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There’s so much to consider when building or buying a new home. Some things are subjective and personal, such as architectural style, but others are more practical. Choosing a kitchen range is one of those. Of course, appearance and features are part of the decision, but so is efficiency—and performance, and that’s where propane stands out.
Tune into any cooking show, and you’ll never see a chef futzing with trying to heat a pot of skillet over an electric coil. Peek into the kitchen of your favorite restaurant—or sit at a chef’s table with a view of the culinary action—and you’ll see a gas-fired range. But you don’t need to be a professional chef to appreciate the benefits of cooking with a propane stove. Here’s how they compare:
As you can tell, cooking with propane gas is a smart choice for a lot of reasons. Here’s one more to consider: propane gives you a lot more versatility and choice when it comes to running other appliances in your home: water heating, laundry equipment and a range of other appliances can all be run by clean-burning efficient propane instead of electricity.
Want to learn more? The pros at Pemi River can answer all your questions, and help make adding a propane range and other appliances to your central New Hampshire home easy. Contact us today for more information.
As the leaves turn, golden autumn days can suddenly turn nippy at night. Suddenly, you’re using appliances differently—simmering a pot of chili on the stove all day after months of quick summer suppers and grilling, or enjoying the glow of your propane fireplace on those cooler nights instead of cranking up your boiler just yet. If you’re a will-call propane customer, it’s important to know how to check your propane level, because those changes in usage can affect how quickly you’re using propane and how often you’ll need a delivery.
The good news is that checking the gauge on your propane tank is almost as easy as reading the fuel gauge in your car. Here’s what you need to know.
If you have an above-ground propane storage tank, the gas gauge is right at the top of the tank, under a lid or dome. If you have an underground tank, the gauge will be near the fill pipe.
You’ll see a gauge that looks a lot like a speedometer, with numbers going around the edge, and a single pointer. The numbers indicate what percent of gas is in your tank.
Keep in mind that because propane needs room to expand, your tank will never be filled to more than 80%. Always call for a delivery before your tank falls below 20% so we have time to schedule a delivery before your tank gets too low. If your tank falls below a certain level, you could lose pressure, which can lead to problems with equipment.
Of course, it’s good to know how to check your tank level, but it’s an easy task to forget about. That’s why we give you an easier way to make sure you get propane deliveries when you need them—without having to remember to check your tank and call us for delivery. It’s our automatic delivery service.
Pemi River offers automatic delivery service, so you don’t need to remember to schedule propane deliveries. Automatic deliveries mean you don’t have to worry about running out propane, and you can rest easy knowing we won’t let you run out.
Automatic delivery service makes things easier on our end too. We’re better able to plan deliveries, using the most efficient routes to get to everyone quickly. That saves time and money—savings we can pass on to you.
It’s not a crystal ball. We use a proven industry method to calculate your fuel use. We work with an algorithm that is based on your past usage and average daily temperatures to make sure we can fill your tank on time. You don’t even need to be home for the delivery.
For seasonal homeowners—and anyone who’s propane usage fluctuates a lot, we recommend our wireless propane monitor. It tracks the level of propane in your tank in real time, and transmits your usage via wireless cellular technology. When the tank gauge reaches a pre-set level, the monitor alerts us—and you—directly via a wireless mobile app.
Of course, we still believe in old-fashioned customer service. That’s why our friendly and local customer service representatives are always happy to take your call and answer any questions. Contact us today to sign up for worry-free automatic deliveries or ask about our propane monitors.
You probably know that if you leave a car with a tank full of gas, after about six months its chemical properties change, and it won’t burn properly.
Propane, on the other hand, will never “go bad.” That’s why propane is a smart choice for all kinds of appliances and equipment in your home, like water heaters, which you use all the time, but also for those you use sporadically, like space heaters and fireplaces. Propane is particularly smart for whole-house generators. Hopefully, you don’t need to use it often, but you don’t want to worry about the fuel not working in an emergency.
While propane cannot expire, it’s important that the tank used for storage is maintained properly to avoid any problems. If you lease your propane storage tank from us, you do not have to worry, we take care of this for you. When it to comes to portable propane cylinders, however, you need to make certain that it conforms to Department of Transportation (DOT) safety standards. All DOT portable propane tanks must be recertified for use every 5 or 10 years, depending on the cylinder type, condition and previous recertification method. Learn more about recertifying a portable propane cylinder.
