Whole house backup generators can provide an emergency power supply, enabling you to keep important equipment running during a power outage. But are they safe to own and operate?

Absolutely – if they are properly chosen and installed by professionals!

Today’s whole house propane backup generators do much more than simply keep you out of the dark. Depending on the size and power of the unit, a propane whole house generator could prevent damage to your property by powering your sump pump, protect your family by keeping the heat on and emergency medical equipment powered up, and more.

But how do you choose a whole house backup generator, and what safety issues should you keep in mind when operating it? Here are some basics.

Sizing and installing a whole house generator

The most important thing to remember when it comes to installing a propane whole house generator safely is that it is NOT a DIY job! ALWAYS have your generator installed by a professional with the proper credentials for handling the electric and HVAC requirements of the work.

Sizing a propane whole house generator comes down to considering two important factors: the size of your home, and the number of appliances / systems you want to operate during an outage. This checklist should give you a starting point of what equipment you may want to power:

Home essentials

• Central A/C
• Electric water heater
• Electric heat pump
• Gas furnace
• Electric garage door
• Sump/well pump
• Lights
• Other

Comfort essentials

• Medical equipment
• Refrigerator
• Freezer
• Electric oven/range
• Electric cooktop
• Gas oven/range
• Gas cooktop
• Microwave
• Dishwasher
• Clothes washer
• Clothes dryer (electric)
• Clothes dryer (gas)
• Other

Luxuries

• Spa
• Pool heater
• Outdoor kitchen
• Other

Work with a generator installation specialist to determine how large a unit you will need to meet the backup power requirements of your home.

Safely Operating Your Generator

A whole house backup generator should run safely for many years – as long as it is properly installed and maintained.

Follow these basics to enjoy peace of mind for years to come:

• Get regular service – Get professional generator maintenance at least once a year.
• Periodically run your generator – Run your generator for about 15-20 minutes about once every three months during the spring, summer, and fall. During the winter, run it once a month or so to keep parts lubricated (just as you would with a car sitting in your driveway).
• Keep it ready – Keep enough propane in your generator to run it for at least a week in the event of a power outage; if you don’t have that much, schedule a propane delivery today.
• Prepare for the worst – Have a “plan B” if your generator does not start. If severe weather is forecast when you’re leaving for vacation or traveling on business, make sure someone has access to your home and generator in case of emergency.
• Keep records – Record any incident in which your generator is called into service, along with any problems that occur.
• Keep access to your generator’s fill clear – Keep at least a 12” pathway to your generator for clear of snow and debris for service and refueling. If your generator is accessible through a driveway, keep that clear, too.
• Know your CO safety basics – Using a backup generator (or any other fuel burning appliance) presents the risk of CO poisoning. To avoid CO poisoning,
  • install, test, and properly maintain CO detectors in your home
  • know the signs of CO poisoning – and what to do if you experience them
  • have your propane generator professionally serviced a minimum of once a year.

Thinking about investing in a whole house propane generator? We can help. Contact Ace-Robbins today to get a FREE, no obligation estimate on a propane backup generator installation in Wyoming County, PA.

Power outages caused by severe weather are becoming more common these days, and their consequences are greater than ever – especially with everyone home for school and work the way they are right now.

The best way to avoid the problems of a power outage is to install a whole house generator – a permanent addition to your home that powers up automatically the moment it detects a cutoff of power from the grid. Powered by propane, a backup generator can not only keep the lights on – it can keep your sump pump working, your security systems online, and life-saving medical equipment functioning.

What to look for in a generator

But how do you choose a backup generator? Here are three considerations that will factor into your buying decision.

Factor 1: Capacity – The capacity of generator you need depends primarily on the size of your home and what equipment you want to power during an outage.

Generators come in a wide range of capacities. A small, easy-to-place 8 kilowatt (kW) unit, for example, can operate power essentials such as lights, refrigerator, TV, and other small appliances. A large 25 kW commercial-grade generator, on the other hand, can easily run a home HVAC system in addition to those items.

A good place to start in determining the capacity of generator you need is to break your usage down into two categories: Essentials (lights, refrigerator, sump pump, furnace fan, security system, TV/computers, and microwave), and high-wattage items, such as your A/C or heat pump, clothes dryer, water heater, and oven or stove. Once you make that determination, you can decide what you’re willing to spend to protect those functions during an outage.

