Have you recently moved to a home that uses propane? Congratulations! You are the beneficiary of an outstanding, efficient energy source that provides superior amenities in your home.
You’ll enjoy comfort with high-efficiency home heating and water heating systems that will keep your energy costs under control. Cooking on a propane range is a dream thanks to precise, instant temperature control that helps you make delicious meals. Get a cozy fire with the push of a button with a propane fireplace.
However, you need to know some basics about propane safety. We’ll walk through a few with you.
One of the first things you need to learn is how to turn off your home’s propane supply, both at your tank and at your propane appliances.
If you need to evacuate your home for weather or some other safety hazard, you must shut off your propane supply at the tank if you can safely get to it. The Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) has a video to show the steps in doing that.
Check the owner’s manuals for all your propane appliances and learn how to shut off the propane supply for each.
Propane has no odor in its natural state. During processing, an odorant is added to make propane leaks easier to detect. The way that smell is most commonly described it as being like rotten eggs. Make sure everyone knows that.
In its natural state, propane has no smell at all. An odorant is added during processing to give it a distinctive smell that makes it easy to be aware of a propane link. The most common description of that odor is that it’s like rotten eggs. Make sure everyone of all ages in your home knows that.
You may think that your home is safe if you have properly installed smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. However, neither of those can detect a propane leak. And there are times that you may not be able to smell propane’s distinct odor if it’s leaking. Reasons include:
These situations are why we urge our customers to install propane leak detectors in their homes. Propane leak detectors are affordable and can be purchased at your local hardware or home improvement store, or online. They need to be installed near all propane appliances and outside all sleeping areas.
Get reliable, safe delivery of propane to your home. Become a Servco customer today!
With summer in full swing here in Fairfield County, our attention is largely on summer fun.
Summer, on the other hand, is also a great time to think about your home’s heating system. If you take the time now to deal with any needed repairs or replacements, you’ll have comfort in knowing that your home’s furnace or boiler will be operational when you need it again this fall.
One advantage of having any heating system repairs or replacements done in the summer is the ease with which it can be done. Servco’s service department has a more flexible schedule, allowing us to arrive at your house as soon as possible to service your home’s furnace or boiler.
The team of Servco service technicians are highly trained and experienced. They have the knowledge to assist you in getting the most out of your home’s heating system. Our focus is always maintenance and repairs first.
Did you find that your heating or boiler system was having issues or simply performed inadequately during the winter? We can go over that during the summer, addressing any concerns and making any necessary repairs to ensure that your heating system is operating at peak efficiency next winter.
At Servco, we don’t believe in replacing a heating system simply because it’s old. If we discover that replacing your boiler or furnace may a better choice, we’ll tell you the truth, and give you a FREE estimate. We’re with you the whole way, helping you to secure financing and get any rebates your new heating system qualifies for. We’re also here for you in the future as our affordable service plans help you keep your new heating system in good running order while also helping you save on repair costs.
If it turns out that replacement is the way to go, doing it in the summer will have your new high-efficiency heating system installed and ready to get to work when cold weather arrives.
There are a number of things to think about before upgrading your home’s heating system. Here are some examples.
Repair costs. If your heading system needs extensive repair work and the cost is more than 50% of what it would cost to replace it, replacement likely makes the most fiscal sense.
Performance. If you are getting poor or uneven heating, we’ll thoroughly go over your heating system to see what repairs can be made and/or determine it’s time to start planning for its replacement.
Heating costs. If your heating costs have gone up but repairs don’t seem to make much of a dent, it’s time to start thinking about replacing your furnace or boiler. You’ll get a return on your investment from the first day you turn on your heating system thanks to improved efficiency and decreased energy costs.
Future plans. Do you intend to retire or relocate in the near future? It may be worth upgrading your heating system. If you’re looking to sell your home in the next few years, a new heating system may increase the value and appeal of the house to potential buyers. If you are planning to retire, a new furnace or boiler will give you better efficiency and lower energy costs. You also will not have to worry about replacing it right after moving to a fixed income.
Contact Servco today to schedule your heating system’s maintenance tune-up!
How old is your home’s heating oil tank? If it’s more than 20 years old, now is the time to start planning to replace it because you’re on borrowed time. A heating oil tank failure can be inconvenient, stressful, and potentially very expensive because of any cleanup costs for the spilled heating oil.
