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Is Propane Environmentally Friendly?

Propane Vs. Electric Appliances One of the biggest trends in home energy today is the aggressive government push for conversions to electric heat — at the expense of proven heating fuels like propane. The argument is that these electric conversions will reduce a home’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. But this logic doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. Right now, energy from our electric grid is far from clean. In 2021, the combustion of fossil fuels like natural gas and coal for electricity generation was the nation’s second-largest source of CO2 emissions . And in Pennsylvania, more than 60% of the electricity generated is still sourced from coal and natural gas . So how clean is propane? For starters, when you use propane appliances instead of electric ones, you’re relying on a fuel that produces far fewer greenhouse gas emissions than using an equivalent amount of electricity generated from the grid. Just as important in the propane vs. electricity debate is the topic of energy effic...
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Is a Heat Pump Right for My Home?

What You Should Know Before Switching With advanced technology making heat pumps a more viable option in cold climates like ours—combined with generous rebate programs and federal tax credits— it’s no surprise that interest in heat pumps continues to increase. How Do Heat Pumps Work? A heat pump runs on electricity and can either heat or cool a space. In traditional heat pump system, there is an indoor unit called an air handler and a unit similar to a central air conditioner installed outside. An outdoor compressor moves refrigerant inside and outside between these two units, absorbing or releasing heat. When it’s cold outside, a heat pump extracts outside heat from the ground and moves it indoors through your ductwork When it’s hot outside, the process is reversed, and the heat pump performs like an air conditioner, moving heat from indoors outside. How a Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pump System Works Instead of whole-house heating and cooling, ductless heat pump systems give ...
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What Vehicles Can Run on Propane Autogas?

Fleet Trucks, Vans, School Buses and Many More At Wilson Oil and Propane, we believe in propane autogas so strongly that we run the majority of our vehicle fleet on propane autogas . As you may know, propane autogas describes propane when it is used as a fuel for vehicles. Propane autogas is the world’s most popular alternative fuel, which is defined as any product that bypasses the two big traditional petroleum fuels: gasoline and diesel By relying on propane autogas, we have already displaced tens of thousands of gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel, which produce far more emissions than propane autogas. We also help local businesses be more eco-friendly by setting them up with a propane autogas dispensing station on their property, or scheduling regular on-site fueling by our delivery trucks. According to the Alternative Fuels Data Center, 60% of alternative-fuel vehicles nationwide now run on propane, from school buses to vans and fleet trucks to forklifts, lawnmowers and farm t...
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Is Your Generator Ready for Storm Season?

Follow These 3 Simple Steps If you’ve already invested in a whole-house backup propane generator , you always want to make sure it will operate properly whenever the power goes out. Please follow these tips to ensure you’re prepared for the next power outage. Check your fuel gauge. Make sure your generator has enough propane to get you through at least a week without power, since impassable roads and other emergencies may delay deliveries. How much is enough? As one example, a whole-house 22-kilowatt (kW) generator would burn between 2-3 gallons per hour, depending on the electrical load. Test your generator. Take your generator for a 20-to30 minute “test run” about once every three months. Power it up to a full load and observe—and then have corrected—any problems. In colder months, increase the frequency of test runs to about per month to keep moving parts lubricated. Follow maintenance guidelines. Preventative maintenance is the key to keeping your generator running at its b...
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Do You Need Air Conditioning Maintenance?

Air Conditioning Preventative Maintenance Makes a Difference! While early spring normally is too chilly to begin doing cooling tune-ups for our customers, there’s nothing wrong with booking your preventive maintenance service in advance so you can beat the warm weather rush. While the minimum outdoor temperature varies between models, it usually needs to be in the 60°F range before we start going out to do tune-ups. That’s because parts of your air conditioning system—including the refrigerant—are not designed to work below a certain temperature. How Important Is Annual A/C Maintenance? After a long hibernation over the fall and winter, your cooling system needs some attention so it can keep you cool all summer long without problems. That’s just one reason why maintenance is important. Manufacturers require annual maintenance to keep your warranty valid. It’s that crucial! A properly maintained central air conditioning system will have fewer breakdowns than one that has been negle...
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Benefits of Building a Home with Propane

What Propane Appliances Can I Use in My Home? Propane is an ideal option to power homes in the Delaware Valley. It’s a clean-burning, versatile and highly efficient fuel that provides a long list of benefits for homeowners. Many people, however, may choose an all-electric home because they view it as the “cleanest” energy choice. But, unless your electricity is completely generated from a renewable source like wind, solar, or hydropower (instead of coal or natural gas), that’s simply not true. Read about propane and the environment . After you let your home builder know that you prefer an all-propane home, Propane professionals can install properly sized propane storage tanks and then connect multiple propane gas appliances. Storage tanks can be placed aboveground or buried underground, and large community propane systems can even be designed to fuel an entire development. Propane also provides jobsite flexibility by providing energy for portable generators and temporary heaters wh...
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How Often Should HVAC Be Serviced?

Annual Maintenance Is a Vital Service You wouldn’t drive an entire year without taking your car to a trusted mechanic to change the oil and perform a safety and maintenance check, would you? If you did, the risk of your car breaking down and leaving you stuck with a high repair bill would increase dramatically. Just like your car, a home’s heating and central air conditioning equipment has a range of electrical and mechanical components that can wear down or break if you don’t follow your equipment manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations. The manufacturer can also void your warranty if you are negligent with equipment maintenance. Ideally, a heating and central air conditioning system should both be serviced once a year to ensure your HVAC equipment is operating safely and efficiently. Benefits of Annual HVAC Maintenance Getting yearly tune-ups on both your heating and cooling system is the most important thing you can do to ensure your equipment runs as efficiently as possi...
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