Factor 2: Size/placement – Whole house generators can be as large or even slightly larger than the outdoor unit of your central A/C, depending on the power output – so you’ll room outside your home. Whole house generators also need to be near electricity, and they must be placed to comply with flood, noise and electrical codes – big reasons why a whole house generator must be installed by a professional.

Factor 3: Cost – Stand-by propane generators range in price between $3,000 to $10,000 or more, depending on the size and capacity of the unit. The greater the capacity, the higher the price.

Thinking about investing in a whole house propane generator? We can help. Contact Ace-Robbins today to get a FREE, no obligation estimate on a propane generator for your Wyoming County, PA home.

If you’re a Will Call customer, it’s a good idea to start getting back in the habit of monitoring your fuel gauge as we head into September.

Or, you could Ace-Robbins take care of that for you by signing up for automatic delivery for your propane or heating oil.

Automatic Delivery Basics

If you’re not familiar with automatic delivery, here’s how it works:

• Our delivery teams will estimate how much fuel you’re likely to use based on your past bills and the current weather (if you have recently become an Ace-Robbins customer, we’ll estimate based on local averages for a home your size).
• Your delivery will be scheduled when your tank is about one-quarter full.
• You will never have to worry about managing your heating oil deliveries or propane deliveries again. You’ll also get priority service over Will Call customers – a benefit that can really come in handy during unpredictable Pennsylvania weather.

Want even more peace of mind? Sign up for Ace-Robbins’ new Tank Utility service

Automatic delivery is definitely a step up from Will Call in the peace of mind department, but since it is based on an estimate of your past usage rather than your actual usage, there is always a chance for an unexpected surprise that leaves you calling us for an emergency propane or heating oil fill-up.

Unless you use our new Tank Utility remote monitoring system, that is.

Tank Utility’s remote monitoring system – available for a nominal monthly fee – tracks your actual usage and alerts us when it’s time to fill your tank. You’ll even get an email or text to let you know your fuel level is getting low. The monitor is quick to install and virtually maintenance free – you don’t even need to be around when we install it!

Don’t risk a fuel run-out – sign up for FREE automatic propane or heating oil delivery or convenient Tank Utility service from Ace-Robbins. Contact us today to learn more!

If you’re using it to power space heaters, water heaters, fireplaces, and other appliances in your Wyoming County home, you already know that propane gas one of the most versatile sources of home energy around.
But did you know it’s also one of the greenest?

The Eco-friendly Ways Of Propane

Here are four big ways that using propane benefits the environment:

• It produces fewer harmful emissions – Propane produce less than half the greenhouse gas emissions of electricity to produce the same amount of energy – in fact, propane has a lower carbon content than any fossil fuel, including fuel oil, gasoline, diesel, kerosene and ethanol. That’s a big part of the reason it was added to the Clean Air Act as a clean fuel in 1990.
• It’s a more energy-efficient fuel source – According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, nearly two-thirds of electricity generated at most power plants is lost between the plant and the consumer. Propane gas, on the other hand, generates energy on the spot, with no loss along the way.
• Appliances are more efficient, too – Propane burns hot without wasting much energy, so propane-powered appliances are usually much more efficient than electric models of similar size and output. A tankless propane water heater, for example, can save up to 50 percent on energy costs compared to an electric model, according to the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). Less energy used means less environmental impact.
• If it leaks, it is harmless to soil and water – Propane is nontoxic and does not spill or pool, which makes it harmless to the environment in the event of a tank leak. With propane, there are no risks for long-term damage to your home or property if a leak occurs, since it simply dissipates into the air.

If you’re looking for a way to lessen your environmental impact while lowering your bills and keeping your family comfortable all year long – propane is a great choice. If you need a reliable propane supplier anywhere in Tunhannock, PA service area, Ace-Robbins is the choice.
Propane – the clean, green fuel alternative! Contact us today to learn more about making the switch to propane – or arranging reliable propane deliveries in Wyoming County, PA.

If you have an appliance that burns fuel to produce energy – whether it is a water heater, furnace, boiler, fireplace, or cooking range – it emits at least some carbon monoxide (CO) as it runs.
If properly vented with functioning equipment, these emissions are harmless – but if CO accumulates in your home, it can cause carbon monoxide poisoning – a dangerous and possibly deadly threat.
Here’s what you need to know about carbon monoxide, its dangers, and how to prevent them.

