Author: andrew@agency15.com

When most people imagine a carbon-free future, the fuel they probably think of most often is electricity. But there’s an even better way to shrink your personal carbon footprint: switch to propane gas.

Consider choosing propane for these great reasons and more:

• It’s greener – Choose propane rather than electricity for space heating, cooking, clothes drying, and water heating and you could cut your carbon footprint in half. Replace your electric clothes dryer with a propane fueled model, for example, and you could reduce CO emissions by as much as three tons over the course of its useful life, says the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC).
• It’s more efficient to produce – Nearly two-thirds of electricity generated at most power plants is lost between the plant and the consumer, says the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The energy produced by propane gas, on the other hand, is generated on the spot after being transported easily and safely.
• It can be used anywhere – More than 12 million households in rural America depend on propane for heat, power, and appliances. Remote commercial enterprises rely on propane, too: for example, four out of five of U.S. farmers use propane grain dryers to reduce crop loss, improve yield, and preserve margins.
• It’s great in a crisis – Propane is a reliable energy source after hurricanes, wildfires, or other disasters paralyze a community. It’s also the perfect fuel for generators, which can keep your appliances, safety systems, and other equipment working when the grid is down.
• It saves money for those who need it most – According to a study released by the American Gas Association, policies that would force residents to convert their homes to electricity would increase average residential energy costs by as much as $910 per year, forcing lower income Americans to choose between heating their homes and critical necessities like food and medicine.

When it comes to providing high efficiency, eco-friendly energy, few options top propane gas. Contact us today to learn more about propane deliveries in Buffalo or Rochester, NY!

Please note: At Irish Propane, your safety and comfort are always our priority. Please see our Covid-19 Service Update Page to learn more about how we are working to keep our your family and our crews safe and your propane deliveries coming when you need them.

Just because you’re doing your part to flatten the coronavirus curve doesn’t mean you have to deprive yourself of delectable dinners for your family and roommates prepared on your propane grill.

Just remember to grill safely.

Each year, thousands of preventable grilling accidents cause everything from minor to severe injuries to backyard chefs across the country; needless to say, you want to avoid these injuries – and the visits to the hospital that come with them – this spring.

Here are nine safety reminders for your spring outdoor propane grilling season.

Outdoor Grilling Safety

1. Always stay near your grill – Unattended grills are the source of more than 46 percent of cooking fire-related civilian injuries, says the National Fire Protection Association – more than any other factor.
2. Keep it clean – Flare-ups from leftover grease can cause severe burns; thoroughly clean your propane grill after every use.
3. Leave space between your grill and your home – Keep your grill at least five to six feet from the house – on a level surface that is clear of potential fire hazards.
4. Do a leak check – Before you light your grill, check it for leaks – especially if you have just changed your propane cylinder.
5. Be prepared for a fire – Keep a fire extinguisher near your grill and make sure everyone knows where it is. Baking soda will also work in a pinch. NEVER try to put out a grease fire with water.
6. Never use an outdoor propane grill in your home – Not only is it a fire hazard, it can also cause a deadly build-up of carbon monoxide inside your home.
7. Keep the lid open until you’re sure the grill is lit – A closed lid can cause an explosive build-up of propane gas.
8. Shut down your gas grill completely when you finish cooking – Turn off both the burner control and the cylinder valve.
9. Correctly store replacement propane cylinders – Keep them outdoors in their vertical position.

Stay safe at home this spring by following propane safety rules inside and outside your Buffalo or Rochester home. If you need a propane delivery for your home or outdoor kitchen, remember that Irish Propane is on the job and ready to bring you the fuel you need. Contact us today to schedule a propane delivery in Rochester or Buffalo, NY.

Please note: At Irish Propane, your safety and comfort are always our priority. Please see our Covid-19 Service Update Page to learn more about how we are working to keep our your family and our crews safe and your propane deliveries coming during this challenging time.

If you call in your propane orders rather than relying on automatic propane delivery, the most important job you have is to keep an eye on your propane levels. The question is, how do you do it?

Checking The propane gauge:

Reading a propane tank gauge is actually quite easy: just look for a round dial near the top of your propane tank that looks like a speedometer; once you find it, simply read the gauge just as you would the gas gauge on your car.

But there is a bit of a catch.

For safety reasons, an aboveground propane tank is only filled to 80 percent of its stated capacity – the remaining 20 percent of the tank remains empty to allow the gas to expand as temperatures rise. That means that a 320-gallon tank, when full, will actually contain only 256 gallons of propane.

When to schedule a propane delivery:

With less fuel in your tank than you think, you can understand why it’s so important to schedule your propane delivery when the tank is no less than one-quarter full – especially during a cold snap here in Buffalo and Rochester. That will give our delivery team enough time to make a propane delivery before you run out of fuel – a hassle and expense you definitely want to avoid.

If you do run out of propane, don’t panic – call Irish Propane for an emergency propane delivery and service. We will inspect your propane equipment and perform your mandatory leak and pressure test, then get your tank refilled so you can get your heat back on as quickly as possible.

For reliable propane gas delivery in our Buffalo or Rochester service areas, trust the experts at Irish Propane. Contact us today to learn more, or to become an Irish Propane customer.

For the Irish Companies, the C-Suite should probably be called the W-suite.

From our Chairman of the Board and CEO to our COO and CIO, our company is led by strong women – the core of our fourth-generation family-owned business that took the reins from Bob Irish after his passing.

