Month: January 2020

If you want to do a Super Bowl party right, nothing says “Big Game” quite like a charbroiled meal hot off your propane grill.

But grilling in the winter isn’t quite the same as grilling in the summer. To do it right, follow these six tips:

• Find a good spot – Try to get as much protection from the wind as possible, but NEVER grill in an enclosed porch area or in the house.
• Have extra propane on hand – Cold temperatures affect the temperature inside your grill, too, so be sure to compensate for the heat lost to the outdoor air by having more propane on hand. You will typically use about 35-50 percent more fuel when grilling in the winter months.
• Pre-heat for longer – Grill pre-heating is very important, because foods stick on cold grates; searing also requires a hot grill. Plan to pre-heat a little longer than in the summer – say 15 to 20 minutes rather than the usual 10.
• Choose foods wisely – Fish and hot dogs cook quickly, so you won’t have to spend too much time in the cold watching them. Cooking barbecue is a slow process that doesn’t require a lot of monitoring after the initial set-up – both good things when temps dip below freezing. Hamburgers and steaks are a tougher go, since they take time to cook and require careful monitoring; try to make hamburgers and choose steak cuts that on the thin side.
• Use two heat settings – When you grill in cold weather, keep one side of the grill on high and the other on low. This allows you to vary cooking times of the food; if a steak cooks quicker, you can shift it to the lower side to stay warm while the rest of the meal catches up.
• Keep a covered cast iron pan nearby – A cast iron pan holds the heat well, so it’s great to keep your food warm. As your food comes off the grill, put it in the pan and cover it.

Enjoy the game and your propane grill! And don’t forget – Irish Propane is always here if you need propane gas to power your grill or anything else in your home. Contact us today to learn more about our propane cylinder refill service!

Weather has gotten pretty unpredictable these days – and although it has been a relatively mild winter so far, we all know that severe weather can happen can visit the Rochester or Buffalo area at any time. That’s why many of us have installed a whole house propane generator – one of the best investments you can make for your home comfort and safety.

But a backup generator only helps if it performs when you need it most. To make sure it does, take the following steps before, during, and after severe winter weather:

During winter:

• Run your generator – Like any mechanical equipment, a generator that sits for long periods without running will eventually develop problems. Take your generator for a test run at least once per month to lubricate moving parts and maintain important seals (you wouldn’t leave your car in the driveway all winter without starting it up occasionally then expect it to run, would you? The same principle applies here). Power up to a full load and observe any problems.
• Schedule a propane delivery – Make sure your propane generator has enough propane to get you through at least a week without power, since emergencies may delay deliveries. Be sure to keep access to your generator’s fill valve clear, keeping at least an 18” pathway to your generator for clear of snow and debris for service and propane deliveries.
• If you’re leaving town, give keys to a neighbor – If severe weather is forecast when you’re leaving for vacation or traveling on business, make sure someone has access to your home in case of emergency.
• Keep operating records – Record any incident in which your generator is called into service, along with any problems that occur.

In the offseason:

• Read up – Don’t wait for severe weather to read the operating manual.
• Service your equipment – Invest in a professional inspection and repairs – preferably twice a year (pre-winter and pre-storm season in the summer).
• Run your generator – Continue to run your generator for a few minutes once every three months or so during the offseason to make sure everything is in working order.
• Prepare for the worst – Develop a “plan B” if your generator does not start.
• Review your plan – Take notes about what worked and didn’t work in your approach; make changes as needed.

Stay one step ahead of severe winter weather with a propane backup generator – powered by fuel from Irish Propane! Contact us today to learn more, or to schedule your propane delivery.

Can you believe it’s 2020? Neither can we. But ready or not, a new decade has dawned, and we here at Irish Propane are ready to go with reliable propane deliveries that will keep your family safe and warm and your business on the go!

What can you do to make this a home comfort year to remember? Here are some ideas that will save you money, help your equipment run better, and up the fun factor in your Buffalo- or Rochester-area home in the year ahead.

1. Get to know 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 and forget your programmable thermostat so it drops temps by 7-10 degrees at night and when you’re away from home.
2. Stay on top of your air filters – Replace the air filters on your HVAC system 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.
3. Make it automatic – Save time, a stamp, storage space, and maybe even a tree when you sign up for autopay from Irish propane. We’ll deduct your bill from your bank account via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)—about the safest and fastest way to pay your bills. We’ll send your statements by email—you can always view your bill online and print it whenever you’d like.
4. Get predictable – Stressed by the ups and downs of your heating bill? Sign up for our budget payment plan and stretch those payments out over the course of a full year, with no financing charges. You’ll have the same predictable bill for your propane deliveries month after month.
5. Go all in on propane – Whether you want to come home to a cozy fireplace this winter, swim in a heated pool next summer, or have protection from power outages all year long, powerful and super-efficient propane-powered appliances can deliver the home comfort, safety, and security you need.
6. Up the efficiency ante – Want to drop your energy bills and shrink your carbon footprint? Commit to making your home more energy efficient in 2020! Some small and easy ideas include:
   
   
   
   • Replacing your aerators and showerheads with low-flow versions to cut down your hot water use.
   
   
   • Replacing incandescent and fluorescent bulbs with LEDs
   
   
   • Re-caulking and weather stripping windows to reduce drafts
   
   
   • Lower your water heater thermostat temperature to 120°
   You can find more energy saving ideas on the U.S. Department of Energy website.
7. Maintain and upgrade your equipment – Professional annual maintenance is the key to keeping your propane equipment running safely and efficiently year after year. Once your home heating equipment needs to be replaced, 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.

Put your comfort and convenience at the top of your priority list in 2020, with reliable propane deliveries from the pros at Irish Propane. Contact us today to become an Irish Propane customer!