What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless gas produced by burning any fuel, including heating oil, gasoline, coal, wood, charcoal, kerosene, propane, or natural gas.

What causes a build-up of CO?

A buildup of CO typically occurs due to improper ventilation or broken equipment. Some causes of CO buildup include operating unvented appliances for too long, a broken or improperly maintained heating system, a backdraft near the heating appliance, or a blocked flue or vent.

What are the symptoms of CO poisoning?

Symptoms of CO poisoning vary depending on the amount of exposure to the gas. Mild symptoms include flu-like headaches, nausea, fatigue, and dizziness; moderate symptoms include severe headaches, drowsiness, confusion, and disorientation; extreme case symptoms include unconsciousness, convulsions, heart failure, and in rare cases death.
If you are experiencing CO poisoning symptoms,

• Get fresh air immediately. Open windows and doors, turn off fuel-burning appliances, and leave the house.
• Call your fire department or 911 and report your symptoms to your doctor.
• Service all your fuel-burning appliances before turning them back on.

What should I do if my CO alarm sounds?

Always assume your CO alarm is operating correctly! If it sounds,

• Leave your home immediately.
• Call your fire department or 911.
• DO NOT reenter the premises until responders have given you permission.
• If the source of the CO is determined to be a malfunctioning appliance, DO NOT use that appliance until a professional services the equipment.

How do I avoid problems with CO?

• Maintain fuel-burning appliances ­every year.
• Repair or replace poorly functioning appliances immediately.
• Install CO detectors throughout your home, following the manufacturer’s instructions for placement, testing, and maintenance. If you have propane-fired equipment, install propane detectors, too.
• Study the signs and symptoms of CO poisoning, and teach your family what to do if they experience them.

At Ace-Robbins, your safety is always our priority! If you have any questions about carbon monoxide safety, or believe that any of your equipment requires expert heating repair in southeastern PA, contact us today.

It’s been a hot one here in Pennsylvania so far in summer 2020 – and with everyone home more than usual, you’re probably paying more for your cooling bills.
Want to keep those bills as low as possible? Here are some of the best ways to do it.

Tips For A/C Efficiency

1. Check and change air filters regularly – A clogged air filter will make your air conditioner overwork to do its job, and both you and your equipment will pay for it. Check your air filter monthly, replacing or cleaning it (depending on the model) when needed.
2. Target your cooling – If you have central air conditioning, close vents in rooms you don’t use, or consider installing a zoned cooling system. If you have a ductless air conditioning system, run it only when you’re in the room.
3. Avoid heat-producing appliances – Avoid using ovens, clothes dryers, etc. – especially on the hottest days.
4. Be smart with your thermostat – Run your house slightly warmer when no one is home and when you’re sleeping; on average, you’ll save about three percent per day on air conditioning bills for each degree you raise the thermostat.
5. Keep reasonable temperatures – When you’re home, target a temperature of about 78 degrees – a temperature the Department of Energy says represents the best balance of comfort and energy savings. Remember: it’s the difference between the temperature indoors and outdoors that will make you feel cooling relief, not a number on a dial.
6. Use ceiling fans – Circulating air feels cooler; with ceiling fans running, you can raise your thermostat by two to three degrees with no loss of comfort.
7. Install window treatments – Windows let in the majority of heat from the outside; reflective shades and other window treatments can cut off some of that heat. Check out this Department of Energy link to learn more about energy saving window treatments.
8. Service your air conditioner – Annual maintenance is a must for your home cooling system: without it, your equipment will lose about five percent efficiency per year. Your equipment will also be more prone to breakdowns.
9. Make your home air-tight – If you own an older New Jersey home, there’s a high likelihood that it’s under-insulated – which means hot air is getting in and cold air is getting out. Adding insulation in attics, crawl spaces, and other areas of your home is one of the best bang for your buck ways to improve efficiency. To learn more about where and how much insulation to add, check out this post. Caulk and weatherstrip your windows and doors, too.
10. Consider a cooling system upgrade – A new high efficiency air conditioner can save you 30 percent on your monthly bills compared to your older model, which means it will pay for itself in just a few years – especially when you consider rebates and manufacture’s incentives.
    Want an out-of-the-box way to save money on cooling? Add a super-efficient ductless air conditioner as a supplemental source of cool air in rooms that get a lot of use or tend to stay warm – that way you don’t have to run your central A/C unit on full blast to stay comfortable.