If you’ve lived in central New Hampshire for a while, you know winters can serve up some frigid temperatures. Average lows are in the single digits around here in January.
People often ask us if they need to worry about their propane freezing, particularly in an above-ground tank. Fortunately, the freezing point of propane is -44 degrees Fahrenheit, so you don’t need to worry about your propane freezing.
Still, extremely cold temperatures can affect propane. Propane contracts when it’s cold. When it’s extremely cold outside, the volume of propane inside your aboveground propane tank will shrink, which creates a loss of pressure. The problem is, if the pressure becomes too low, the propane inside your tank will not be able to reach your gas burner. That means you may not be able to run your propane appliances, including your furnace or boiler, which can be very problematic in the winter. An underground tank will not be affected by cold because it’s insulated. The good news is that you can avoid low-pressure problems in your above ground tank.
Have more questions about versatile propane or propane safety or to set up automatic deliveries? Contact Pemi River Fuels today.
Winter seems months away—but it’s never too soon to start thinking about how to make winter heating bills manageable. Even though heating oil prices have moderated since last year, there’s no sure way to guarantee that they won’t spike again. From geopolitics to the weather, there are so many variables that can affect the price of heating oil. That’s why we offer several ways to help make sure you’re protected from price volatility. Think of it as a flu shot for heating costs: Even if prices do go up, you’ll be protected from those big fluctuations, no matter which option you choose.
Here’s everything you need to know about our heating oil payment options!
Even when heating oil prices are at their lowest, most customers appreciate the convenience of our Monthly Budget Plan. That’s because it’s a smart way to manage winter heating oil costs and avoid unexpected high invoices, no matter how cold it gets or how much fuel you use. Plus, when you enroll in the Monthly Budget Plan, we’ll put you on our convenient, worry-free automatic delivery service.
Here’s how it works: We come up with an average based on your past fuel use. Then we spread your costs evenly over 11 months, cutting winter bills nearly in half and making it easier for you to budget your expenses.
When you choose our Pre-buy Plan, you lock in a fixed price for the fuel you purchase up front for the season. We can help you determine the best amount of fuel you’ll need based on your past usage. This plan lets you take advantage of lower off-season pricing by locking in your per-gallon price ahead of the season, and eliminates worry over unexpected price jumps.
This plan also includes enrollment in our automatic delivery service. You don’t need to worry about heating costs—and you don’t need to worry about ordering fuel.
Our Fixed Price Program for heating oil takes the Pre-buy Program one step farther. As with the Pre-buy, we agree on a fixed per-gallon price that lets you take advantage of lower, off-season prices. And, as with the Pre-buy plan, your price will not go higher than that rate. But, your price is locked in no matter how cold it gets and how much fuel you use.
Even a mild winter in New Hampshire delivers some wicked cold temperatures. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice comfort to keep heating costs down. Our budget friendly payment options let you save money and manage costs no matter what happens with heating oil prices next winter. It’s just one of the reasons families in Grafton and Belknap Counties have been trusting their comfort to Pemi River Fuels for more than 50 years.
If you’d like to sign up for a plan, enrollment is open now. Contact us to review your options and learn about all the ways we can help you save.
So many things remain unpredictable these days. The weather. The news. The price of fuel. Energy prices have been surging nearly across the board—not just for the oil and propane to fuel your home, but also at the gas pump and at the grocery store, too. While we can’t control fuel prices at-large, we’re always looking for ways to help you keep costs manageable.
That said, our customers who were enrolled in one of our propane pricing plans were well protected from the worst of this past winter’s price spikes. We know too that every budget is different, and that’s why we offer multiple options for your propane needs. Read on to see how each works and discover the best option for you!
Even when fuel prices are low, this plan always popular. That’s because it’s a smart way to manage winter propane—and heating oil—costs and avoid unexpected high invoices, no matter how cold it gets or how much fuel you use.
We use an average based on your past propane use to spread your costs evenly throughout the year, from July to April. As a result, you could see winter bills that are nearly 50% lower! And because you’re paying the same amount each month, it’s easier for you to budget your expenses.
