Winter is officially upon us! We know heating your home and keeping you family warm and safe becomes a top priority when wind chill and temperatures drop, and snow and ice become an issue. As your prepare for winter propane deliveries, we have some tips and advice for winter propane deliveries.
Consider our Residential Programs for Peace of Mind
Being on our residential program of tank monitoring and automatic fill will ensures you never have to go without heating during the colder months. You can guarantee to stay topped up and keep warm in the winter.
Tips For Winter Propane Deliveries
If you are expecting a delivery of propane, it is a good idea to prepare your property for easy access and installation.
Schedule Early
If you need to schedule a propane tank fill-up, call us early. Schedule LP delivery when your tank gauge reads 30%. That gives you enough fuel to keep your home running until your propane provider can fill your tank.
Place a stake in the ground before the first snowfall
To ensure your propane tank is easy to find if snow cover the ground, you can place a stake or a flag in the ground. Doing this before snow makes sure your delivery driver can easily locate your propane tank no matter the weather conditions.
You will likely have a rough idea of when to expect snowfall. Therefore, make sure to place the flag/stake down before this occurs. If you don’t want to worry about the weather forecast, place it in the ground early in the winter season in preparation so that the propane delivery will not be delayed.
Keep the driveway clear of snow and ice
When the propane delivery truck arrives this winter, it will need a snow/ice-free place to park and unload. Should snow fall ahead of your propane delivery, please make sure to clear your driveway and any walkways of snow and ice to make it safe and convenient for the delivery drivers.
It is a good idea to salt any icy patches where you or the delivery drivers might need to walk. This will make the job as safe as possible and ensure that nobody gets hurt in the snowy and/or icy weather. We understand that isn’t always possible. Simply removing the snow and creating a clear pathway is enough to help the delivery drivers easily do their job – and we appreciate your care in keeping our team safe!
Clear a wide enough path
We recommend keeping your driveway clear of snow for a width of at least 8 feet. Remember propane trucks are wider than most vehicles – and do not turn as easily.
Make a clear walkway to the propane tank
Locating the tank will be easy if you have already placed a stake in the ground. However, it is important to make sure your tank is easily accessible, which is best with a clear pathway. Keep the pathway free of snow, ice or any objects that could be tripped over when covered by snow accumulation. Our drivers carry heavy propane hoses, and navigating through heavy snow can be difficult, and dangerous if the pathway is not clear.
Keep your gates all the way open
If you scheduled a winter propane delivery, and the driver must pass through a gate to access your propane tank , keep your gates fully open. This is especially helpful if your gates are vulnerable to freezing shut or being blocked by snow accumulation. Frozen over gates might prevent you from getting your propane delivery. We don’t want to bump your gate while driving through!
Apply salt to hilly entryways
If your home has a hilly entryway, you can increase safety by applying salt to the area. This will increase the grip for the delivery vehicle to remain safe upon entering, unloading, and leaving the property during snowfall.
Propane Emergencies & Safety
Contact us immediately if you think something is wrong. You should not smell propane in your home, so do not think that it might be normal if you do. Call us and report an issue. Never disconnect your propane tank and hook up a spare or small tank to get by. When a propane tank runs out of gas or is disconnected, the piping system must be checked to make sure there are no leaks caused by the interruption.
Find out more about program options to keep you and your family safe and warm this winter. Call us today at (574) 264-2118 to discuss your winter propane delivery!