or if you just don’t want to spend as much time working on your fire as you do enjoying it.
Advantages Of Propane Fireplaces
Choose propane gas logs and you’ll:
- Minimize remodeling costs – Propane gas logs can be used in your current fireplace, so no additional construction is needed (of course, if you don’t have a fireplace already, we can always install a new propane-powered one for you).
- Lower bills – A new propane fireplace insert is about four times more efficient than one that burns wood, so you’ll spend less money to keep it running.
- Stay safer – Open fires always have their dangers – from falling wood to flying embers and blown-back smoke. Creosote buildup in improperly maintained chimneys can also start fires. All of these problems are eliminated with gas logs if you simply get them professionally maintained once a year.
- Enjoy more fire time – Push a button and voila – instant fire. Push it again and the fire’s out, with no waiting for embers to die down.
- Shrink your carbon footprint – Less fuel needed means less environmental impact. Propane also burns cleaner than wood, so there are fewer carbon emissions – especially particulates – with a propane fireplace insert.
Want to learn more about propane gas log sets – or propane fireplaces – for your Pennsylvania home? Contact Koppy’s today for a FREE estimate on propane hearth installations in southeastern PA!
About nine percent of Pennsylvania homeowners use propane to heat their homes – less than one-third the number that use electricity for that purpose. But are those electricity users getting the most heating bang for their buck?
Like electricity, propane gas is versatile enough to power almost any appliance. The difference is that propane will almost always do a better job of it.
A propane water heater, for example, will save you about 30 percent on your energy bills compared to an electric water heater while providing much faster recovery times. You’ll save even more energy when you choose a propane tankless water heater.
Propane Appliance Advantages
But better efficiency is just benefit of choosing propane appliances. Consider these propane advantages:
- Propane space heaters (including propane direct-vent fireplaces) heat rooms faster than electric models, and typically run more efficiently.
- Propane gas furnaces and boilers deliver consistent warm air everywhere in your home, no matter how cold it gets outside.
- Propane gas cooking ranges give you precision temperature control that no electric stovetop can match.
- Propane clothes dryers dry faster with less wear and tear on your clothes than electric clothes dryers
As you can see, you’ll save money and get better performance when you choose propane appliances. You’ll also help the environment, since as much as two-thirds of the energy used by a power plant to generate and transmit electricity is wasted en route to your home.
Propane – a smarter way to power your home comfort appliances. To learn more, or to get a FREE, no obligation estimate on propane appliance installation in central PA, contact Koppy’s Propane today.
To keep a propane-powered commercial fleet up, running, and productive, you have to make smart choices – the first and most important of which is who your fuel provider will be.
A top-notch fleet fuel provider won’t just help you keep costs down – it will partner with you to support your business strategy, solve logistics challenges, and maximize the efficiency of your operations.
But how do you choose a propane autogas supplier that will do all those things and more? Look for these four qualities when shopping for a propane fleet fueling solution:
- Flexible options – A quality fleet fueling provider will provide several options for fueling your fleet with propane autogas – from bulk delivery to your existing fleet base to ground-up fuel station installations. At Koppy’s Propane, we’ll do all that and more – we’ll even research and implementation of your autogas fleet conversions.
- A range of payment choices – When it comes to payment options, flexibility and control are key; choose a fleet fueling provider who accepts checks, cash, and credit cards.
- Great management tools – A quality fleet fuel provider will help you optimize your fleet operation by providing easy access to accurate fueling records, transaction details, ticket summaries, and other important data. With proper tools and support, your fleet fuel provider will help you better manage routes, payments, time spent on the road, and estimates for customers.
- Accountability – Make sure your fleet fuel provider is a partner that you want to do business with; look for providers who are professional, accessible, and accountable. Friendliness counts, too. Ask your fleet fuel provider for customer reviews and testimonials to get a sense of the provider’s track record.
Looking for a propane autogas fleet fueling solution for your Pennsylvania-area business? Koppy’s Propane can help. Contact us today to learn more about propane autogas fleet fueling and propane autogas conversions in southeastern PA!
Most of us love to gather around a hearth, especially on cold days and nights here in central and southeastern Pennsylvania. But sometimes the work required to get that fire roaring – not to mention the clean-up work afterward – keeps us from enjoying our woodburning fireplace as much we might otherwise.
The good news is you can get that evening by the fire at the flip of a switch, from the comfort of your easy chair – thanks to the power of propane gas.
Why A Propane Fireplace?
Today’s propane fireplaces and propane gas log sets offer:
- Convenience – No more kindling, fire starting, or ash sweeping – just click “on” to enjoy your fire and “off” when you’re ready to call it a night.
- Value – Not only does installing a propane fireplace cost MUCH less than installing a masonry fireplace, it also provides high-efficiency space heating that can supplement your central heating system. A propane fireplace operates at four to five times the efficiency of a wood fireplace, so you’ll pay less to stay warm. You’ll also eliminate chimney cleaning, saving even more money.
- Great aesthetics – Today’s propane hearths come in a range of designs and finishes, so they’ll make a perfect centerpiece for your family’s favorite room.
- Greater safety – A propane gas fireplace produces no embers, contains no unstable log piles, and leaves behind no dangerous creosote buildup in your chimney. Just maintain hearth properly and it will provide safe heat year after year.
- Greener performance – Clean-burning propane gas producers fewer harmful emissions and CO2 than wood – good for your health, good for the air, and good for the planet.
Propane Fireplace And Gas Log Installation
If you don’t have a fireplace yet, consider installing a propane hearth – it’s more affordable than you think. We’ll help you choose an option that’s right for you, then install it quickly and safely so you can enjoy that dream hearth you’ve always wanted.
If you already have a masonry fireplace, consider swapping your wood logs for a propane log set, which installs inside you current mantle. You’ll get the warm glow of a fire with realistic ceramic logs in a range of finishes, plus the same benefits of a stand-alone hearth!
Spend less time preparing your fires and more time enjoying them. Contact Koppy’s Propane today for a FREE estimate on propane fireplace installations in central and southeastern Pennsylvania!
