Month: December 2019

If you own (or plan to open) a restaurant in the Rochester or Buffalo, NY area, you know how important it is to keep costs down and customers coming back.

The good news is that propane gas can help you do both.

Not only will using propane help you keep your utility bills low, it will also help you create a memorable dining experience for your customers, especially during the fall and winter months.

What Propane Can Do For Your Restaurant

Why choose propane for your restaurant? Consider these propane gas benefits:

• It creates inviting warmth – From patio heaters and flickering torches to fire pits, propane fireplaces, and other features, propane can help you create an ambiance your customers won’t forget – all while also extending your outdoor seating season.
• It helps your equipment perform better – Most propane appliances work better and operate more efficiently than their electric equivalents – especially your furnace, boiler, and water heating equipment.
• Your cook staff will love you – Most cooking pros know that gas is the only way to go when it comes to working creatively and effectively in the kitchen.
• You’ll enjoy propane’s exemplary safety record – Propane is one of the safest sources of energy around, due in large part to the industry’s rigorous requirements for propane tank safety, equipment inspection, maintenance, and installation.
• You’ll have a backup plan – Downtime from power outages can kill your restaurant’s reputation and profitability; with a propane standby generator, you’ll have protection against power disruption when the grid fails, so you’ll stay open for business when other restaurants don’t.

Propane is the perfect way to power your restaurant – and Irish Propane is the perfect pace to get it! To learn more about the benefits of clean, green propane – or about our reliable commercial propane deliveries in Buffalo and Rochester, NY, contact the experts at Irish Propane today.

Winter is officially upon us, which means you’ll be turning to your propane heating system more than ever in the coming weeks to keep your family safe and warm in your Buffalo or Rochester home.

That makes now the perfect time for some important reminders about using propane safely. Here are six of the most important ones to keep in mind in the heating season ahead.

1. Teach all adults in your home how to shut off the flow of gas from your main propane storage tank. If you are not sure how to do that, contact us.
2. Remind everyone in your family how to detect a propane leak, and what to do if they encounter one.
3. Never store propane cylinders indoors or in an enclosed area such as a basement, garage, shed, or tent.
4. Never use outdoor propane equipment (grills, portable generators, etc.) indoors: they emit carbon monoxide (CO) as exhaust, which can become a dangerous or even deadly hazard.
5. Check batteries in all carbon monoxide detectors in your home every winter, following the manufacturer’s instructions regarding maintenance. Know how to spot the symptoms of CO poisoning, and what to do if someone is experiencing them. We urge you to also install propane leak detectors, which will warn you of a leak in the event of propane odor loss.
6. If severe weather is forecast:
   • Check your propane levels – Make sure you have enough propane to last for at least a week after the storm ends in case there are road blockages or closures. If you have a propane backup generator, be sure to include it in your propane use calculations.
   • Flag your propane tank – Install a flag near your propane tank’s fill valve so you can find it after a significant snowstorm.
   • Listen to authorities – Monitor local media, websites, and apps for instructions on the appropriate actions to take.
   • Clear your property after the storm – Keep at least a one-foot wide path to your propane tank clear for propane delivery teams and repair crews. Use a broom to clear all vents, chimneys, and flues to reduce the risk of CO poisoning.
   • Keep an eye on your equipment – If you believe that any of your propane equipment has been damaged, contact us immediately for an inspection. Remember, if you shut down your propane gas supply, you are required to have a pressure test performed by a licensed propane contractor before you can use your propane equipment again.

At Irish Propane, your safety is always priority #1! If you have any questions about propane safety in your Buffalo or Rochester, NY home, please let us know.

Winter is just a few weeks away here in Buffalo and Rochester, and with it will inevitably come higher heating bills.

Want to keep those bills as low as possible? Here are 10 of the best ways to do it:

1. Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows to keep warm air in and cold air out.
2. When you’re home, aim for a thermostat temperature of 68° for the best balance of efficiency and comfort; when you’re asleep or away from home, turn thermostat back eight to ten degrees* for eight hours to save about 10 percent a year on your heating (and cooling) bills.
3. Consider installing a programmable thermostat – or better yet, install a smart thermostat that you control from your cellphone.
4. Turn down the temperature of your water heater thermostat. Many are factory set for 130° degrees or more; 120° degrees is plenty.
5. Have your propane-fired heating system professionally inspected and serviced.
6. Check your furnace filters every month during the height of the heating season, changing them when necessary.
7. Keep your fireplace flue damper closed unless a fire is burning.
8. Check that vents, baseboard heaters, and radiators are not blocked by furniture, curtains, or other obstructions.
9. Open curtains and shades to let in warmth from the sun, then close them at night to retain that heat.
10. Reverse your ceiling fans so they push warm air back into the room rather than drawing it up and away from your living space.

Bonus Tip #11: Buy your propane from Irish! You’ll always get fair and honest pricing, along with the most reliable propane delivery service in our Rochester and Buffalo service areas. Contact us today to become an Irish Propane customer!

*Avoid dropping temperatures this much on extremely cold nights, as it can put you at risk for frozen pipes.