If you use propane gas appliances in your Pennsylvania home, you can rest easy knowing that you’re using one of the safest fuels around.

A big reason why propane is so safe is because its fuel’s use, delivery and handling are very tightly regulated by federal, state, local, and industry rules; several of those regulations are related to propane leak tests.

Propane Leak Tests: Why Do You Need Them?

To understand why leak tests are needed for your propane system, you first have to understand some basics about how propane equipment works.

Propane systems use plumbing pipes to connect the main supply of propane (your propane tank) to appliances in your home. Propane gas is forced through these pipes, creating pressure on pipe fittings and the hardening compounds that seal them. As gas pressure varies, pipes joints and seals weaken; over time, this could lead to a gas leak. A leak test checks the integrity of these joints and seals.

When Do I Need A Propane Leak Test?

Federal law requires propane leak tests to be performed any time there is an interruption of service – that is, any time the flow of gas has stopped for any reason.

As NFPA 54 (2006), 8.2.3 states,

Immediately after the gas is turned on into a new system or into a system that has been initially restored after an interruption of service, the piping system shall be tested for leakage. If leakage is indicated, the gas supply shall be shut off until the necessary repairs have been made.

In other words, this means that a leak test must be performed:

• Any time you install propane equipment
• Any time you begin new propane service or change residence
• After an interruption of service for repairs, equipment shut-off/disconnect, etc.
• After a fuel runout
• If a leak is suspected
• If service has been suspended due to an unpaid account balance

If any of the above applies, then a leak/pressure test – performed by a licensed, qualified professional – is required before a propane delivery can be attempted.

Avoiding Unnecessary Propane Leak Tests

The most common reason customers why customers need a leak test is because they run out of gas. For this reason, we recommend taking the following steps to reduce the likelihood of a propane run-out:

• If you are a will call customer, keep a close eye on fuel levels; contact us for a propane delivery when the tank is no less than one-quarter full, especially during cold weather.
• Strongly consider enrolling in automatic propane delivery from Ace-Robbins. With automatic delivery, we will estimate your delivery time based on past usage and the current weather. levels and schedule deliveries to make sure you never run out of propane.
• Install a propane tank monitor. If you want a fool-proof way to avoid propane run-outs, let Ace-Robbins install a propane tank monitor, which alerts us automatically when you’re nearing the end of your propane supply.

Need a propane equipment inspection in northeastern Pennsylvania? We can help. Contact Ace-Robbins today for licensed propane service and propane deliveries in Wyoming County PA!

A propane fireplace can be a great source of cozy comfort during a Pennsylvania winter– and with most of us spending more time than usual at home this year, a little comfort can go a long way.

But before you start firing up your hearth on the daily, it’s a good idea to make sure it’s running safely and reliably. Here are some tips for doing that.

1. Re-visit the manual – If it’s been a while since you used your fireplace or propane gas log set, give the user’s manual a once-over – just in case.
2. Clear your exhaust vents – Leaves, branches, and other debris can get into your fireplace vent during the offseason; be sure to clear it to avoid having a fire or carbon monoxide hazard in your home.
3. Inspect the glass of your insert – If you have an enclosed fireplace insert, check the casing for cracks or chips; the enclosure helps keep harmful gases out of your living space. Make sure the glass closes securely and operates properly.
4. Clean the logs – The ceramic decorative logs in your propane gas log set can get dusty in the offseason, which could cause an unpleasant burning smell when you start a fire. When cleaning a propane gas log set,
• Make sure your propane gas valve is closed before performing any work or cleaning
• Photograph your logs so you can return them to their exact positions
• Use a handheld vacuum and/or microfiber cloth to remove dust
• Return logs to their original position.
5. Clean the blower – If your fireplace insert or propane fireplace has a fan or blower, use a vacuum or duster to clear away any excess dust.
6. Check the pilot Light – If your fireplace has a pilot light (rather than an electronic ignition), inspect it visually; if the flame burns yellow, you could have a leak; contact us for service.
7. Schedule professional maintenance – Like any fuel-burning appliance, a propane gas fireplace should be maintained by a professional every year to keep it running safely and efficiently.

The best way to do that? Add propane fireplace coverage to your Ace-Robbins Propane Preventative Maintenance Plan. Coverage includes equipment inspection and cleaning, efficiency and leak checks, and more – contact us for details.

Make your home a place of peace and comfort this fall with a propane gas fireplace –installed and maintained by the pros at Ace-Robbins. Contact us today to learn more! about propane fireplace installations and propane fireplace maintenance in southeastern PA!

When people ask us why they should choose Ace-Robbins for their propane deliveries or heating oil deliveries, to service heating equipment and cooling equipment, or to install appliances in their home, the answer is simple: because we are committed to providing the best customer experience available in our Pennsylvania service area.

