Like you, I cannot remember a time quite like the one we are living in. Social distancing. Quarantine. Flattening the curve. These are phrases we are all familiar with now. As glimmers of hope appear on the horizon, my deepest hope is that you are weathering the storm and that you and your family are well.
Our employees have really stepped up in response to the current challenge, once again demonstrating their commitment to your comfort and safety. We have adopted strict safeguards when dealing with our customers; our technicians will wear a mask and gloves at all times when inside your home, and they will adhere to strict social distancing guidelines.
When you are spending so much more time at home, you are ‘using’ your house more, and the cracks can begin to show. Heating and AC systems that run more than usual during the day can break down. Little annoyances can become problems — like an old water heater that starts running out of hot water.
No matter what issue you may encounter while you are at home, Ace-Robbins is here for you and ready to help. While we have changed the way we handle some things in response to the pandemic, we are more than up to the challenge, and our commitment to servicing your home comfort needs is stronger than ever.
Stay safe and be well.
Sincerely,
Abe Kukuchka
Director of Distribution
Karen Bishop joined us in January, bringing with her many years of customer service experience. She’s on the phone all day with customers who need a service appointment, a tune-up or a fuel delivery. Sometimes folks call Karen to tell her they have run out of fuel (something that can be avoided by signing up for automatic delivery). Karen wants to remind propane customers who prefer to call for their deliveries that they should always do so before the gauge on their tank reaches the 30% mark.
The warmer winter gave homeowners a break on heating costs. Overall, our customers spent a lot less on fuel than they did last winter.
Ace-Robbins has been looking after the energy needs of our neighbors for more than 75 years, and we are constantly looking for ways to lower your costs. One way to save is with a service plan, which not only keeps your system in good working order but keeps your fuel costs down.
Whether you use heating oil or propane, it pays to enroll in EZ Pay, which levels out your monthly payments and gives you a 15¢-per-gallon discount (We also offer senior citizen discounts, by the gallon.) Set up automatic payments with electronic funds transfer (EFT) and we’ll also give you a $25 fuel credit.
We’ve got lots of ideas about how you can lower the cost of your home comfort, so please contact us today if you’d like to learn more.
We take pride in delivering two safe, reliable, highly efficient and environmentally friendly fuels to our customers. You can feel good about propane and heating oil — here’s why.
Propane helps fuel your lifestyle, saves you money, keeps your home comfortable and adds convenience to your daily life. But did you know that it is also considered one of the greenest fuels?
Please contact us if you would like to help the environment by expanding your use of propane.
Did you know that propane water heaters cost 30% to 60% less to operate than electric water heaters? A propane water heater has a lower cost of maintenance and lasts years longer than its electric counterparts. If you want an easy way to raise the value of your home, switch to a propane water heater! A tankless model especially is highly desirable to home buyers, as it will improve your LEED and home energy rating scores (HERS).
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 than with a propane grill.
A typical charcoal grill also produces an astonishing 11 pounds of carbon dioxide per hour, or twice as much as a propane grill. (An electric grill does even worse, producing 15 pounds of carbon dioxide per hour).*
Besides producing much lower emissions levels, 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.
* When tested at 35,000 BTUs per hour, based on a study by Tristram West, a researcher with the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Many states, including ours, have been adopting alternative-energy incentive programs, resulting in more school districts purchasing propane autogas buses.
According to a recent study by West Virginia University’s Center for Alternative Fuels, Engines and Emissions, propane autogas is a proven way to dramatically decrease oxides of nitrogen emissions in communities.* The positive effects become especially powerful when propane-powered school buses replace old diesel-powered buses.
School districts have gained enormous fuel savings by using propane autogas instead of more expensive diesel fuel. Kids are also benefitting from a healthier ride to and from school, because buses fueled by propane autogas emit far fewer emissions.
In terms of fuel and maintenance costs, schools can save an average of $3,000 to $5,000 per bus.
The Propane Education and Research Council estimates that if all diesel school buses across the United States were switched over to propane-fueled buses, the savings would be enough to cover the cost of hiring 23,000 teachers.
Forward-thinking industry leaders have embraced an impressive vision for oil heat. They are driving the engines of progress and creating a brighter future for the industry — and for oil heat customers too. Stay with oil heat and enjoy the ride!
Here’s a great example. More than 300 leaders from the heating oil industry unanimously passed a resolution to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2050. This ambitious goal was established at the Northeast Industry Summit last September.
The resolution calls for:
Net-zero emissions will make heating oil a carbon-neutral energy source, with a carbon footprint of zero. The recently passed resolution means that is the expectation for the entire heating oil industry within 30 years.
To achieve the targets adopted by the Northeast Industry Summit resolution, every heating oil retailer in the region must do its part to provide adequate blends of Bioheat with clean, ultra-low-sulfur fuel.
Bioheat is a gallon-for-gallon substitute for petroleum-based fuels, including the heating oil you use to keep your home warm. It’s a nontoxic, biodegradable, renewable fuel, produced from agricultural byproducts, including used cooking oil, animal fats, inedible corn oil, soybean oil and canola oil. Bioheat reduces greenhouse gas emissions significantly — by 52% to 86% — and no modifications to your existing heating system are necessary.
Propane is one of the most versatile fuels available, and Ace-Robbins has helped many customers maximize its use in their homes. In addition to high-efficiency heating systems, propane can be used for cooking, to heat water, to dry clothes, and to put a pleasant glow in the fireplace — not to mention its many uses outside the house for grilling, patio heating and more.
In many cases, of the backup generators that you see next to homes are also powered by propane. These units protect you during outages by automatically switching on to ensure that you keep the comforts of home.
Many customers use heating oil and propane. If you’re curious about adding propane to your home energy mix, please let us know today and we’ll be glad to tell you more about it.
We can evaluate your home and determine the best type of unit for your needs, then install your system in just a day or two. Contact us to set up an appointment for a no-obligation consultation.
Imagine a sweltering day in August, in the middle of a heat wave. Suddenly, your air conditioning stops working. You can greatly reduce the chances of this happening by making sure your system is ready for summer before you need it with our air conditioning tune-up service.
Schedule your service today, and a technician will come to your home and clean your condenser coils, check the coolant level, inspect ductwork, check your blower belt and much more. In short, we will cover all the bases to make sure your system is ready for the rigors of summer.
A tune-up not only helps you avoid problems; it saves you money too. A well-tuned system is more efficient, which translates into lower costs.
Spring is an ideal time to consider our Cooling Maintenance Plan, which includes your annual tune-up, a discount on repairs and priority service. If you participate in our EZ Pay Plan, we can roll the cost into your monthly payment.
No matter what you decide, remember that our goal is to deliver real value for you every day, and we are committed to your comfort in spring, summer and all year round.
Spring cleanup? Renovation project? Pre-move cleanout? If you’re looking for a reliable, responsible way to dispose of bulk waste from your business or home, Ace-Robbins has the answer: our Prohauling dumpster rental service.
Choose from junk and garbage removal bins in sizes from 10 yards to 40 yards, with safe, professional dropoff, and pickup in 7 to 10 days. Dumpsters are designed to fit in most driveways and all feature a back gate that swings open for easy loading.
Not sure what size you need? No problem — just call Prohauling at 570-240-6010 and we’ll help you choose!
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the nurses, doctors, first responders, police, truckers, garbage collectors, grocery workers and other essential workers who put their own safety at risk every day to help others. Thanks also to our teachers, who are doing their very best to help kids learn while they are home.