A/C not keeping up this summer? Ace-Robbins experts can help you upgrade your cooling system with a solution that’s a perfect match for your home and budget. We’ll help you sort through your rebate options, too, so you’ll get the most for your money.
Contact us today to learn more about A/C installations in Wyoming County, PA, or to schedule an appointment for A/C service.

Tired of looking at the same stuff around your home, day after day? Wanting to make the most of your time indoors by tackling that home improvement project you’ve been putting off?
Now could be the perfect time – with the help of Prohauling services from Ace-Robbins.
Prohauling offers the perfect residential drop-off/pick-up dumpster solution for you, providing removal bins in volumes ranging from 10 to 40 yards – large enough to rid yourself of just about anything.

Our Prohauling trucks and bins are:

• Compact – Our bins are about the size of a minivan – plenty of volume for the needs of most residential dumpster projects. They will fit in average neighborhood driveway and in tight spaces where most disposal bins won’t fit.
• Safe – With boards placed under your bin at all times, our bins won’t even touch your driveway, let alone damage it.

How Prohauling works

Making your Prohauling arrangements is as easy as 1-2-3:

1. Call us – Let us know what size bin you need; if you’re not sure , just ask. You can also fill out our online form.
2. Wait for delivery – We’ll drop off your bin at a time that’s convenient for you.
3. Call us again – When the job is finished (7 to 10 days, please), call again – we’ll pick up your full bin even if you’re not home.

For convenient residential dumpster drop-off and pick-up services in and around Wyoming County, PA, trust the pros at Ace-Robbins. Call us at 570-240-6010 today to schedule your Prohauling dropoff!

With the amount of time we’re spending at home this COVID-19 summer, your air conditioner will be working overtime – and your energy bills will show it.
Want to keep those cooling bills as low as possible in the coming months?

Home Cooling Energy Tips:

1. Program your thermostat. Used properly, a programmable thermostat could help you save 10 percent on cooling (and heating) costs – often enough to offset the cost of the unit in a single year.
2. Use your ceiling fan. Running a ceiling fan in tandem with your home cooling system will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about four degrees without affecting your comfort; each degree you raise temperatures in your home will save you about one percent on your bill.
3. Minimize your use of heat-producing appliances. The last thing you want to do on a 100-degree day is turn on a 400-degree oven, giving your air conditioner one more cooling load obstacle to overcome. Grill outside when you can.
4. Mind your windows. Up to 30 percent of the unwanted heat in your home comes through the windows, so it’s a good idea to pay attention to your window treatments and how you use them. Check out this link from the U.S. Department of Energy for some window covering tips.
5. Clean/change HVAC filters regularly. A blocked air filter will reduce airflow from your home cooling system. That will not only raise your energy bills – it will also make your home less comfortable and cause your system to overwork, leading to poorer performance and a possible breakdown.
6. Add insulation. Insulation, in summer? You bet! Proper insulation helps keep cool air in and hot outdoor air out during the summer, and it’s one of the best bang-for-your-buck ways to save money on energy bills. For tips on where, how, and how much to insulate your home, check out this article from the Department of Energy.
7. Check your ductwork. As much as 20 percent of the air you paid to cool (or heat) could be escaping from leaky ductwork before it ever reaches your living space. Conduct a visual inspection of your ductwork where possible to rule out any obvious problems, and consider having them professionally inspected to rule out leaks elsewhere in the system. If you find significant leakage, a professional duct sealing could be a worthwhile investment.
8. Maintain your equipment. Without regular maintenance, your air conditioner will lose an average of about five percent efficiency each year. Of course efficiency improvements aren’t the only benefit of servicing your equipment: you’ll also get more reliable system operation, avoid costly repairs, and extend the life of your equipment.
9. Replace old cooling equipment. Upgrading to a high efficiency central or ductless A/C unit could save you up 30 percent on energy bills compared to older cooling systems. If your cooling system is older than 10 years and has been serviced two or more times in recent years, it’s time to shop for a replacement.

Need more ideas about lowering the cost of your home comfort? We’ve got ‘em! Contact the efficiency pros at Ace-Robbins today to learn more about air conditioning maintenance in northeastern PA – and much more!

Spending more time at home means more hot water.