Led by Family Matriarch and Irish Company Board Chair Marcia Irish – the architect and instiller of many of the core operating principles that still guide the company today – Irish Propane and Irish Carbonic continue to innovate and evolve to partner with residential and commercial customers in Buffalo, NY, Rochester, NY and cities throughout Ohio.

From CEO Laurie Irish-Jones and COO Pam Irish to CIO Victoria Wasson, our team of women leaders continues to drive our mission to deliver peace of mind to the people and businesses we serve. We are proud to be a certified Women’s Business Enterprise (MWBE) and continue to live by the core values of integrity, respect, strong work ethic, honesty, and fun that have guided us since our early beginnings.

To learn more about our family and our history, check out this video – or better yet, become an Irish Propane customer or Irish Carbonic customer and join our family yourself. You’ll always get fair and honest pricing, there-when-you-need-us service, and the most exacting safety standards you’ll find in our industries and service areas.

Are YOU the Irish Company’s longest customer?! We are choosing two winners — the customer who has been with us the longest, and also one more name drawn at random as a way to say thanks for your business. Both winners will be awarded a $50 gift card, from our customer Amherst Pizza & Ale House. Enter by posting your story in our Facebook comments section below by March 31, 2020!

A storage tank is the heart of a propane-powered home, and choosing the right one for the job isn’t always as easy a decision as you might think (a big reason why we supply your tank when you become an Irish Propane customer).

Still, it’s always best to be an educated customer, so we’ve prepared this short guide to talk about some of the decisions that go into selecting a propane tank that’s right for your Rochester- or Buffalo-area home.

Consideration 1: Underground vs. aboveground

Choosing between an above-ground and under-ground propane storage tank largely comes down to three factors: your preferred aesthetics, whether or not it is legal to install an underground tank in your town and on your property, and what size you need (underground propane tanks can have a larger capacity than aboveground propane tanks).

Consideration 2: Shape

Aboveground propane tanks come in two basic types: horizontal tanks and vertical cylinders. Horizontal propane tanks are high-capacity containers typically used where propane is the main source of heat in the home. Because they hold more propane, they reduce your need for winter propane deliveries, which can help in areas where weather is unpredictable (like, we don’t know, everywhere around here). Vertical propane cylinders are generally smaller, so they can be placed out of sight against a building or near a property line.

Consideration 3: Size

Above ground propane tanks come in sizes ranging from 120 to 1000+ gallons. Some common propane tank sizes are:

• 120-gallon, 150-gallon or 250-gallon tanks – Good for most propane equipment applications except whole-house heating. Equipment may include stoves, clothes dryers, water heaters, space heaters, generators or fireplaces.
• 325-gallon or 500-gallon tanks – These tanks are generally designed for households using 100–200 gallons a month; a 500-gallon propane tank will be appropriate to heat most houses ranging from 2,500 to 4,500 square feet.
• 1,000-gallon tanks and larger – These tanks are used for large residential applications (4,500+ square feet) or commercial and industrial applications.

Consideration 4: Owning vs. Leasing

Although there are some advantages to owning your own propane tank (controlling who supplies your propane gas being the big one), for most people the disadvantages of owning your propane tank far outweigh the benefits.

When you buy your own propane tank, for example, you are responsible for all installation and maintenance tasks associated with your tank, including repair, replacement, and parts. You are also responsible for recertifying the tank according to local and state laws.

When you lease a propane tank, on the other hand, the supplier is responsible for installing and maintaining your tank, and all the costs and procedures associated with those tasks.

No hassle propane tank installations when you become an Irish Propane customer

When you become an Irish Propane, we’ll provide you a propane storage tank and set you up for propane deliveries in Buffalo and Rochester. We’ll walk you through our recommendations, then install the tank correctly and in compliance with all applicable laws and codes. You’ll have none of the worry or cost of personal ownership of the tank, and you’ll know your propane tank will be installed the right way.

Whatever your preference or need, Irish Propane can provide great advice and expert propane tank installation in Buffalo and Rochester, NY. Contact us today to learn more about propane tank installation, or to become an Irish Propane customer!

Propane is a safe, effective and efficient fuel for your home heating and home comfort systems. As with any energy source, however, you need to know how to operate your propane equipment if you want to keep your family safe.

The two most important things to know if you’re the owner of a propane-powered home are how to detect a propane gas leak and what to do if you have one.

Here the basics.

How can I tell if I have a propane gas leak?

For your safety, propane manufacturers add a strong odorant to propane (usually ethyl mercaptan, which smells like rotten eggs) to help you detect a leak under most conditions.

As a precaution, however, we recommend that you install a propane gas detector in your home as well in the event you are suffering from a cold or allergies and can’t smell the odor. Carbon monoxide detectors are also critical, and required by law for most residences in New York State.

What should I do if I smell a propane gas leak?

If you detect the rotten egg smell of a propane gas leak, please take the following safety precautions:

• Do not operate lights, appliances, telephones, or cell phones. Flames or sparks from these sources can trigger an explosion or a fire.
• Leave the house immediately and call 911 from a friend’s house at a safe distance from your own.
• As you leave the house, do not touch any electrical outlets or light switches.
• Make sure you have any propane equipment checked and serviced before you use it again!

Look for more propane safety tips here.

Stay safe! Contact Irish Propane today to learn more about propane safety in your home or business, or to schedule a propane delivery in Rochester or Buffalo, NY!

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!

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.