Propane is a good friend to have once winter arrives here in PA, offering an efficient, high-powered, and eco-friendly way to keep you safe and cozy as temperatures plummet here in the Keystone State.
But as a propane customer, you have some special considerations to keep in mind during the cold weather months – especially before, during, and after the arrival of severe weather. To keep your family – and our delivery teams – safe during heating season in your propane-powered home, be sure to follow these five steps:

5 Winter Propane Tank To-dos

1. Clear a path to your tank – Snow and ice can make it difficult to reach your tank for proper maintenance, gas level monitoring, and refilling; make sure you keep at least an 18” path cleared to your propane gas tank.
2. Mark your tank – Install a colored flag near the fill valve of your propane tank so our delivery crew can find it in any weather; a flag also helps the driver to safely and most effectively position his truck for your delivery.
3. Remove snow and ice from the surface of your tank – Once you clear a path to your propane tank, switch to a broom to clear snow and ice from the tank itself; using a shovel for this purpose could damage the tank.
4. Watch your propane levels – If you are not an automatic propane delivery customer, keep a close eye on your propane levels throughout the winter – especially during a cold snap when you will probably use propane more quickly than you realize. Call when your tank is about one-third full; the colder it is, the busier our delivery crew gets, so don’t wait until the last minute to contact us for a propane delivery.
5. Remind your family about propane leaks – Always keep a nose out for a propane leak, which smells like rotten eggs. If you detect that odor, follow propane safety procedures immediately.

Be prepared for any weather this winter with expert propane heating system service and reliable propane deliveries in Pennsylvania from Ace-Robbins. Contact us at our Tunkhannock, PA location today to learn more, or to become an Ace-Robbins customer.

In our last blog, we talked about six of the best home comfort promises you can make for yourself in 2020. This week, we’re adding a seventh: simplify your surroundings with a de-cluttering purge.
Most of us have accumulated a ton of “stuff” (sometimes literally) in our homes over the years – and recent studies show that this excess baggage can have a significant impact on our mental wellbeing, productivity, and sense of satisfaction. With stakes this high, it pays to take care of an overburden of clutter as soon as possible.
That’s where our Prohauling service comes in.
Ace-Robbins offers residential Prohauling – a drop-off/pick-up dumpster service with container volumes ranging from 10 to 40 cubic yards (up to six tons!).
Here are some common questions about Prohauling; if you have others, please call us at 570-240-6010 for more information.

Ace-Robbins Prohauling Q&A

Q: How long can I rent a dumpster for?
A: Our rental period is 7 to 10 days.
Q: How do I know which size to get?
A: Tell us what you need to dispose of and we’ll give you a recommendation. Our dumpster sizes include 10, 12, 15, 20, 30 and 40 cubic yards.
Q: Where do you put the dumpster?
A: We typically place your dumpster in your driveway, placing protective wooden boards down to prevent damage to the pavement.
Q: Is there anything I shouldn’t place in the dumpster?
A: Yes – we will provide a list of prohibited items on request, or when you contract with us for Prohauling service.
For convenient residential dumpster drop-off and pick-up services in and around Wyoming County, PA, trust the pros at Ace-Robbins. Contact us today to learn more about our Prohauling service!

The beginning of a new year is a time we make promises to ourselves – some to make our lives easier, some to treat ourselves a bit better, and some to do more for our family and the people we care about.

6 New Year’s Resolutions for Home Comfort

In the spirit of taking better care of ourselves in the coming year, here are some home comfort promises to keep in 2020:

1. Change your air filters – Replace the air filters on your furnace and cooling system regularly and you’ll enjoy lower bills, spend less on equipment repairs and maintenance, and breathe a little easier at home. Set a reminder to check your air filters at least once a month during peak cooling and heating seasons, changing or cleaning them when needed.
2. Learn to program your thermostat – Managing the temperature in your home is about the easiest way we know to shave 10 percent off your annual heating and cooling bill. Just set your programmable thermostat and forget it. You know what you won’t forget? The vacation you take with the hundreds of dollars you’ve saved in heating bills.
3. Make life EZ-er – Stressed by the heating bill roller coaster? Sign up for our EZ Pay Plan and stretch those payments out over the course of a full year, with no financing charges. You’ll even save money on your bills with EZ’s 15-cent per gallon discount! The plan is available for your propane or heating oil deliveries.
4. Invest in maintenance – Want your home comfort systems to run better for longer? Get a professional tune-up every year. Routine maintenance pays for itself by keeping efficiency high and repair risk low. Want even more value for your heating system upkeep? Sign up for an Ace-Robbins service plan.
5. Upgrade old equipment – There will come a time when replacing your heating or cooling system makes more sense than repairing it. When that time comes, don’t hesitate to upgrade – the move will often pay for itself in just a few years, and provide more comfort and peace of mind along the way.
6. Treat yourself – Have a household luxury you’ve wanted for a while but haven’t had the nerve to splurge? This is the year to do it – whether you’re on the lookout for a propane hearth for your living room or an industrial stove or other appliance you’ve been eyeing for your kitchen, there’s no better time than now to indulge.