We know that part of that a big part of that experience happens online – especially these days – which is why we’ve launched our beautiful new website!

We’ve made our new site cleaner, faster-loading, easier to use, and even more filled with content about great services like Prohauling, our air conditioning service plans, and more. With tools like our online My Account page, it’s now easier than to do business with us – and to benefit from our help and expertise.

Of course, our blog is still cranking out money saving tips and tricks, so please bookmark this page to find new ways to save money, stay comfortable, and keep your business on the move all year round.

Enjoy our new website, and thanks again for choosing Ace-Robbins!

We love automatic heating oil and propane delivery – it’s a great (and FREE) way to simplify your heating season and avoid the hassle, expense, and possible dangers of a fuel run-out.

But an automatic fuel delivery service will never be a perfect solution because it relies on estimates – specifically, how much propane or oil you’ve used in similar months in the past, how much propane an average home your size in our southeastern PA service area uses, and how cold the weather is (measured in “degree days”).

Unexpected Fuel Use

As you’d probably imagine with all that (educated) guesswork going on, automatic delivery works great IF you use an average amount of fuel in a given heating cycle. But what if you don’t?

What if you’ve added a room to your home, or installed a larger furnace or boiler since your average was last calculated? What if your aging parent, who likes the house warm, has moved in with you – or if you installed a propane hearth and didn’t let us know? In those scenarios (and many others), your estimates will probably be off, putting you at risk for a run out.

The good news is there is a way to manage your propane and oil deliveries that removes all possibilities of an unexpected empty tank: install a tank monitor.

What Is A Tank Monitor?

A tank monitor is a device mounted to your tank that keeps up-to-the-minute track of how much fuel is in your tank. That information automatically transmits to our delivery teams (and to you, via a smart phone app) so everyone is up to date on when you need your next fuel delivery. If your fuel use rises or drops, everyone will know it instantly and respond quickly so you’ll never run out.

It’s the future of propane delivery for your Pennsylvania home – brought to you now, for a nominal fee, by the pros at Ace-Robbins.

Want to learn more about oil and propane tank monitoring in southeastern PA – or any of our other convenient fuel delivery services for your home or business? Contact Ace-Robbins today!

Two High Efficiency Appliances In One

A traditional water heater (one with a storage tank) has an average lifespan of about 10 years – so if your water heater is entering or into its second decade, you will probably need to replace it sooner than later.

The question is should you replace it another storage-type water heater model, or something smarter?

Tankless propane water heaters are all the rage these days, and they are a great option that can save you 30 percent or more on your water heating bills. But there could be an even more interesting (and effective) way to go if you also have an older boiler that’s in need of an upgrade: an Energy Kinetics System 2000.

A Unique 2-in-1 Solution

As you may know, a boiler’s job is to heat water that gets pushed through pipes and into your household radiators and baseboards (some boilers take things a step further by heating the water to even higher temperatures, converting it to steam). Either way, this process generates a lot of heat to keep your home comfortable in the cool to frigid fall, winter, and spring months.

What the Energy Kinetics engineers and designers asked – smartly – was, “if the boiler is making all that heat anyway, why not use it to warm the household water, too? “

And that’s just what the System 2000 does.

Free Hot Water During Heating Season – And More

By combining home heating and water heating duties into one powerful, super-efficient, whisper-quiet package, the System 2000 essentially heats your water for free whenever your boiler is working. When you consider that your water bill can account for nearly 20 percent of your monthly energy bill, that’s a pretty big deal.

But the energy savings doesn’t stop there: the unique design approach of the System 2000 reduces chimney, jacket, idle, and draft regulator loss to gain even more efficiency. With such a powerful heating element, it will also heat your water faster than a conventional boiler will – and it runs quieter than just about any system we install.

Our manufacturer-certified technicians install and service these great units every year, so they’ll know exactly what to do to get the most out of a System 2000 system in your home. They’ll install the unit quickly and correctly, with no repeat visits.

Interested in learning more about System 2000 installations in Wyoming County, PA? Contact the heating experts at Ace-Robbins today for a FREE, no obligation estimate!

With all that’s going on in our lives these days, it’s easy to forget to take care of some pretty important stuff – like checking the gauge on our heating oil or propane tank.

The problem during is that you are probably using fuel more quickly than you realize, especially when a Pennsylvania cold front moves in – and without keeping a close eye on your fuel levels, you could easily run out.

It goes without saying that being without heat in the middle of winter is no fun, but it’s not the only problem that can result from a fuel run-out: in an oil-fired system, for example, sludge from the bottom of your tank can clog filters and fuel lines, damaging your equipment. If you run out of propane gas, your system automatically shuts down and must be professionally restarted and pressure tested – all at your expense. You could also end up with a propane leak – or frozen pipes resulting from a no-heat emergency.