The point of the plan is to keep your fuel costs level and manageable, so even if we have a particularly harsh winter or prices spike, you’ll avoid big fluctuations and surprise high bills.
With our Pre-Buy Plan, you buy your necessary propane gallons before the heating season begins. (Don’t worry, we won’t deliver it all at once!) This lets you take advantage of lower off-season pricing by locking in your per-gallon price ahead of time and eliminates unexpected price jumps. You’ll be automatically enrolled in our automatic fill service too, so you don’t even have to think about placing an order each time you need fuel!
Ready to enroll? Click here to get started.
Our Fixed Price Program for heating oil and propane is exactly what it sounds like! We agree on a set fixed price ahead of the heating season and you’re locked in at that price throughout the season. No matter what happens with fuel prices, your price won’t go over the fixed amount.
Ready to enroll? Click here to get started.
When you enroll in AutoPay and pay within 10 days, we’ll give you a 20¢-discount per gallon. Seniors, active military members, and veterans who use AutoPay also get an extra discount of 3¢ a gallon!
What is AutoPay, exactly? It is a convenient option that charges your monthly propane bill to your credit card or deducts it from your checking or savings account. It knocks an item off your to-do list each month, too, without you having to mail in a check or visit our office to pay in cash.
Making life easier for you is important to us. That’s why our propane pricing and payment programs are designed to take the worry out of heating season by making your bills more predictable and manageable. Contact us today to find out more about how we can make your life easier! Whether you need service, installation, propane, or heating oil delivery, Pemi River Fuels is here for you.
Whether you’re shopping for a new home or planning to make some renovations and upgrades, price and value are probably guiding many of your decisions. When it comes to appliances, energy efficiency is a key factor in the price/value calculation. If you’ve never lived in a propane-fueled home before, you might not know that propane delivers exceptional performance and efficiency at a much lower cost than electricity.
Most people hear “propane” and think grills. They’re often surprised to learn how many household appliances and other equipment run off propane . Propane generates more Btus than an equivalent amount of electricity, so you need much less propane to produce the same amount of heat or energy. Also, propane appliances waste very little fuel in the combustion process, for a smaller carbon footprint than oil or electricity and great value.
If you’re looking to enhance your home’s value and improve efficiency, propane appliances are a savvy choice. Here’s why:
Water Heaters: Water heating is a big percentage of home energy bills—especially when you consider how much hot water a household uses: bathing, laundry, dishwashing. An energy-efficient propane water heater can help you reduce your energy costs, and perform better too. Tankless water heaters save energy by instantly heating water when you need it, rather than keeping a large tank hot all the time. As a result, you can enjoy virtually unlimited hot water—while seeing savings of up to 40%!
Cooking and Grilling: Nothing beats the precision and control you get cooking with gas. That’s why it’s the first choice of professional chefs in the kitchen—and on the patio. Recent stories about gas stoves and indoor air quality are a bit misleading: While natural gas stoves can potentially emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas, propane contains no methane. And, cooking of any kind creates particulate matter and affects indoor air quality, no matter what fuel is used.
Outdoor Living: Adding safe and efficient propane patio heaters can let you enjoy your outdoor spaces earlier in the spring and later into the autumn. Fire pits and fire bowls become an attractive focal point and gathering space for entertaining friends and family. And propane-fueled pool and spa heaters will warm up the water much faster than an electric heater, and maintain the temperature better once the water is warm. As a result, propane pool heaters help you keep heating costs under control, while letting you enjoy your pool or spa more.
Indoor fireplaces: A propane fireplace brings all the ambiance and warmth of a wood-burning fireplace to any room, without the mess, smoke and ash. And unlike a traditional fireplace, you can install a propane-fueled fireplace just about anywhere: living room, dining room, bedroom, even the kitchen. Imagine the luxe, spa-like glamour of a fireplace in your master bath!
Generators: When storms knock out power, a propane-fueled backup generator will keep your lights on, your refrigerator running and everything else powered up until the utility companies can make repairs.