Start 2020 out right – save money and enjoy your home life more with expert heating, cooling, and appliance installations and service with the pros at Ace-Robbins. Contact us today to learn more – or visit our Tunkhannock showroom for even more ideas to light up your New Year!

Winter has officially arrived, which means it’s time to get cozy in your Pennsylvania home – and nothing says cozy quite like a living room hearth.
In the past, adding a fireplace to your living space meant investing a small fortune in masonry construction, followed by years of wood gathering and ash-cleaning hassles (not to mention chimney maintenance). But now you can enjoy easy-to-install propane hearth alternatives that will give your living room a fresh new look and hominess while providing benefits that no wood-burning hearth can match.

Install a propane fireplace or stove today and you’ll get:

• One-button convenience – Relax and enjoy a warm evening by the fire with just the push of a button from the comfort of your favorite chair or sofa.
• Savings – A propane fireplace is a powerful and efficient space heater that can easily warm an entire room; with that kind of heat, you can turn down your thermostat and save money on your home energy bills.
• Precision heating – Many of today’s propane fireplaces are equipped with thermostats and blower fans to give you precision temperature control and even heating floor to ceiling.

Maintenance available for your current propane fireplace, too

Already have a propane hearth? Make sure to keep it running safely and efficiently with professional propane fireplace maintenance from Ace-Robbins. With the Ace-Robbins Gas Fireplace Service Plan, you’ll get an annual 16-point clean and service (scheduled during normal business hours), a 20 percent discount on replacement parts, guaranteed priority service, and more.* Contact us today for details.
Don’t miss a chance to gather your family around the fire this winter – stop by our convenient Tunkhannock, PA showroom today to see our line of propane fireplaces and hearths, or contact us to sign up for a Fireplace Service Plan!
*Coverage available for residential gas fireplaces only. Gas log sets and converted wood fireplaces are excluded.

The holiday season is here– and with it comes big meals and lots of leftovers. Without a little organization, those leftovers can easily get lost in the freezer shuffle and forgotten about until months later. Here are seven freezer-organizing tips and hacks that will help you avoid that problem.

Tips For Arranging Your Freezer Goods

1. Label everything – Use a Sharpie re-sealable freezer bags to keep track of what’s in your freezer, when you put it in there, and when you need to use it by.
2. Use a food sealer – Food sealers range in cost from about $50 to $150 – but they’ll save you far more than that over the course of a year by keeping freezer ice off your food.
3. Use an inventory app – User-friendly apps can help you keep track of what’s in your freezer and how long it should last. Fridge Pal, Fridge Check, and Fresh Box are just some of the available options.
4. Divide meals into individual servings – Portion out your meals or ingredients ahead of time, freeze them individually, then use only what you need.
5. Keep it frost-free – Ice build-up can rob you of both space and efficiency, so stay on top of defrosting. If you want to be spared the hassle of defrosting and paying more than you should for electricity bills, invest in a high-efficiency frost-free freezer.
6. Use only the shelves and drawers you need – Many freezer shelves and drawers are removable – use what you need and take the rest out.
7. Get creative – Try using these unconventional freezer organizing devices:
• Recycled milk containers – Pour frozen fruits and veggies into the container, then grab what you need when you need it.
• Magnetized containers – Use magnetized containers (from craft or office supply stores) to store smaller items like fresh-cut herbs.
• Freezer bags – Quart sized freezer storage bags are great for storing items flat – even sauces! Lay the bag flat to freeze, then stand it on its side for compact storage – you can even hang them from binder clips from your slotted shelf!

Still don’t have enough room in your freezer? We can help! Ace-Robbins features top quality, high efficiency, frost-free chest freezers and upright freezers from Amana, Maytag, Whirlpool, and more. Visit our Tunkhannock, PA showroom to see our full line of freezers or any of the other appliances that can make your holidays happier!

