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When it comes to running your business, your bottom line is as important to delivering great product and service. Keeping a sharp eye on every line item in your budget is essential.
Expenses like electricity can seem nonnegotiable. Sure, you can take measures to save energy—LED bulbs, lights on timers—but it’s essential for computers, and lights. But you might be surprised to find that many of the systems and equipment that are essential for your operation could run more efficiently with commercial propane.
Propane generates more Btus than an equivalent amount of electricity, so you need much less propane to produce the same amount of heat or energy. Also, commercial propane appliances and equipment are very efficient, so they waste very little fuel in the combustion process.
Tired of soaring electric bills? Here’s how commercial propane can help reduce energy costs and power your commercial operations more efficiently.
Commercial spaces tend to be large, open areas. That makes them harder to heat and harder to keep warm. Propane furnaces are more efficient than electric heating systems, and provide more even, comfortable heat.
Commercial propane heating equipment has a wide range of capacity as well as flexibility, ranging from 44,000 Btus with efficiency levels of up to 98 percent, to capacities as large as 225,000 Btus and higher. Depending on what type of heating you need—for example, for multiple smaller tenants or one large one, you can take advantage of roof-top units, multiple smaller furnaces that can meet the heating needs of specific parts of the building. That type of zoning ability not only improves efficiency, but offers great value for your tenants.
Propane is also great for agricultural heating, such as greenhouses, barns and more.
Even if the only need for hot water in your commercial building is for restrooms, if you are using propane for space heating, it only makes sense to use this versatile and efficient fuel for water heating, too. Propane ideal for heating water for all the same reasons it’s great at generating heat. Depending on the needs of your operation or your tenants, you can install a single propane tank water heater or multiple, individual tankless units for each tenant. Individual on-demand water heaters mean you (or your tenants) aren’t paying to heat water over weekends and at night, unless they need to.
Compared to electric-powered forklifts, propane-powered forklifts perform more like gas-powered equipment. They’re better at handling heavy loads and more capable when it comes to inclines. And, they are safe to use indoors and out.
In addition to forklifts, propane can be used to power a wide range of equipment, including
welding equipment, pressure washers, small cranes, agricultural and landscaping equipment, and more.
Professional chefs prefer gas for cooking. Hotels, hospitals, nursing facilities all benefit from propane for cooking, water heating and space heating, as well as for industrial washers and clothes dryers, just to name a few. Propane is also ideal for patio heaters and outdoor lighting.
Whether you are operating your own business or have commercial tenants, imagine the value you can offer with a propane backup generator that will turn on automatically in the event of a power outage. It can be set up to operate essential systems for your building and your tenants, protecting perishables, keeping security systems and computer systems online and operating until the utilities can make repairs.
If you’re looking to save money for your operation or add value for your tenants, talk to the propane experts at SWVA about adding propane to your commercial property. Our team has the experience to make sure you have the right size tank to service your building and your needs, and set up a customized automatic delivery schedule for you. Find out why so many commercial building owners in Radford and southwest Virginia prefer SWVA!
Contact us for more information today.
Propane storage tanks have a pretty long life—the refillable cylinders you use with a portable grill or an RV can last 5 to 10 years as long as they are regularly checked and recertified. And larger propane tanks last even longer, since they don’t get banged up from frequent transport and exchange. Rust, dents or signs of corrosion are signs that it’s time to replace any propane tank, large or small. But even the smallest amount of propane left in a tank can be hazardous if you don’t dispose of your tank properly.
So what’s the best way to dispose of them safely and responsibly at your southwest Virginia home?
If you buy your propane from us, we’ll make sure your propane tank is in good shape when we make deliveries. And, if it does need to be replaced, due to age or damage, we’ll handle it for your safely. We will purge any remaining propane and transport the tank for disposal or recycling as scrap.
The team at SWVA has more than 50 years of experience installing tanks safely and we can also make sure your old tank is disconnected and safely transported away. We’ve got you covered for your replacement propane tank too. We’ll make sure your needs haven’t changed and ensure your tank is the right size to fuel the appliances and equipment in your home.
If you use a refillable 5- or 10-gallon tank for your grill or outdoor firepit, recycling is easy. Propane dealers who refill these propane tanks will make sure your tank is in good shape and can sell you a new tank when yours is no longer usable. All DOT portable propane tanks must be recertified for use every 5 or 10 years, depending on the cylinder type, condition, and previous recertification method. When it’s time to retire your tank, your propane dealer should be able to take your old tank and make it’s completely empty, disassemble it and sell the tank as scrap.