The bottom line is you definitely want to avoid a fuel run-out. The good news is there are ways to reduce – or even eliminate – the chances of that happening.

Preventing Fuel Run-outs

• Keep an eye out – If you’re a will call customer, monitor your fuel gauge regularly, especially during a cold snap; order when your tank is no less than 25 percent full (sooner if it is really cold). Don’t wait until the last minute – emergency deliveries cost more and immediate service is not always possible. If you want a better option, switch to FREE automatic delivery (see #2 below) and let us keep track of your fuel deliveries for you.
• Keep us in the loop – If you’re an automatic delivery customer, be sure to let us know if anything has changed in your home life compared to previous years; our automatic delivery schedule is based on your average past use, taking into account the current weather, so if something has changed that would affect how much fuel you use (say, if someone moved home that wasn’t there in the past, or if you added an appliance or square footage to your home), please let us know.
• Consider a tank monitor – Want the ultimate peace of mind for your fuel deliveries? Sign up for tank monitoring service from Ace-Robbins. We’ll install a simple device that will let us see, in real time, exactly how much propane or heating oil is in your tank – that way we can schedule your delivery when you need it. No more guesswork or estimates!

Responding To A Fuel Run-out

• Take immediate steps to retain whatever heat you have in your house: close curtains, block under-door drafts, hang blankets over doorways, etc.
• If you have other ways to heat your space, such as fireplace, propane space heater, or electric heater, use them.
• NEVER use outdoor equipment (barbecues, outdoor stoves, etc.) indoors – carbon monoxide build up can be extremely dangerous or even deadly.
• Contact us for an emergency heating oil or propane delivery at 802.644.2749.

Getting low on heating oil or propane? We’ve got both standing by. Contact us today to become an Ace-Robbins customer and get reliable propane and heating oil deliveries in Tunkhannock, PA!

Don’t let the extended summer temperatures fool you – cold nights are on their way to PA! Here are five things you can do to prepare your Wyoming County home as the mercury drops – and save a few bucks along the way.

Winter Home Efficiency Checklist

1. Weatherize – If you’re not sealing leaks around your house, more than 20 percent of the air you paid to heat could be going out the window (or the door, or attic walls…you get the picture). For less than $50 worth of materials, you could save you hundreds of dollars in heating bills this fall and winter.
2. Consider adding insulation, especially in your attic – Insulation is one of the best bang-for-the-buck investments you can make in your home from an energy efficiency standpoint. Most homeowners under-apply insulation, especially in their attic – are you one of them?
3. Sign up for an Ace-Robbins Service Plan – Investing in a high-value Ace-Robbins Service Plan that covers your routine heating system maintenance will pay off now (with lower energy bills and greater comfort) and later (with fewer heating repairs and longer lasting equipment). Professional heating service may even be a requirement for your warranty coverage, so make sure you do it!
4. Sign up for Automatic Delivery – Running out of heating oil or propane isn’t fun – but you can significantly reduce the chance of that happening by signing up for FREE Automatic Fuel Delivery from Ace-Robbins. Want to eliminate the chance of fuel run-outs altogether? Sign up for tank monitoring service; for a nominal fee, we’ll know exactly how much fuel is in your tank at all times, so we can schedule a delivery when you need it.
5. Consider replacing your older heating system – Upgrading to a new, high-efficiency furnace or boiler could save you 30 percent or more on your monthly heating bill; with that kind of savings, the new equipment could pay for itself in as little as three years.

Contact Ace-Robbins today and get ready for this heating season with Service Plans, automatic fuel delivery and more!

Automatic delivery is a great way to take the worry of managing your heating oil and propane supply, which can help you prevent costly and inconvenient fuel run-outs.

But as you might already know, your automatic delivery schedule is derived from computer estimates, based on a combination of your past usage and the current weather, measured in “degree days.” As sophisticated as our computer models are, they can’t account for significant changes your lifestyle that might affect how much fuel use.

That’s why we need to hear from you!

Changes That Effect Fuel Use

If something significant has changed in your house or your home life since last heating season that might affect how much oil or propane you use, PLEASE LET US KNOW ASAP. For example, let us know if:

• You’re home more than usual, with the heat turned up more often than in the recent past (true of many of us this year)
• You’re planning to stay at a second home for all or part of the fall and winter
• Someone has moved into or out of your home
• A tenant has moved in or left their apartment
• A long-term guest has arrived or intends to leave
• You plan to remodel or have already put an addition on your Pennsylvania home

If any of these life changes have happened for you since last heating season, please let us know so we can adjust your propane or heating oil delivery schedule!