Your heating system may have the toughest job in the house during the winter as it works around the clock to keep your family safe and warm. But don’t underestimate the challenges your propane water heater faces in colder months, either.
Your water heater works considerably harder in the winter here in Pennsylvania than it does at any other time of the year. Why?

3 reasons winter is tough on water heaters:

1. It has to overcome your cold basement – If you own a conventional water heater (one with a storage tank), it more than likely sits in a cold basement, where it holds hot water until it is needed for use. The problem is that water is constantly losing heat (we call this standing heat loss). To make sure the water is hot when you turn on your tap or appliance, the water heater needs to reheat the water from time to time – which burns more fuel and causes your equipment to work harder to do the same job.
2. It has to heat colder water – The water entering your home from your well or municipal supply Is colder during the winter (that is, it has a lower inlet temperature) – which means it takes more energy to heat the water than it does at other times of the year.
3. You use more hot water – Most people take longer, hotter showers to warm up during the winter – which means more work for your water heater.

Of course, you can eliminate or substantially reduce the impact of these issues by switching to a tankless propane water heater, which instantly heats the water you need rather than storing it in a tank for later use. If you can’t swing a water heater upgrade, be sure to get regular professional maintenance to keep your equipment running as efficiently as possible.
Keep the hot water coming and your energy bills as low as possible with high-efficiency water heater maintenance and expert water heater installations from the pros at Ace-Robbins. Contact us today to learn more!

There’s a reason why more than nine out of ten professional chefs choose to cook with gas (actually there are several, as you will see below). But to take full advantage of the benefits of your brand new (or future) propane gas oven or cooktop, it’s important to know the ins and outs of your equipment.
Although both gas and electric ovens do the same basic job, they differ in important ways. The most important difference is that gas-powered cooking appliances typically heat (and cool) food more rapidly and maintain heat more consistently than electric appliances; this precision temperature control can be critical for some recipes both on the stovetop and in the oven.
Also, certain cooking techniques – charring, for example, are only possible on a gas cooktop.

3 pointers on using your gas stove or cooktop:

Once you have your new propane range or propane oven – preferably in time for the holidays! – it’s time to get cooking and baking. Here are some tips for doing that.

1. For cooktops – With a gas stove, it’s important to adjust the flame to suit your cooking needs; allow the flame to hug the bottom of your pan without sneaking up the sides. Typically, there is a slight advantage in favoring liquid cooking methods (i.e., boiling, stir-frying, etc.) rather than dry heat methods (sautéing) on a gas cooktop, since liquid keeps the heat evenly distributed.
2. For baking – Allow your gas oven to preheat five to ten minutes before baking breads and other goods; for more “durable”casseroles, roasts, and other entrees, pre-heating is less critical. Avoid baking on the lower rack, since the heating element is typically at the bottom of the oven and could cause burning.
3. For broiling – Broiling is a way to cook meats with direct heat from a gas flame. Choose tender cuts (tenderloins, boneless chops, etc.) for best results. For “tougher” cuts, marinate before broiling. Always thaw meats in the refrigerator before cooking, then bring to room temperature to ensure better browning.

Treat yourself to a new propane gas range or cooktop this holiday season! Visit our Tunkhannock, PA showroom to see our great selection of top quality models from Amana, KitchenAid, Maytag, Whirlpool, and more. Contact us today to learn more!

If you’ve just purchased a new propane-powered home, or aren’t happy with your current propane supplier, it could be time for a change. But how do you choose a propane supplier that you know you’ll be happy with?
As with many things in life, choosing a propane supplier starts with asking the right questions. Here are four questions to ask when you’re trying to separate the quality candidates from the also-rans.

Questions to consider when choosing where to get propane:

