Frequently Asked Questions

Out of Gas, now what do I do? If your tank is out of gas, please give us a call at 707-762-4511 for an appointment to service your tank. Interruptions in service require an equipment inspection and a PSI test of your fuel lines. DeCarli’s Propane will be happy to meet a responsible adult at the delivery address at time of delivery. We are required to perform a PSI test to ensure the integrity and safety of your propane piping system. When your propane service is reinstated we will inspect your appliances to be sure they get back on line. If you are not an “Automatically Routed Customer, there may be a charge for this process. Regardless of account status, this practice is required by DeCarli’s Propane and National Fuel Gas Association for your safety.

Can I relight my pilot lights? The manufacturer may have printed instructions on the appliance to follow. However, we strongly recommend that for safety reasons you avoid unnecessary risks by having a trained professional relight your pilot lights, especially if your tank has run out of gas. Please contact DeCarli’s Propane.

Smell a Gas leak? or be prepared to deal with one? Open doors and windows to ventilate and have all people and pets exit the home. Do not operate any lights or electrical equipment when exiting. Then call us at our office for further assistance. If you are comfortable the shut off valve to the house or turn off the valve at the tank. If not watch this video to see how to handle the situation.

Smelling a strong Gas smell at your cooking stove/oven? Check your tank gauge percentage. The odorant in the tank concentrates at the bottom and if the tank is low the smell will come through the lines and be noticed where there are open flames. This will continue until the tank is re-filled. Call us if you are low and/or smelling gas.

How to turn on/off propane tank? Watch this video to see how to shut the tank on/off. We strongly recommend that for safety reasons that you only turn the tank off in case of emergency. We will have to perform a mandatory PSI test to turn the gas back on and relight pilots.

Why isn’t my tank filled to 100%? Propane is delivered and stored in liquid form. Propane liquid, for example, will expand nearly 17 times more than water at the same temperature rise. As a result, tanks and cylinders are never completely filled with propane-gas liquid. Tanks are filled to about 80 to 85 percent of their capacity. This leaves a space above the liquid, allowing it to expand freely due to changes in temperature. One of the important things to remember about propane is that any change in temperature on the outside of a container is transferred directly from the ambient temperature surrounding the container. Hot days, cool nights, rain, and snow are a few of the many factors that affect the temperature of the liquid. Because of these temperature changes, you may see fluctuations in your container gauge.

Is propane safe to use in my home? Propane is a safe fuel to use in your home. Propane has a narrow range of flammability and cannot be ingested like gasoline because it is released as a vapor. With proper care and maintenance of your tank and pipes, propane is worry free.

Who uses propane? Millions of Americans each day just like you. Propane fulfills energy needs by burning cleanly and efficiently, giving you more value for you energy dollar. People use propane in and outside their homes for furnaces, water heaters, air conditioners, outdoor grills and appliances; on farms; for industrial uses such as forklifts and fleet vehicles; and in millions of commercial establishments, including restaurants and hotels that depend on propane for heating, cooking and other uses.

Why chose propane over electricity? According to the US Department of Energy, it could cost up to twice as much to operate your range, water heater, dryer or furnace with electricity than with propane gas. Propane gas furnaces and heaters provide more consistent warm air throughout your home at a lower cost and more efficient than electric heat pumps (especially in this region!) and have a longer average life span of 20 years as opposed to an electric heat pumps’ average 12 year life span.

How does Propane compare to other forms of energy? Propane can be up to 25% cheaper than electricity in certain regions. In addition, when tank levels are properly maintained such as on our “Routed delivery” program, propane provides a virtually uninterruptible power supply. That is reassuring when “brownouts” or “blackouts” occur when too many users are drawing electricity during high consumption periods, like cold winter months.

Is Propane dangerous to the environment? No. Propane is an approved, alternative clean fuel listed in the 1990 Clean Air Act and the National Energy Policy Act of 1992. Propane is one of the cleanest burning of all alternative fuels. Propane is also nontoxic, so it’s not harmful to soil or water. We believe in propane so much that all our Fleet run on propane even the delivery trucks.

What can I do to conserve energy costs? Here are some Energy Saving Tips. For additional tips you may want to visit the Home Energy Saver website.

• Change or clean furnace filters once a month during the heating season.
• Replace old, outdated appliances with high-efficiency models.
• Close vent and doors in unused rooms and dampers on unused fireplaces.
• Lower the thermostat on water heaters to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Check to see if your attic and basement have the recommended levels of insulation.
• Keep the lint filter on your dryer clean. Dirty lint filters restrict air flow and can also be fire hazards.
• Lower your thermostats when away from the house for more than a few hours.
• Install a programmable thermostat.

How and when was propane discovered? Propane was first identified as a volatile component in gasoline by Walter O. Snelling. In 1912, after hearing a man complain of gas vapors leaking from his new Ford Model T, Dr. Snelling decided to investigate. He took a glass jug with gasoline and corked it. While transporting the jug, he noticed the cork kept popping out. This single observation eventually led to the discovery of propane. Upon examining the vapors, Dr. Snelling realized that they could be used as an energy source. He discovered that once the propane component was controlled, this versatile fuel could be safely used for many purposes from cooking to cutting metal, and from there, the many benefits of propane continued to evolve.

Some information obtained from www.npga.com