If the propane dealer who refills your propane tank can’t take it, contact your town’s public works department about recycling your tank, or your local hazardous waste disposal site. You shouldn’t try to empty the tank yourself. If you don’t completely empty it and the tank gets put into a compactor, it could ignite or explode.
If you work with a company that exchanges your empty tank for a full one, they make sure the tanks in circulation are in good shape and dispose of the old ones properly so you don’t have to.
Just as important as having a well-maintained propane tank is knowing that you have reliable propane delivery service. That’s one of the many reasons so many homeowners and businesses in Radford and southwest Virginia trust SWVA for prompt, safe, and courteous propane delivery service. Contact us today to learn more and become a customer.
As the hassle of dealing with kindling, logs and ash gets less appealing, more customers are contacting us looking for information about converting their hearth to propane fireplace. People who don’t have a chimney are excited to learn that the dream of a cozy fireplace can come true. Not only are propane fireplaces good looking and easy to install almost anywhere, they’re a great option for supplemental heat!
One of the most common questions that people have is how long you can run a gas log. The answer is that it depends on whether your log set is vented or vent free.
Direct vent and vent-free gas fireplace technology are both great ways to add a gas fireplace even if you don’t have a chimney or flue. All that’s needed is access to propane gas.
With direct venting, a single dual-chambered pipe is installed directly through a wall to the outdoors. The pipe simultaneously draws air for the fire from the outdoors, while it expels the fire’s combustion byproducts to the outside. That means you can run a vented gas log set virtually as long as you want.
You can also convert traditional fireplaces to a maintenance-free propane hearth with a gas log insert. The existing chimney is used to vent combustion gases up and out—and, like a direct-vented set, you can run it as much as you want.
Ventless models have a regulator that produces a fine gas-air mix that allows the gas to burn cleanly, producing minimal fumes associated with traditional gas fireplaces. However, because there’s no vent, it’s not recommended to run them for more than a couple hours at a time.
There has been buzz in the media about gas cooking stoves and fireplaces emitting harmful pollutants such as carbon monoxide. But the fact is that burning anything will produce carbon monoxide and particulate matter. Another concern is about the amount of methane—a potent greenhouse gas—being released from natural gas sources indoors, in cooking stoves as well as gas fireplaces. However, propane does not contain methane and is not a greenhouse gas!
If you are planning to run your vented gas logs a lot, the real question is should be whether a propane fireplace is efficient to run. The good news is that that propane fireplaces run at about 80 percent efficiency—which makes them four or five times more efficient than a wood-burning fireplace.
Today’s propane logs use a remote control and a thermostat that lets you dial up the heat you want—which is great not only for controlling temperature, but for controlling your propane use. Those electric igniters are also more efficient than a standing pilot light.
Another feature you don’t get with a wood fireplace are multispeed blowers that push warm air into the room, providing better, more even heat—especially in larger spaces like great rooms.
Lastly, they let you spend time enjoying time with family and friends, not tending a fire—how efficient is that? Stop by our showroom to explore beautiful options from all the leading brands, and let our expert team help you select the best type of propane fireplace for your southwestern Virginia home. Contact us for more information today.
If you experience frequent power outages where you live, you know the value of a backup generator. Losing power for a couple hours is annoying, but an outage lasting much longer starts to be expensive, and even dangerous. That’s why it’s important to give your generator regular maintenance. What that maintenance entails—and how often you need to perform it—depends on what type of generator you’re using.
If you’ve invested in a propane-powered standby generator, most manufacturer guidelines recommend performing a tune-up every two to four years, or after every 200 to 400 hours of use. If you aren’t sure the last time you changed the oil, cleaned the filters and spark plugs, or checked battery levels, you should put that at the top of your to-do list and follow the manufacturer’s directions.
In addition to mechanical maintenance, you can protect against exterior corrosion by touching up chipped paint. You also want to make sure small animals haven’t created a nest underneath the unit. (Ask your dealer about installing a barrier to help prevent critters from moving in.) A confident DIY-er can handle most of the tasks, but you may want to call a pro.
A portable generator requires a little more frequent attention. You should change the oil and change the spark plug every year, or after every 100 hours of use. For every 200 hours of operation, you should clean or change the air filters, and you need to check the oil level before each use.
Here in southwestern Virginia, a summer thunderstorm or winter ice and snow are equally likely to bring down lines and knock out electricity, leaving you without power for days. And wetter storms mean flooding can affect power, too. It’s more important than ever to be prepared. A backup propane generator comes on within seconds of a power failure to keep your lights on and your refrigerator, furnace and a/c running until the utilities get the lines back up. It will also keep security systems on—giving you peace of mind, especially if the power fails while you’re away.
