When we moved into our home, there were some things that we knew we wanted to upgrade. For starters, the place had some really old appliances, and we could tell they were taking up loads of energy. Instead of worrying about it, we began looking for ways to improve the house by replacing the appliances with more energy efficient versions. We found a great appliance shop that had exactly what we were looking for, and they were even having a little sale on their products. This website is completely dedicated to energy efficient items, because you never know when you will need them.
The temperatures have dropped, your heater is running full blast, and the dead of winter is most assuredly here. This can mean one thing if you rely on propane for heating your house: you will likely have to have propane delivered soon. The winter heating season is when the demand for propane is at its highest. Therefore, the folks making propane deliveries are super busy, and you may have to wait a bit for your propane to be delivered. To make the process as seamless and easy as possible, there are a few things you should remember to do.
Mark the location of your propane tank
If your propane tank is a bit hard to find, do something to make it more visible. Grab a piece of red tape, plastic, or strip of material and tie it on the lid. If there is snow covering everything, the red flag will make the tank easier to spot. If you have an underground propane tank, go on outside and stick a stake in the ground (a broom handle or something similar will do) and tie a piece of red material to it. Your propane delivery person will definitely appreciate the ability to quickly track down where they need to go.
Clear the snow around your driveway and tank
If there has been a lot of snow and your driveway is blocked and your tank is basically buried, do yourself and the propane delivery person a favor by clearing some of the snow. Even though the big trucks that make propane deliveries can get around pretty good, loads of snow can make the delivery process a challenge. Clearing out what you can will help the delivery process go a lot faster. Likewise, make sure when you clear the snow around the driveway or your porch, you do not push the snow up against the tank itself.
Make sure the lid of your tank is not frozen closed
It is pretty common for ice and icicles to gather around the lid on your propane tank in the winter. Take a look at your tank and see if the lid can be opened or if it is indeed frozen shut with layers of ice. If it is, grab a good icepick and a little warm water to clear the ice. If you have a little rock salt, you can also melt away the ice with that. Just doing this will help the propane delivery driver get the process done a lot faster.