Servco is here for you! We’ll replace your heating oil tank with a new, high-quality tank. We take care of you every step of the way, securing any needed permits, installing your new tank to meet all regulations and codes, managing disposal of your old tank, and will alert you to any local or state fees for heating oil tank disposal.
There are some things to consider as you plan to replace your heating oil tank.
You need to know two figures.
First is the capacity of your heating oil tank, which is measured in gallons. Second are the dimensions of your tank in width, length, and height.
Your heating oil tank’s capacity is commonly stamped on the tank. If yours doesn’t have it, you can estimate using the dimensions.
A typical home heating oil tank size is 275 gallons and comes in either a vertical (275V) or horizontal (275H) orientation. There are other tank sizes, depending on it they are installed above ground or underground. Other aboveground tank sizes are 288, 340, 420, 500, 550, 675, and 1,000 gallons.
Measure the area where your new heating oil tank will be installed before you choose a new tank. You need to know that it will fit once installed.
Our heating oil pros will talk over your heating oil needs now, as well as take any future plans into consideration. For example, if you plan on expanding your family or if elderly parents are going to be moving in with you, your heating oil usage will likely increase. We’ll let you know if you may want to upgrade to a larger heating oil tank.
Servco Automatic Delivery customers are eligible to enroll in ProGuard heating oil tank insurance, which provides $50,000 of coverage for tank replacement and cleanup costs in the event of a heating oil tank failure.
Summer is a great time to replace your heating oil tank! You’ll be ready whenever you need to turn on the heat this fall. Contact us today to get started.
With summer approaching here in Fairfield County, we’ll soon be putting our home’s air conditioning to work.
Is yours ready for the job? If you haven’t gotten your annual A/C tune-up from Servco, it isn’t!
You wouldn’t drive your car for years without having the oil and filter changed or getting regular tune-ups, would you? It’s the same thing with your home’s air conditioning system if you don’t have an annual maintenance tune-up.
Your air conditioning put in a lot of work last summer. Before you use it this summer, it’ll need some attention.
Servco provides professional air conditioning maintenance services that ensure your system is in good working order and operating at peak efficiency. You’ll spend as little money on energy as feasible to keep your home cool and pleasant.
Our expert service technicians will also check your air conditioning system for any signs of trouble or problems during a regular maintenance tune-up. They’ll have the opportunity to fix them before they cause breakdowns or further damage.
Another incentive for yearly upkeep: Most A/C manufacturers require annual professional maintenance to keep the warranty in effect. If you don’t do that, and your warranty may not cover future repairs.
A full maintenance A/C tune-up is not a DIY project. It requires professional training, tools, and experience. There are, however, some ways you can help your air conditioning system run better.
Don’t let your home’s A/C go unmaintained this summer. Get in touch with Servco today to schedule a maintenance tune-up!
You know that propane is great for keeping your home warm and comfortable in the winter.
Did you know that propane’s versatility and efficiency also shine in the summer? Read on the learn more about how propane can enhance outdoor living at your home!
So much summer fun at home centers around your propane BBQ grill, whether it’s for easy and fast weeknight dinners, the kids’ pool parties, or cookouts with family and friends.
Your propane BBQ grill lets you take your cooking outside when you don’t want to be stuck in a hot kitchen.
You can end the hassle of having to exchange or refill a propane cylinder by connecting your built-in propane grill to your home’s propane tank.
Installing a pool or spa is a big investment. With propane, you can not only make the most of that investment but save money to boot. You’ll be able to start using your pool and spa earlier in the spring and later in the fall. Propane pool and spa heaters get the water warm in a fraction of the time comparable electric models take, saving you big on energy costs!
After dark, you may unwind in comfort with a propane patio and deck heater. You can sit down and have a glass of wine in front of a propane fire pit or a propane fireplace. Propane fireplaces, firepits, and patio and deck heaters allow you to stay comfortable even when there’s a nip in the air
If you love being outside but hate being bothered and bitten by mosquitoes, propane offers a solution! Propane-powered mosquito traps mimic human breath to lure mosquitoes to their doom. Some also work on biting flies.