Propane generators are quiet, extremely efficient and clean-burning, with low emissions. They are less expensive (and less stinky) to run than gas-powered options, too.
There are a wide variety of size options, from “essential power” models that will power key equipment such as your refrigerator, heat, and lights, to true whole-house generators that can manage the demands of most extra-large homes, even during extended outages. If you already use propane in your home, it’s easy to add a standby propane generator, and we can help make sure it’s connected properly. We’ll also ensure you always have enough propane for your daily needs as well as to get you through a storm with our reliable automatic delivery service.
Contact us today for more information about how a generator can help protect your home—and even help lower your insurance costs!
If you are building or buying a new home, you have a long list of decisions to make. Some things, such as paint colors, are more personal, but others are more practical: flooring needs to be functional for the space as well as attractive. Choosing a kitchen range is similar. Appearance and features are part of the decision, but efficiency and performance are important, too, and that’s where propane stands out.
Watch any cooking show, and you’ll never see a chef futzing with trying to heat a pot of skillet over an electric coil. Peek into the kitchen of your favorite restaurant—or sit at a chef’s table with a view of the culinary action—and you’ll see a gas-fired range. But you don’t need to be a professional chef to appreciate the benefits of cooking with a propane stove. Here’s how they compare:
As you can tell, cooking with propane gas is a smart choice for a lot of reasons. Here’s one more to consider: Propane gives you a lot more versatility and choice when it comes to running other appliances in your home: water heating, laundry equipment and a range of other appliances can all be run by clean-burning efficient propane instead of electricity.
Want to learn more? Talk to the pros at SWVA. We are happy to answer all your questions and help you create your dream home with a propane range and other appliances, too! Contact us today for more information.
Looking for an efficient way to add supplemental heat? Or maybe you’re thinking about boosting your home’s value. Adding a propane fireplace (or converting your woodburning fireplace to a gas log set) is an option that meets both those needs beautifully. There are plenty of reasons people love their propane-fueled hearths. Here are just a few:
Nothing beats the cozy charm and ambiance of a fireplace. Let the team at SWVA show you how easy and affordable installing a gas fireplace or stove can be. We service and install everything we sell, and we stand by our work. Come by our Radford showroom and browse your options, with great looking styles from Heatmaster, Golden Blount, Heatstar, Buck Stove and RH Peterson.
Contact us for more information today, and kick back by your own fireplace before the holidays.
If you’re new to propane and you’re getting a new propane storage tank installed at your home, you probably have lots of questions about where this big piece of equipment will go on your property. While curb appeal is important, there are a few considerations besides aesthetics when it comes to the location of your propane tank. The pros at SVWA can answer all your questions and will help you choose the best location for you tank that’s safe and also doesn’t distract from the look of your home. If you’re replacing an old tank, it usually makes the most sense to keep the same set-up. But if it’s a new propane tank—or you want to change what you had before, here’s what to consider:
There are safety regulations that dictate location of above-ground propane storage tanks, and size is a key factor:
Underground tanks have the same distance requirements as above-ground tanks. There are also requirements for the excavation:
Don’t forget to consider any other systems around your home, such as sprinkler and septic systems, which could be damaged or affected by excavation or installation equipment and or propane delivery trucks.
Low-hanging power lines could also create challenges for installation as well as for delivery trucks.
Once you’ve made your decisions about size and location, we’ll take care of the rest, from permits to lighting your pilots after your first fill-up. Depending on the size of the tank, we’ll use a crane to lift and place the tank on its concrete pad, or lower it into the ground if you’re opting for an underground installation. After the tank has been set and leveled, we’ll run the LP Gas yard lines connecting the gas plumbing stub out and propane tank regulator, cover the trench with backfill, test the system for leaks, and fill up your tank. Following the test and safety inspection, we’ll light any pilot lights, check appliances for proper operation and answer any questions you may have about the tank installation, service arrangements or delivery schedules.
Whether you decide on an above-ground or underground propane tank, know that the pros at SWVA can make selection, installation and maintenance of your tank easy. And we’ll provide reliable propane delivery services, too. Contact us for more information today.
As electric rates go up and the grid remains vulnerable to storms as well as increased demand, many homeowners are looking for a domestic fuel source for heating with less volatile prices. It’s why many people are discovering the many benefits of clean-burning propane. But what exactly is propane and how is it made?
Propane is a byproduct of natural gas, and one of the cleanest, most versatile and efficient fuels around.. For the most part, propane comes from domestic natural gas processing, especially since shale gas extraction has increased in the U.S. in recent decades. Today, close to 70 percent of the U.S. propane supply comes from natural gas processing here and in Canada.