Whether you are refurbishing your existing home, shopping for a new place, building your dream house, or just looking for ways to reduce your fuel bills, propane provides great value. Pemi River’s team of pros have the experience and knowledge to answer all your questions and help make adding propane to your Central New Hampshire home easy. We’ll make sure you have the right size propane storage tank for your needs, and provide with great propane services like automatic delivery, smart payment plans to help keep costs manageable and so much more.
Contact us for more information today.
If you think service plans are just for breakdowns, think again. Our comprehensive protection plans are designed to help you save money, even if you never have a break-down.
That’s because every equipment protection plan we offer includes a seasonal tune-up. Your heating system is one of the largest investments you make in your home, and the tune-up is key to keeping it performing at peak efficiency. That means you’ll burn fuel more efficiently and keep heating costs down. In dollars, that can add up to 10% savings on heating costs.
Regular system maintenance also protects the warranty on your heating equipment. Most heating and cooling equipment warranties require routine professional service as a precondition; skip your tune-up and your manufacturer’s warranty could be voided, leaving you to pay out of pocket for expenses that would have been covered.
An annual tune-up by a trained pro ensures small problems get corrected before they become expensive breakdowns. Regular maintenance also extends the life of your equipment—an investment you don’t want to have to make again too soon.
A service plan is more than just a seasonal tune-up. We offer a couple options to suit most budgets and provide the right level of protection based on your system, and your needs. For less than the cost of most repairs, our Economy Comfort plan offers generous discounts on parts and labor, including for emergency repairs. It’s ideal for keeping newer equipment running like new longer. For even more peace of mind, our Select Comfort service plans is more comprehensive. It covers parts and labor for nearly 70 repairs and 24/7 emergency service. It’s a smart choice for older systems that are more prone to breakdowns as they age.
Here’s what our equipment protection plans include:
The Select Comfort Service Plan:
The Economy Comfort Service Plan includes:
Whichever plan you choose, you’ll save money—even if you never have a problem with your equipment. In fact, keeping you trouble-free is the main idea of our service plans.
But, when you consider the cost of a single repair—on average, a furnace or boiler repair can cost between $300 and $400—there’s no smart argument against a service plan. Between the energy efficiency savings and the cost of a tune-up, a service plan pays for itself from the start. (Now is a smart time to get your tune-up, by the way.)
Contact us to learn more about our service plans. We’ll be happy to talk you through the options to find the best plan for you.
Ask a homeowner what they think their biggest energy expense is, and they’ll likely tell you it’s home heating. But the fact is, it’s water heating that can represent as much as 30% of energy bills, or even more.
When you consider that between bathing and showering, washing dishes, laundry, cleaning and other tasks, the typical American household is paying to heat between 60 and 65 gallons of hot water a day. It just makes sense to look for peak efficiency when it comes to heating water!
Any new water heater will be more efficient than older technology, but in addition to efficiency, you need to consider what’s powering that equipment. Some forms of energy are more efficient than others when it comes to heating water. Let’s detail some of that:
There are limited options if you want a high-efficiency electric water heater. One of the only types of electric water heater certified by Energy Star is a heat pump—also called hybrid-type— water heater. They’re more expensive to buy and install, and they aren’t ideal for long cold New Hampshire winters and short summers.
That’s because since they work by pulling heat from the surrounding air, so they’ll have to work a lot harder around here, which will end up costing you more money in energy expenditure. They also need a lot of space around them and need to be in an area of your home with a consistent temperature between 40 and 90 degrees. Really, the only reason to go with an electric heat pump model in northern New England is if you don’t have access to propane or gas readily available.
If you want choices, a propane water heater is the way to go. Propane generates more Btus than an equivalent amount of electricity, so you need much less propane to produce the same amount of heat or energy.
For example, propane water heaters generate much more hot water at a cheaper cost per gallon. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, homes that heat water with propane rather than electricity can see average annual savings of $174—or more!
And with propane, you can choose from more types of water heaters, without sacrificing efficiency.
A high-efficiency tank-type water heater is a more efficient version of the classic storage tank type. They use 10% to 20% less energy than their less-efficient cousins, which translates to as much as $140 in savings annually.
For even more efficiency, consider a high-efficiency tankless style. Tankless propane water heaters—also known as on-demand water heaters—instantly heat water when you need it, rather than keeping a large tank hot all the time. The result is virtually unlimited hot water!
