Dear Friends,
If you’ve been at our headquarters on Devlin Road in Napa recently, you’ve probably noticed the progress we’ve been making with the construction of our Clean Fuels Plaza right next door. We expect to open the plaza this summer.
True to its name, the Clean Fuels Plaza will provide a full range of clean-burning fuels, including propane Autogas, diesel, liquid natural gas and compressed natural gas. There will also be a Tesla super-charging station, which can get your electric vehicle 80% charged in just 20 minutes! You’ll also find a convenience store and a retail fueling station at the plaza.
Besides this exciting project, we have expanded our product line to include propane powered irrigation engines for our agricultural customers as well as Kohler stand-by propane generators for homes, businesses, farms and wineries.
Available in 8.5 kW to 100 kW output capacities, Kohler generators feature an automatic transfer switch that starts the generator to restore electricity within seconds of a power loss.
You can trust the installation experts at Allied Propane Service to install your generator with care and professionalism. Why rely on noisy, noxious portable gasoline generators when there’s a clean, quiet, energyefficient — and more powerful — solution available?
Please contact us today to learn more.
Warmly,
Dustin Kaiser
Operations Manager
Q: How does a Rinnai tankless water heater make hot water?
A: You simply turn on a hot-water faucet. A flow sensor will activate a propane gas burner to heat the water. The heating will continue until you turn off the faucet, at which point the gas burner shuts off.
Q: Why is this better than a water tank?
A: Tankless systems are “on demand,” so they heat water only when it’s needed. This eliminates standby losses that occur in systems with hot water storage tanks like the typical electric water heater. That’s why tankless units can save you about $150 per year in energy costs compared with a typical electric storage water.* Plus, the life span of tankless water heaters is usually twice that of standard tank water heaters.
*U.S Environmental Protection Agency.
Why wait for fall to prepare for the chillier weather? Here are four wise moves to make now that can really pay off later.
- Enroll in our Budget Pay plan so you can spread your fuel costs for up to 12 months, instead of paying us in full every time you get a delivery.
- Upgrade to a high-efficiency propane furnace to lower heating costs and make your home more comfortable.
- Get plenty of hot water and save on energy costs by upgrading to a propane tankless water heater.
- Switch to automatic deliveries and virtually eliminate the risk of running out of fuel.
To learn more, please call us or contact us today.
Propane enhances your comfort in ways that other fuels cannot! This American-made fuel is clean-burning, safe, economical and highly efficient, whether you use it inside or outside your home. What’s not to like?
Make the most of the great outdoors
No other fuel can do as much as propane can to make spending time in your backyard a pleasant experience. And thanks to modern advances in flexible piping, you can now extend your use of propane to a wide range of outdoor products, even refrigerators and fireplaces!
Among the most popular trends today are “outdoor rooms,” particularly kitchens that feature everything from high-end grills to cooktops, ovens and rotisseries.
Also hot in 2016 are propane-fueled fire bowls, which allow you to enjoy a cozy fire year-round. A large one can be used as a centerpiece for your yard, or you can set up a series of small ones around the pool or at the entry of your home to wow your party guests. Many models have ignition systems that can be turned on and off with a smartphone or tablet.
Summer safety tips
Summertime means backyard barbecues, lounging in your pool and hanging out with friends on your patio or deck. That’s the fun part. Summer also means being prepared for violent storms that could knock out your power and damage your property. Here are a few tips to help you cope with extreme weather this summer.
- Discuss an emergency plan with your family — including instructions on how to turn off propane systems during a power outage.
- Once the storm passes, check your appliances for water or other damage. Never turn on a light switch, use a power source or inspect your appliances while you are standing in water. You run the risk of electrocution.
- Ask us to inspect your appliances if you believe they have been damaged.
- If you have a separate tank for your propane generator, check it today and call us for a fill-up if necessary. You never want a power outage to occur and discover that you don’t have enough fuel to run your generator.
- Don’t operate your outdoor appliances and generators in enclosed spaces — you run the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
- If you smell propane in your home, leave your house immediately and call for help.
Propane water heaters: clean and efficient
Did you know that clean-burning, efficient propane is much friendlier to the environment than electricity? Comparing the effects of a propane tankless water heater with those of a standard electric water heater can really help you appreciate the difference.
When you use a propane tankless unit to heat your water, very little fuel is wasted in the combustion process.
When you use an electric water heater, about two-thirds of the energy used by a power plant to generate and transmit the electricity goes to waste.
That’s why propane tankless water heaters overall produce about 50% fewer carbon emissions than an electric water heater with a storage tank.
With a tankless water heater, you’ll also prevent the wasteful “standby losses” you get with the typical water heater with a tank.
Please contact us to learn more about the many ways you can use environmentally friendly propane at home. We’ll be glad to answer your questions and share expert advice.
What is your water heater telling you?
Studies have shown that 7 out of 10 water heater failures are caused by a tank bursting or failing. If you notice a slow leak from your tank, this means you’re headed for trouble. In most cases, a slow leak indicates that your tank has become weakened by corrosion.
The average water heater lasts anywhere from 7 to 13 years. A lot depends on the quality of the unit itself, but water quality in your area is important too. Hard water, which has a high mineral content, can shorten the life of a water heater.
other trouble signs
- If it takes longer to heat water than it used to, or the water doesn’t get as hot, it’s a good sign you are ready for a new unit.
- Look for rust on the tank or in your tap water. (A water tank rusts from the inside out.)
There are many different options available today, including propane tankless/on-demand water heaters. Please contact us if you would like to learn which water heating option might be best for you and your family.
The best thing to do if you notice a leak is to turn the tank’s water supply valve to the off position and then get it inspected as soon as possible.
Almost all of the propane that we use is made in America, and most of it comes from the production of natural gas. When we take natural gas out of the earth, it is a mix of different gases. One of these gases is propane.
Natural gas can only get to your home through an underground pipeline. If something goes wrong with that pipeline, you can’t get any gas. Propane gas is easier to move around because it gets compressed until it turns into a liquid. It is then put inside tanks and we can deliver it right to your home.
When you turn on an appliance, the propane gets released slowly and safely from the tank and goes through a valve, which is when the liquid propane turns into a gas again. At that point, it’s similar to natural gas, again, but it can be used for many different applications, in homes, in businesses and on farms and wineries.
We value all feedback we get from our customers and use it to improve our service. But when you say great things, we like to share it with everyone.
“Fair pricing, prompt service, excellent parts support, and a genuine willingness to provide training, guidance and technical support are the cornerstones of what Allied Propane Service is all about.”
— Bob Colpitts, Retired GSE Maint. Mgr., United Airlines
(United has been a customer for more than 30 years)
“In the winery business, we worry about a lot of things. However, with the dependability and service we receive from Allied, our propane service is one thing we never have to worry about.”
— Sally & Fred Schweiger, Schweiger Vineyard & Winery
(customers since 1992)
Did you know that propane grills are a much healthier and more environmentally friendly way to cook your food?
Research shows that cooking on a charcoal grill can lead to as much as 105 times more carbon monoxide being produced when compared with propane.
Besides producing much fewer emissions, propane grills greatly reduce your exposure to carcinogens that end up in your food when grilling. Charcoal grills create more smoke and burn hotter, leading to the formation of toxins that have been linked to some cancers.
Here are tips to ensure that your grilled meat is the safest it can be:
- trim excess fat before cooking
- marinate your meat with rosemary (studies show that this significantly reduces toxins; marinades with garlic, onion and lemon juice are also recommended)
- flip the meat frequently when cooking
We wish you happy, safe and healthy outdoor cooking this year with your propane grill!