You may create a warm glow in your backyard, as well as the front, with lovely propane-powered lights in designs to match all types of homes, including yours.
Propane cylinders make camping and RVing more fun and comfortable. The power camp grills, tent heaters, RV refrigerators and stoves, and more!
Servco’s dependable propane delivery can help you make your backyard a staycation destination. Become a customer today!
With the current volatile situation with global oil supplies, and the price spikes that have gone with it, the importance of decreasing our reliance on foreign oil has come into sharp focus.
The heating oil industry has long been helping pave the way for energy independence with the addition of heating oil blended with biofuels. At Servco, we deliver Bioheat® fuel, a blend of ultra-low sulfur heating oil with biodiesel.
Not only does using Bioheat fuel mean we’re using less oil, it also dramatically reduces greenhouse gas emissions and reduces wear on your home’s heating system so it can last longer with fewer repairs.
If you don’t know much about biofuels, we’ve put together some information you’ll find interesting.
The most common biofuels are ethanol and biodiesels. Ethanol is an alcohol made from the sugars found in common grains as well as sugar beets, rice, and grass clippings. It is commonly used as an additive in gasoline for motor vehicles.
Biodiesels, also known as biomass-based diesel fuels, are made from renewable resources such as plant oils, animal fats, recycled restaurant cooking grease, and algae. Biodiesels are what is added to Bioheat fuel.
Biodiesels have the highest energy balance of any fuel. Energy balance is defined as energy intake vs. energy expenditure. Biodiesels return 3.2 units of energy for every one unit of fossil energy needed to create it.
Biodiesels are used in a wide range of ways. This past December, a United Airlines passenger flight fueled entirely by biofuels went from Chicago to Washington, DC.
Biofuels contain virtually zero sulfur, making them easily biodegradable as well as clean burning. In the event of a leak in your tank or a big spill, biofuels that leak out will not harm your soil or groundwater in the same way petroleum diesel fuel would.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the United States is the world’s largest user of biodiesels, accounting for 22% of biodiesel used worldwide. Brazil and France are in a distant second place, each using about 10%. The U.S. produces about 1.81 billion gallons of biodiesel each year.
Whether you’re in Bethel, Stamford, or other nearby Fairfield County communities, Servco provides reliable delivery of cleaner-burning Bioheat® fuel. Become a Servco customer and enjoy the benefits of Bioheat fuel in your home!
If you still use a manual thermostat in your Fairfield County home, you could be missing out on some energy savings!
The first way is that if you forget to adjust your thermostat when you leave the house, you end up wasting energy heating or cooling your home while you’re not there to use it. If you forget to adjust it before you go to bed, the living areas of your home are being heated and cooled at daytime settings for no good reason.
Also, manual thermostats are imprecise. How imprecise? Some can vary by as much as 5°, which can make a huge difference in your energy costs!
Today’s programmable and smart thermostats are great investments in your comfort as well as energy efficiency. Since programming your thermostat properly can save you 10% on your heating and cooling costs. Your programmable or smart thermostat will pay for itself in just a few months with those savings!
Before you set the temperatures on your programmable or smart thermostat, get to know it and how it operates. Read the manual and discover its features. If you have a smart thermostat, download the app and learn how to use it.
Once you have a handle on programming your new thermostat, you can set it for the ideal balance of minimizing energy usage while maximizing comfort. These guidelines come from the U.S. Department of Energy. for an optimum balance of comfort and savings.
Winter months:
Summer months:
In general:
From Bethel to Stamford, you can trust Servco for expert HVAC and comfort equipment installation and service. Contact us for a FREE quote!
Servco is based right here in Fairfield County, so we know our customers better than any big corporation. You are not simply an account number to us. You are a neighbor and a valued customer, and that is reflected in our responsive, courteous service.
Our local knowledge and experience means that we understand that our clients have diverse needs when it comes to how they obtain their propane or heating oil. As a result, we provide both Automatic Delivery and Will-Call.
We’re seeing an increase in the number of our customers who enroll in Automatic Delivery. They love the convenience and security it provides!
Now is the time to sign up for Automatic Delivery on your propane or heating oil account so you can take advantage of its this winter.
Read on to find out how Automatic Delivery makes your life easier and your home comfortable.