1. Is the propane price I’m getting part of an introductory offer?
   Some propane discounters offer great introductory prices at first, only to raise their prices once you’re a committed customer. Look for suppliers that offer fair, competitive prices and low surcharges every day, right from day one. That’s what we do here at Ace-Robbins – a big reason why we retain 95 percent of our customers every year.
2. Do you offer maintenance and other support services?
   There are many suppliers out there who offer propane delivery – but do they offer the support you need to keep your family safe and comfortable all year long? Look for propane suppliers that offer high-value preventative maintenance plans that help keep your equipment running at peak efficiency and minimize costly repairs, or payment plans (like our EZ Pay Plan ) that make your propane more affordable during months of heavy fuel use.
3. Will you help me manage my propane usage?
   Many propane suppliers simply deliver your propane when you call – but with a packed schedule, you may forget and find yourself on the wrong end of a propane run-out. You can avoid that hassle as an Ace-Robbins customer by signing up for FREE automatic delivery, which monitors your propane usage and schedules your propane delivery as soon as you need it.
4. How will make my life easier?
   A propane supplier should make your life easier and more predictable, especially during the fall and winter, when crazy weather can really compound life’s usual busyness. With Ace-Robbins, you’ll rest easy knowing that:
   • We have an ample supply of propane on hand and available for you
   • Your propane will be delivered by a highly trained team of professionals who put your safety first, using a fleet of well-maintained trucks that stay on the road in any weather
   • Your propane deliveries and heating system are backed by a team of professionals that offer safe deliveries, expert maintenance and 24/7/365 emergency service.
   • You have convenient, flexible options and services such as EZ Pay and automatic delivery to help make managing your heating bills and fuel deliveries easy

Looking for more reasons to become an Ace-Robbins propane customer? Call us and ask – we’re happy to talk with you about joining the Ace-Robbins family.

Heating oil is a great way to heat your home – it provides more BTUs per gallon than any fuel around, and new Ultra Low Sulfur Heating Oil (USLSHO) varieties are doing their job while reducing most harmful emissions to near negligible levels.
But there are times when even the most efficient oil-fired furnace or boiler can’t keep pace with the heating load you’re throwing at it. For example, in some older Pennsylvania houses, you might have a problem room that just never gets warm enough to enjoy. Or perhaps you have built an addition to your home without upsizing your heating system, and its performance has suffered because of it.
You might think that the only realistic option in scenarios like this is to install a bigger furnace or boiler (or to wear more sweaters at home) – and that might be the case. But there’s another possibility to consider: adding supplemental high efficiency propane space heaters to take some of the load off your primary oil-fired heating system.
Today’s propane space heaters and ductless heating/cooling systems offer a great way to deliver heat to a targeted section of your home. Available in multiple sizes and configurations, they provide a high efficiency solution for drafty rooms, workspaces, basements, or anywhere else in need of a heating boost. Rather than turning up the thermostat and paying to heat your whole home, you simply adjust the thermostat locally via the space heater within the problematic room or space. Makes sense, no?
Could a propane space heating solution be right for your home? Let’s talk about it. Already own a propane space heater in addition to your oil fired furnace or boiler? Then make Ace-Robbins your dual fuel provider for propane and heating oil deliveries. Contact us today to learn more.

If you’ve recently decided to add a propane gas log set to your existing masonry fireplace, congratulations – you’ve made a good choice! Not only will it make it much easier to enjoy an evening in front of the fire, but it will also boost the heating efficiency of your hearthside evenings by a factor of four.
So what’s the next step on the road to gas log ownership? The sensible move is to choose between direct vent and vent-free options: each has its pros and cons, and the best choice for you will depend on your needs, your home, and your local building codes.
Here’s a quick summary of considerations for each of the two propane gas log possibilities:

Vent-free propane gas log sets

• Vent-free log sets are considered space heaters and have similar features, including a safety shut-off, room oxygen sensor, and nearly 100 percent heating efficiency.
• The flame on a vent-free log set is reduced so it burns less fuel and emits fewer exhaust fumes in order to meet safety standards; a typical vent-free log set is rated at about 40,000 BTUs / hour.
• Vent-free log sets are great if you want an efficient heat source for a small- to medium-sized fireplace, or if you want a back-up heat source during power outages. However, some building codes prohibit the use of vent-free heaters in living spaces, so be sure to do your research before committing to buying one!

Vented propane gas log sets

• Vented gas logs are designed to produce bigger flames, but this comes a cost of fuel: vented fire log sets burn about twice as much fuel as a vent-free log set – about 80,000 to 90,000 BTUs/hour.
• Vented gas log sets are also less efficient, since some of the heat they produce escapes through the chimney.
• Vented log sets are great if you have a large fireplace, want a blazing fire and can live with lower efficiency and higher fuel bills.

Not sure which propane gas log set is right for your fireplace? Contact the propane hearth experts at Ace-Robbins today and let’s talk about it.
And if you’ve always dreamed of having a fireplace but have settled for a blank wall instead, guess what – a propane fireplace may be more affordable than you think! Contact us today to learn more and get a FREE, no obligation estimate on a propane hearth installation for your Tunkannock, PA-area home.