Dear Friends,
When you make preparing for fall part of your spring to-do routine, you’ll be ahead of the game come September. That’s crunch time, especially if you have kids in school.
For starters, we recommend scheduling your tune-up now to beat the fall rush. A tune-up doesn’t “wear off” and you’ll have your choice of appointments.
Here are five more things you can do now that will make things easier when the weather gets cooler — and life gets busier.
Remember, we’re here to help make your home more comfortable no matter what the season. Let us know what we can do for you!
Warmly,
Kerrie Robbins
Operations Manager
Sit back, relax and watch your grass-cutting chores performed by the pre‑programmed Landroid robotic lawn mower. Read this newsletter and answer the questions on our contest page. All entries received by 6/28/19 with the correct answers will be entered into a drawing.
The Landroid uses a shock sensor system to mow around obstacles and automatically returns to its base for charging or in case of rain.
No purchase necessary. A purchase will not increase chance of winning. See contest page for details.
The last thing you want to see is a flood in your basement due to a leaky water heater. Here are five signs that it may be time to replace your water heater so you can avoid this from happening.
Age: The life expectancy of a water heater ranges from 7 to 13 years.
Higher bills: Your water heater may no longer be doing its job efficiently.
Rusty water: This usually means that the inside of your water heater tank is corroding.
Water stains: White stains on your glassware are common signs of hard (mineral containing) water in your tank. Those minerals reduce efficiency and shorten the lifespan of your water heater.
Unusual noises: Growling or gurgling noises coming from your water storage tank are usually a sure sign of sediment buildup — a problem that eventually requires water heater replacement.
Russell Bryant, our new Energy Advisor, can advise you if it’s time to replace your water heater.
If you want to replace your water heater, call us or contact us here.
Propane can power just about any appliance inside your home — and outside too! Just when you think you’ve seen it all, you just may find something else that propane can do.
To give you a better idea about how “propane can do that,” take a look at some of your options for taking propane outdoors.
Grilling: Nothing beats the clean-burning precision of a propane gas grill. Whether you cook on a simple portable model or a high-tech built-in grill, you’ll get the same even-cooking performance, time after time, with no starter-fluid smell, dangerous chemicals, or mess.
Fire bowls: Many models have ignition systems that can be turned on and off with a smartphone or tablet. And unlike with wood fire pits, there’s no mess to clean up.
Lighting: Propane-powered outdoor lights can burn for just pennies per hour, and they can be matched to almost any outdoor décor.
Outdoor heaters: With freestanding or wall-mounted models available, you’re sure to find a propane patio heater that meets your needs and budget — and one that will work even if the power goes out.
Outdoor water heating: Enjoy a swim throughout the season by investing in a propane pool heater, which will heat your pool water quickly and efficiently — and far more effectively than an electric model.
Here are a few tips to help you cope with any extreme weather this summer.
People like heating their home and water with propane because they know they will have a reliable supply of propane on hand whenever they need it. Having a propane tank on their property gives them the ability to safely store a plentiful supply that’s always ready for immediate use.
Natural gas customers don’t enjoy the same type of security, as recent events have shown. This past winter in the Midwest, the combination of brutal cold and a fire at a compressor station resulted in the gas utilities pleading with customers to turn down their thermostats to prevent a serious natural gas shortage.*
Propane has a distinct edge over natural gas because of the way it’s processed and transported. After propane gets compressed into a liquid, all of this liquid petroleum gas (LPG) gets stored inside large tanks until it’s delivered to the on-site supply tank at a home or business.
Compare that to the delivery system of natural gas. If an underground natural gas pipeline gets damaged — or other problems occur — hundreds and even thousands of customers may lose their supply until repairs get done.
*Source: Detroit Free Press 1/30/19.
How many ways are you using propane at home?
Heat your home: propane-fired furnaces and boilers are much more efficient and generate greater comfort than electricity. And by increasing your usage, you may qualify for a lower price.
Heat water: propane water heaters can cost less to operate than electric units. They provide much more hot water faster, and come in both storage-tank and tankless options.
Cook: propane cooktops/stoves offer more precise temperature control and are cheaper to run than their electric counterparts.
Dry clothes: propane dryers are almost twice as efficient as electric models, drying your clothes faster and for less money.
Fireplace glow: imagine being able to start a fire with the flick of a switch. It’s possible with propane — and a propane fireplace delivers more heat into the room than a wood fireplace, without all the smoke and mess.
Emergency power: propane is a popular choice as a fuel for whole-house backup generators. And since your fuel is stored right on your property, you can continue to enjoy all the comforts of home until your power is restored.
One of the last things you probably have on your mind right now is your oil tank. But here’s why you should be thinking about it, especially if you’re not part of our automatic delivery program.
In warm weather, condensation can easily form inside a near-empty heating oil tank. Because water is denser than heating oil, it will settle to the bottom of your tank and create sediment. This “sludge” can get into your fuel line and clog it, causing a heating system breakdown. Sludge can also corrode your tank from the inside out.
The bottom line: condensation is damaging to your heating oil tank and keeping your tank full during the off-season is a smart way to prevent problems.
If you’re not in automatic delivery program, call us to request a fill-up so we can help you head off any condensation problems with your fuel tank. If you’re on automatic delivery, don’t worry. We make sure your tank has a proper level of fuel inside during the off-season.
Q: What can you tell me about handling portable propane cylinders for my grill?
A: Here are four tips:
ALWAYS store or place a propane cylinder outdoors and in an open area, and not in a basement, garage, shed or tent.
ALWAYS avoid storing a cylinder near a stove, fireplace, or other heat source. This is also why you should not store a spare cylinder under or near your barbecue grill.
ALWAYS make sure your cylinder does not come into contact with ignition sources such as flames or sparkproducing electrical tools.
ALWAYS leave the care and repair of a cylinder in the hands of a skilled propane professional. You should not make any attempt to modify or repair valves, regulators, or other cylinder or appliance parts.
For the second year in a row, Murray-Heutz warmed hearts as well as homes on Valentine’s Day. As part of the Maine Energy Marketers Association’s “Fuel Your Love” program, we delivered nearly 2,000 gallons of free heating oil — plus flowers and chocolate — to customers in need.
We had some brutal cold snaps hit us early this winter, and we know that can really put a burden on customers. This program is a wonderful way for us to give back to the communities we serve, and make a difference in peoples’ lives.
You can now download our app (available for IOS and Android) to have 24-hour access to your account, so you can pay bills, look up information and schedule service when it’s convenient for you. Just search for Murray-Heutz Oil and Propane in the App store or Google Play Store to get started.