Once you’ve signed up for Automatic Delivery, that’s it. You no longer have to brave the elements or descend into the basement to check your tank gauge levels. You no longer have to call us to make a fuel delivery. And you don’t have to worry about forgetting, or if you used more fuel than planned, and now you’re low on or out of propane or heating oil and need an emergency delivery.
When you have Automatic Delivery, Servco does the work for you! We use our cutting-edge computer software and the most up-to-date weather information to accurately predict when you’ll require heating oil or propane delivered to your home. Then we arrange for that delivery before you run low on fuel.
If you use propane in your home, we offer an option for even more precision and control when it comes to your propane supply. Our wireless propane tank monitoring lets us know in real-time, 24/7, exactly how much propane is in your tank. When you reach a set level, we get a notification and make a delivery. You don’t have to do anything! You can also use the wireless tank monitor and our easy-to-use app to track your propane usage as well.
Get the most reliable fuel delivery around. Contact us today to enroll in Servco’s Automatic Delivery!
How old is your home’s heating oil tank?
The average life expectancy of a heating oil tank is 20 years. If your tank is reaching that age, or is older, now is the time to start planning for its replacement.
Replacing your heating oil tank isn’t cheap if you’re making the replacement because of a tank failure. The figures below are national average costs for the work involved. Remember, the cost of this work varies greatly depending on whether you have an aboveground tank or an underground one.
Removal and disposal of your current tank: $500 – $3,000
Soil contamination tests: $200 – $500
Installation of new heating oil tank: $500 – $1,200
However, if the soil contamination tests reveal contamination from leaked heating oil, your costs just went up, potentially a great deal. Even just a small amount of contaminated soil can cost $2,000 or more to remediate.
This is where the news gets worse. Most homeowner’s insurance almost never covers the cost of a leaking heating oil tank. That means if your home’s heating oil tank fails, you’re left holding the bag for all those costs.
You can enjoy protection from much of those expenses with a heating oil tank replacement and cleanup plan from ProGuard! Servco customers who are on Automatic Delivery for their heating oil can enroll and get proactive tank replacement and cleanup coverage up to $50,000.
ProGuard is the country’s leading provider of heating oil tank protection.
If you have an aboveground heating oil tank, inspect it regularly. You will often see signs that your heating oil tank is failing, giving you the opportunity to replace it before it does fail. This can lower your replacement costs considerable.
Here’s what to look for:
Contact Servco immediately if you see any of these on your heating oil tank. We’ll help you get started on replacing your heating oil tank with a new, high-quality tank.
For around half a century, Servco has been meeting the needs of Fairfield County homes when it comes to fuel and home heating, cooling, and comfort equipment.
We’ve been around this long because we do a lot of things right. The foundation of our business is to build long-lasting relationships with our customers by earning their trust with every fuel delivery, every service call, every customer service interaction.
This attention to service and a local presence are what make Servco stand head-and-shoulders above big, national fuel companies.
Why does being local matter? Because we’re right here when you need us. If you call us for a no-heat emergency or to ask about our products and services, you’re not going to have to “Press 1 for…” only to get some far-off call center possibly halfway around the world. You’ll get someone right here in Fairfield County, ready to help. You don’t have to worry that they can’t tell the difference between Easton or Weston. With Servco, you get responsive, courteous service that you’ll never get from a national company.
We believe in treating our customers right. After all, you’re also our neighbors. That’s why we insist on top-quality fuels, products, and services. Our heating oil is Bioheat®, a blend of ultra-low sulfur heating oil with biofuels. It burns cleaner with fewer emissions, is more efficient, and is gentler on your heating system. We install furnaces, boilers, water heaters, generators, indoor air quality equipment and more, from the best makers in the business including Bock, Trane, Buderus, Mitsubishi, Honeywell, Generac, and Aprilaire.
Being local, we understand the needs of local residents. That’s why we offer Automatic Delivery for both heating oil and propane. You never have to worry about how much fuel you have because we use your prior usage and current weather to calculate when you need a delivery and schedule it, so you have fuel before you run low. For those who want even more precision when it comes to getting your propane, we also offer wireless propane tank monitoring.
Servco also makes it easy to manage your fuel costs with flexible pricing and payment options for heating oil and propane.
Get the personal, responsive service you deserve. Become a Servco customer today!