As our area recovers from the strongest earthquake since 1989, our thoughts go out to the many families and businesses that suffered damages. The quake affected nearly half of our customers, and we fielded hundreds of calls from people concerned about their gas lines and propane storage tanks. Our team worked long hours to get to everyone so we could check their lines and tanks and make sure they stayed safe in their homes.
After the cold winter, the losses from the earthquake have only compounded the challenges faced by our many agricultural customers, along with the business community at large. Just as we worked hard to help our customers protect crops and vines from unexpected cold, we have taken all of the steps necessary to do whatever we can to help with the earthquake recovery.
That goes for all our customers: Your safety is always our number one concern. We can help you add safety measures for your equipment and assist with other preparations so you can be ready for the next geological disruption.
Remember, we are always here for you and are happy to answer any questions you may have about your comfort and safety.
Warmly,
Dustin Kaiser
Operations Manager
Enter our latest contest for your chance to win an iPad Mini!
Read this newsletter and answer the questions you’ll find on our contest page here.
All entries received by January 15, 2015, with the correct answers will be entered into a drawing for an iPad Mini.
No purchase necessary. A purchase will not improve chance of winning.
Propane is a remarkably safe fuel! But when times get tough — either because of tight supply, cold weather or high prices — many people tend to cut corners, often failing to follow proper safety guidelines. To help prevent some common mistakes, we’ve included important safety reminders on these pages.
Leave any repairs to us
It’s always tempting to save a few bucks by doing as many home repairs as possible. However, your home repair list should never include doing work on any gas appliance. That’s true whether it’s a stove, a dryer, a water heater or a furnace. Those are jobs that should always be left to a professional!
Every year, a few explosions occur because nonprofessionals tried to make repairs on gas appliances in their homes.
Please! Do not under any circumstances try to modify or repair valves, regulators, connectors, controls or other appliance and cylinder/tank parts. An improperly connected tank or appliance can cause a gas leak. If you want to move your tank, leave that to us.
As you can guess, gas appliances are complicated. That’s why we invest a great deal of time and money on training our technicians—to be sure they are prepared to diagnose and fix virtually any type of propane appliance in your home.
So if your gas appliance needs a repair, the only “tool” you should pick up is the phone. One of our certified and highly trained technicians will come to your home, size up the situation and get your appliance safely repaired.
And if you plan to add more propane appliances to your home, please call us so our experts can ensure that your new equipment is installed properly.
IF you smell propane…
If you smell gas, don’t take any chances. After only the quickest glance at the on/off knobs on your stove (to see if that’s the source of the problem), open a window or two as you quickly exit the house with your family. Do not smoke or operate lights, appliances, telephones or cell phones. Go to a safe location where you can report the problem to us. You should also call 911 to report the leak.
5 ways we look after you
- Always there for you.
Our staff is ready to respond with fast service whenever you need us. We always have enough drivers and trucks, and our vehicles are maintained properly, so we can get to you no matter what the weather conditions are. - Training and more training.
We invest in ongoing and extensive training for our employees. This ensures that when we do work for you, we get the job done right the first time. Our training program also means you will get accurate information and a courteous response from our office staff. - Honest and fair pricing.
Some companies will quote you one price on the phone, but as soon as they install a tank, they suprise you by tacking big fees on to their delivery bill. We never play that type of game! - Convenient payment options.
We understand that heating bills can be a big burden, so we offer flexible payment options for qualified customers to lighten the load for you during winter. - Secure fuel supply.
We have never been without fuel, so we are always able to take care of our customers.
Be on guard against carbon monoxide leaks
Most cases of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning occur during the flu season, which typically begins in the fall. Because many CO poisoning symptoms mimic the flu—fatigue, dizziness, nausea—most people initially don’t recognize the danger of the situation.
That’s why it’s important to have carbon monoxide detectors in your home—especially in your bedrooms. If the detector sounds an alarm, ventilate the home with fresh air right away. If you feel dizzy or drowsy, leave the house immediately.
Identifying carbon monoxide leaks can sometimes be complex because there are various causes, including:
- operating unvented appliances for long periods of time
- a heating system that’s out of adjustment or damaged
- backdrafts caused by pressure imbalances near the heating appliance
- leaving a vehicle idling in an attached garage
- running a gasoline-powered generator in a basement or attached garage
- a blocked flue
All of these situations could set off a CO detector, but conditions can change by the time a technician arrives, which makes a diagnosis difficult. Help us by sharing as much information as possible so the source of the problem can be identified correctly.
Do we have your email address? Don’t worry: We’re not looking to bombard you with sales pitches. But we do want an efficient and fast way to send you alerts or important messages, especially when there is an emergency affecting the community, like the earthquake last summer.
When we can connect with everyone with one common email, it means we can keep the phone lines open and focus on taking care of everyone who needs immediate assistance.
Please send us your email address by January 31, 2015, and we’ll say thank you by entering you in a drawing to win a $50 gift card! You can email us at contest@alliedprogas.com to get started.
Propane is an extremely safe fuel, but as you already know, an earthquake changes everything: gas lines and storage tanks can be damaged, resulting in unsafe conditions.
With that in mind, here are a few recommendations from your friends at Allied Propane Service:
- Keep the area around your storage tank clear of any debris, and remove any tall or heavy objects nearby that could potentially fall and damage your tank.
- It’s a good idea to anchor or brace your tank to keep it from shifting; we can do this for you.
- We can install a seismic valve that will automatically shut off the gas flow to your house during an earthquake.
You can find more propane safety tips on our website. Please call us at any time with questions.
We’ve moved to a new location at 1700 N. First Street in Dixon. Our new facility allows us to offer you expanded services for your convenience — you can now bring your cylinders here for fast fill-ups or for recertification.
While you’re getting more propane, take a few minutes to check out our showroom. You’ll find a range of outdoor heating and cooking appliances, including grills, smokers, fire pits and patio heaters. You’ll also find equipment and gear for boating, RVs and camping.
Our showroom staff will be happy to show you how to create your dream outdoor kitchen and patio. We provide complete gas piping design-and-installation services for built-in barbecues and fireplaces.
We also carry top-quality products from Lava Heat Italia, Mr. Heater, TEC Infrared Grills, Camp Chef and many others. Find out more by visiting the Outdoor Heating and Cooking Specialists page.