As natural gas is processed, the liquid components are recovered, producing propane as well as methane, butane and ethane. Propane is shipped to bulk distribution centers by pipeline, tanker ship, railroad, truck or barge. From there, propane distributors bring it to local propane providers like SWVA.
Because it is compressed and stored in a liquid state, it is sometimes referred to as Liquid Petroleum Gas or LPG.
It’s a domestically sourced alternative fuel that can provide steady, reliable heat at an affordable price. Propane also offers exceptional performance and efficiency in a wide range of home appliances at a much lower cost than electricity.
Here’s what else you probably didn’t know about propane, and why so many customers are making the switch:
Propane generates more Btus than an equivalent amount of electricity, and it delivers more than twice the Btus of natural gas, so you need much less propane to produce the same amount of heat or energy.
Also, propane appliances are very efficient so they waste very little fuel in the combustion process. On the other hand, about two-thirds of the energy used by a power plant to generate and transmit electricity is wasted.
Because propane is so efficient, it’s a smarter choice than electricity for a wide variety of appliances, in addition to heating your home. For example, propane water heaters generate much more hot water at a cheaper cost per gallon. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, homes that heat water with propane rather than electricity can see significant savings.
The same technology that makes propane ideal for space heating and water heaters makes it a smarter choice than electricity to power all kinds of appliances that use hot water or heat:
While it’s a highly flammable gas under certain conditions, leaks are rare and propane is a safe and clean-burning way to heat your home and water, and run many of your appliances. Propane has a distinct rotten-egg smell to help you quickly notice leaking gas.
Propane can also help keep your home and family safe: When storms knock out power, a propane-fueled backup generator will keep your lights and everything else running until the utility companies can make repairs. In addition, a gas stove will continue to work during a power outage. Now that’s peace of mind.
Whether you’re ready to make the switch, or have more questions, the professionals at SWVA have the knowledge, experience and resources to answer all your questions about the benefits of a propane-powered home. And, we can get you started, with the right size propane tank for your needs, reliable propane delivery and more.
Contact us for more information today.
Are you in the market for a new propane storage tank? Maybe you’ve added appliances, or built an addition and you need a bigger tank to meet your needs. Maybe your current tank is old and no longer can be certified. Or maybe you’ve bought a new home. If the previous owners leased their tank and you want to switch to a different provider, you’ll need to buy a new tank or lease one from the provider you choose.
You might be wondering if there are benefits to owning vs leasing a tank. The fact is, there are benefits and downsides to either option. But no matter what you need, the team at SWVA can help you navigate your choices and find the solution and the best tank for your situation.
The main advantage of owning your propane tank is that you can switch suppliers without having to replace your tank. That’s because if your tank is leased, you can only buy propane from the company that owns the tank.
If you plan to switch propane suppliers often—which is a bit of a hassle if you think you may save a few dollars—then owning a tank could be right for you.
The downside of owning your propane storage tank is that the responsibility for the tank is also yours. That includes maintenance, repairs, fees, safety checks, and more. There are also up-front purchase and installation costs. In fact, buying and installing your own tank could cost anywhere from $450 to $3,000, depending on its size and type!
On the other hand, if you have a company that you like and trust, leasing a tank can be your best option.
When you lease your tank from SVWA, you can rest assured we will provide safe, expert installation of your propane storage tank, and we will perform a thorough inspection of your tank and appliances and provide a safety certification for your home. And when you need a propane refill, you can count on us for prompt, reliable, safe and courteous propane delivery.
To help you choose the right size tank for your home or business, we need to know how you will use propane. To help you assess your needs, we’ll talk to you about a variety of factors:
Whether you’re a homeowner or a business owner, you can rely on us for a full range of convenient services, including budget friendly payment options, automatic delivery service and, as well as equipment sales and installation. We look forward to serving you. Contact us today to learn more about propane tank leasing, or to become a customer.
When you’re in business, keeping your eye on efficiency, cost, and value is right up there with delivering a great product or service. That’s why you should know all the benefits of commercial propane. Manufacturing, construction, warehousing, agriculture, landscaping, hospitality, and a broad range of other industries all rely on commercial propane. And whether you need bulk propane for your business, or a cylinder exchange program, the experts at SWVA Gas Service can help you make the most of propane for your business or farm.
Here are 20 great reasons to use propane in your business:
We understand that for business owners, the bottom line is always top of mind. We’re business owners, too, and that’s why SWVA Gas Service is committed to providing the same superb and attentive service to our commercial accounts as to our residential clients. Not only that, we have fair, transparent pricing so there are no surprises for you.
Contact us today for more information.