If you’re planning or have made changes like these to your home life, please let us know so we can adjust your automatic heating oil deliveries or propane deliveries to your Tunkhannock, PA-area home. And remember: for reliable heating oil and propane deliveries in central and southeastern PA, nobody beats the pros at Ace-Robbins!

Many Pennsylvania homeowners turn to either propane gas or heating oil furnaces and boilers heat their homes. Both fuels will keep your house warm, and both will do the job better than electricity-based system in virtually every way.

However, if it’s time to replace an older heating system – or to install one in a newly-built house – it pays to consider the pros and cons of each.

Here is a quick guide to some of the bigger ones:

Propane heating pros

• Propane gas is generally less expensive per gallon than heating oil
• Propane equipment runs more efficiently than heating oil equipment
• When burned, propane does not produce significant carbon dioxide; in fact propane is approved as a “clean fuel” by the US Government
• Because propane burns clean, propane heating equipment requires less maintenance and last longer than heating oil-based equipment
• Propane is nontoxic and nonpoisonous, so it doesn’t contaminate groundwater or soil if it leaks – which means propane tanks can be safely buried out of sight
• Propane gas boilers and furnaces can be vented through regular PVC pipe through the roof or a wall rather than through a traditional chimney
• Propane tanks can have significantly larger capacities than heating oil tanks – which means fewer deliveries are needed; it also allows buyers to “stock up” on propane gas when prices are favorable
• Propane can also be used to power other appliances such as ranges and water heaters – all from the same fuel source

Propane heating cons

• Propane produces fewer BTUs per gallon than oil heating
• Propane-burning equipment often costs more to purchase than heating oil-based systems
• Propane is combustible in air, so precautions are needed to operate the equipment safely

Oil heating pros

• Heating oil has a higher BTU output per gallon and is used up more slowly than propane; this could mean you will pay less to heat your house with heating oil, even if the per gallon cost of propane is less
• Equipment generally costs less to purchase

Oil heating cons

• Heating oil tanks – especially older steel-lined ones – are susceptible to leaks, which can be extremely costly to clean up – an expense that is often not covered by home owner’s insurance
• Most heating oil comes from offshore sources, which means its price is subject to international market forces and is therefore more volatile than propane
• When burned, heating oil produces much more carbon dioxide gas than propane
• Oil furnaces need to be cleaned more frequently than propane furnaces – a service you pay for
• In most homes that are heated by oil, other appliances (such as water heaters, ranges, and clothes dryers) are run by electricity, which is not as efficient as propane.

The bottom line

If you’re a heating oil customer with an aging heating system thinking about making the switch to propane, there are many reasons to do it – but it’s going to take careful consideration to make the right call.

If you want to explore whether converting your home system to propane makes sense, give us a call – we’ve had years of experience making the switch for PA homeowners and can walk you through your options so you can make the best call for you. If you’re considering either of these fuel options for a newly-built home, we can help you make that decision, too.

Thinking about switching the heating fuel in your Wyoming County home, or choosing one for your new home? We can help you make the right choice! Contact us today to learn more.

It’s been a unique summer this year, with most of us home more than usual and turning to our home and outdoor space for sanity and staycation time.

But soon summer 2020 will be over – unless you extend it with the power of propane.

Propane Help Outside

Propane outdoor living appliances can stretch your summer by a month or more – good news as the days get shorter and the nights get cooler here in Wyoming County. Here are just some of the possibilities for using propane in your outdoor entertainment area:

• Propane patio heaters – From full-size standing models to portable units, you can find the right-sized heater to keep any porch, patio, or pergola warm well into October.
• Propane grills – When it comes to grilling, nothing beats propane for convenience, precision temperature control and efficiency. Make a built-in grill the centerpiece of your outdoor kitchen.
• Propane spa heaters – Need a quick getaway? Take a soak in a propane-heated spa. Propane heats water much faster than an electric heater, so you’ll be warm in no time and stay that way for hours.
• Propane lighting – Propane lights are available in just about any size and style – from tiki torches to modern fixtures. No wires, no odd citronella smells – just a warm, inviting ambiance to your outdoor space.
• Propane fire pits – Imagine sitting by a fire under the stars without leaving your backyard. Now, imagine doing that without the smoke, ash, and hassles of a wood fire. That’s what you get when you add a propane fire pit to your outdoor space – a convenient, warm glow that gives your family the perfect place to gather.

Extend your summer with outdoor living equipment! Contact Ace-Robbins today for a FREE estimate on propane equipment installations in Wyoming County, PA.

Already have propane outdoor living equipment? Don’t forget to schedule a propane delivery in Bradford, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Susquehanna, Sullivan, and Wyoming Counties, PA!