While tankless models can be more expensive, all that efficiency means you’ll lowering your energy costs by as much as 40%. Because there’s no need for a large tank, they don’t require much space—considerably less room than a 55-gallon tank. Most are about the size of a suitcase.
They can also be wall-mounted, which means a tankless water heater can be placed just about anywhere in the house, including closets and crawl spaces. Finally, they are a good investment. Because it doesn’t store water, a tankless water heater will last 18 to 20 years on average. The primary culprit in the limited lifespan of a conventional water heater is the corrosive water stored in its tank.
If you’ve decided a propane water heater is the best choice for you, the pros at Pemi River Fuels have the experience and knowledge to help you select the right size and type of water heater for your home.
We offer top-quality models from Rinnai that help you maximize energy efficiency when heating your water—and can help you save with generous rebates. Contact us today to get started.
You probably haven’t thought about your oil tank in a while. After all, if it’s not empty, it shouldn’t even cross your mind. And in most cases, that’s perfectly fine! Heating oil tanks are built to last a long time. But eventually, they do need to be replaced.
Waiting until your tank fails is not the best way to find out it’s time to replace it. The hassle and expense of remediating an oil spill is a lot bigger than the cost of simply replacing an aging tank. Here are the telltale signs that your heating oil tank is leaking—or could start soon:
So how long should your oil storage last—and when should you think about getting a new one? The honest answer is “it depends.” A variety of factors can influence the lifespan of your heating oil tank including its age, the attention to routine maintenance, and the quality of its construction. The good news is that modern heating oil storage tanks have come a long way from designs of the past, offering virtually leak-proof performance for decades.
Also, the location of the connector valve can make a difference. Connectors at the bottom of the tank—instead of the side—typically last longer. Newer tanks are made from plastic and fiberglass and are designed to last 50 years or more.
Steel tanks are still available today, but they are built to a much higher standard than in the past. Using alternative construction materials such as fiberglass and polyethylene for the inner lining of double-walled tanks make them virtually leak-proof.
The bottom line is that a new heating oil tank costs far less than the expense of an oil spill or cleanup. If you think it’s time to replace your tank, contact the local professionals at Pemi River Fuels today to learn more about expert oil tank replacement, installation, and removal in Central New Hampshire.
The frigid temperatures of a New Hampshire winter can really give your furnace a workout. If you’ve never had your heating system conk out on a frigid February night, you probably never thought about how much repairs cost.
Heating equipment repairs can be expensive, especially if you need to replace a major part. On average, a furnace or boiler repair can cost between $300 and $400, and repairs to a water heater can run close to $600. With emergency service fees, charges can really add up.
That’s why so many Pemi River customers have a protection plan to help make sure an unexpected breakdown doesn’t bust your budget.
Every year we hear from customers who thought they were saving money by not getting a protection plan. But the real deal is that our plan will help you save money—even if you never have a problem with your equipment. In fact, keeping you trouble-free is the main idea of our protection plan!
It’s all about the tune-up. In addition to helping prevent breakdowns, regular maintenance by our trained professionals helps ensure your system is running at peak efficiency. That means you’ll burn fuel more efficiently, which keeps heating costs down. Regular maintenance also extends the life of your equipment—an investment you don’t want to have to make too soon.
One of the critical ways a tune-up protects your system is that it gives our technicians a chance to identify and correct small problems before they turn into expensive breakdowns.
Annual tune-ups also protect your warranty. Most heating equipment warranties require routine professional service as a precondition; skip your tune-up and your manufacturer’s warranty could be voided, leaving you to pay out of pocket for expenses that would have been covered!
If your system does break down, we’ve got a plan to keep you covered, all for less the cost of most repair jobs.
Our Economy Comfort Plan offers basic coverage:
Our Select Comfort Plan offers a little more coverage—and a little more peace of mind:
We also offer service plans for your water heater, too!
With over a half-century of experience taking care of the fuel delivery and heating equipment needs of homes and businesses in central New Hampshire, we know what’s important to our customers. We put personal service and reliability first.
We’re always happy to answer all your questions about our service plan and all the other great services we offer. Contact us today for more information.