On average, an American home uses about 60-70 gallons of hot water for its appliances and taps…and with everyone home as much as they are these days, that number could be on the low side.
The problem is you’re probably paying to heat even more water than that, even if you’re not using it.
If your water heater has a storage tank, then the water it heats spends most of its day cooling off as it waits to be used. If it gets too cool, your water heater will have to heat it again – and you’ll pay to heat it again.
You could slow the loss of heat in your storage tank by insulating your hot water storage tank – an option we highly recommend if you have a conventional (storage-type) water heater. But that will simply slow the pace of standing loss; if you want to eliminate it altogether, there’s only one way to do it: install a propane tankless water heater.

Tankless water heater benefits

A tankless water heater produces the hot water on demand rather than heating water and storing it in a tank for later use. By operating this way, it enjoys some key advantages over a traditional water tank-based water heater, including:

• Unlimited hot water – With a right-sized tankless water heater, you will never run out of hot water – even if you have several appliances running at once.
• Lower energy bills – By working only when needed, not using a pilot light, and never having to reheat water that has been sitting in a storage tank in your cold basement, a tankless water heater could cut your monthly bills by as much as 40 percent compared to a conventional electric-powered unit.
• Greater placement flexibility – Tankless systems are about the size of a suitcase, which means you can put them just about anywhere – including closets and crawl spaces.
• Longer equipment life – Because there is no need to store corrosive water, a tankless water heater can last up to twice as long as a conventional water heater.

While the initial purchase price of a tankless water heater can be significantly higher than that of a conventional water heater, the energy savings and equipment longevity can make costs a wash (pardon the pun). The bottom line: a tankless water heater can be a great option – as long as it is sized and installed by professionals like the ones you will always find at Ace-Robbins.
Considering making the move to tankless? Rinnai is currently offering up to $100 off the purchase of a new, high efficiency tankless water heater! With Rinnai’s superior engineering, smart design and unmatched quality, you’ll enjoy an endless supply of hot water—plus significant energy savings, all year long.
This offer is valid while funds last—so don’t miss out! Contact us today to learn more.

Keeping your home comfort systems operating reliably is more important than ever this year, with the coronavirus keeping us in our Pennsylvania homes more than anyone expected to be.
With warm weather already here – and a lot more on the way – scheduling annual maintenance for your A/C is a must-do – and the best way to check that box is to sign up for a Cooling Service Plan from Ace-Robbins.

Why Choose A Cooling Service Plan?

Consider these great benefits of an Ace-Robbins Cooling Service Plan:

• Reliable operation – Did you know that about 80 percent of cooling equipment breakdowns occur due to lack of maintenance? The annual tune-up included with your A/C Service Plan will give you that maintenance at a fraction of the price of a significant repair or replacement.
• Longer equipment life – Replacing an air conditioner is costly – why do it any earlier than you have to, especially this year? A great way to extend your equipment’s lifetime is – you guessed it – routine maintenance. Maintenance will prevent overwork and poor equipment function, both of which reduce its lifespan.
• Lower bills – An overworked or poorly functioning cooling system will operate inefficiently, which will drive up energy costs. With a service agreement, your technician will keep your system working as efficiently as possible to keep your energy costs at a minimum – a big deal if you have to run your A/C more often with everyone at home.
• Discounted repairs – On top of an annual A/C tune-up, our Service Plan offers a 20 percent discount on covered repairs.
• Warranty coverage – In most cases, routine professional maintenance is required to keep warranty coverage in force for your home comfort equipment; without professional service (included in your service plan), you run the risk of losing warranty coverage, which means you’ll pay for any A/C equipment repairs – even those normally covered by warranty – out of pocket.

Bonus benefit: Priority service

One last benefit that our Cooling Service Plan offers – and it’s a big one in an area like southeastern Pennsylvania, where cooling systems work hard in the hot, humid summer – is that you get priority service compared to non-service agreement customers.
By “skipping the line”, you’ll always be among the first customers to get your life back to normal in the event of an emergency. Also, you won’t have to pay any overtime rates — something that can be really expensive when you need emergency service.
With some COVID-19 restrictions beginning to ease, appointment times for cooling maintenance are filling quickly – save your space in line by enrolling in our Cooling Maintenance Plan today and scheduling your annual A/C tune-up. Contact us today to learn more about air conditioning service in PA from the pros at Ace-Robbins!