FAQ
Click one of the links below to go directly to information on that section.
- Safety
- Account Information
- Billing Information
- Delivery Information
- Propane Gas Information
- Service Information
- Carbon Monoxide Information
Safety
What happens if I smell gas?
Extinguish all Flames or Sparks: Immediately put out all smoking materials and other open flames. Do not operate lights, appliances, telephones or cell phones. Flames or sparks from these sources can trigger an explosion or fire.
Leave the Area Immediately: Get everyone out of the building or area where you suspect there is a gas leak.
Turn off the Gas: Turn off the main gas supply valve on your propane tank if it is safe to do so. To close the valve, turn the knob to the right (in a clockwise direction).
Report the Leak: From a neighbor’s home or other nearby building away from the gas leak, call your propane retailer right away. If you can’t reach your propane retailer, call 911 or your local fire department.
Stay Away: Do not return to the building or area until your propane retailer, emergency responder or qualified service technician determines that it is safe to do so.
Get your System Checked: Before you attempt to use any of your propane appliances, your propane retailer or a qualified service technician must check your entire system to ensure that it is leak-free.
Account Information
Am I required to establish an account?
Yes, an account needs to be established with us, which includes providing credit information and obtaining credit approval.
How do I establish an account?
Simply contact our office and one of our office staff will be happy to walk you through opening an account.
What questions will I be asked when I open an account?
- Name
- Mailing and delivery address
- Telephone number
- Social Security number
- Employment information
- Banking information
- Tank Information: size / fill location / quantity currently in tank
Billing Information
What are your prices?
Please contact Allied Propane & Allied Energy and an account representative will provide a quote on the specific products and services you are interested in.
How am I billed for my fuel?
You receive a bill at the time of your delivery. The driver will leave a delivery slip, on which you will find the number of gallons and the price per gallon.
When is my bill due?
Residential accounts have a policy of balance due within 30 days.
How often will you bill me?
Unless you’re on a budget plan, you will receive an invoice after every delivery.
What payment methods do you offer?
Payments can be made online, by check, Visa or MasterCard, and by cash.
Can I arrange to have my bill automatically charged to my credit card?
Yes. Please call our office for further details.
Will I receive a statement on my account?
The only time that you will receive a statement on your account is if your account should become past due. If that happens, you will notice your statement will include a finance charge for late payment.
Do you offer budget payments?
Budget payments are offered for all heating fuel customers. Please contact our office for information.
How does the budget plan work?
At the beginning of the Budget Season (June) we determine your average monthly payment, which is based on your estimated annual consumption of fuel. Each month you will receive a monthly Budget Statement. It will indicate your regular monthly payment as well as any other charges not covered by your Budget Plan. To help you make sure that your Budget Plan remains on track, we will review your account halfway through the season and adjust your monthly payment if necessary. This way if the weather is warmer or colder than anticipated, we can adjust your Budget accordingly and prevent you from having a large debit or credit balance at the end of the Budget Season.
Do you offer a pre-pay or lock-in pricing program?
Yes, annually we offer a pre-pay program for Heating Oil, Kerosene, and Propane Gas. What this means is that a price per gallon is established for the upcoming heating season, which you may lock in if you pay prior to the expiration date of the current available program.
EXAMPLE: Let’s say that the established price per gallon for heating oil is $1.50. You know that during the last heating season you used 650 gallons of heating oil, so you may pre-pay those 650 gallons at the $1.50 per gallon if you prepay in the amount of $975.00 prior to the established expiration date.
Delivery Information
What type of delivery options do you offer?
We offer Automatic and Will-Call deliveries.
What is Automatic Delivery?
Automatic Delivery means that you can put your mind at ease and be assured we will deliver to you automatically according to heating degree days. This is the easiest way to assure that you do not run out of fuel. You do not need to monitor your own tank or call us for delivery.
How often is Automatic Delivery?
There are various factors in determining your Automatic Delivery schedule, the key driver being “heating degree days.” In other words, the colder it is the more frequent your deliveries may be.
What are “Heating Degree Days”?
Heating degree days are indications of how cold it is on any given day and how much fuel you will require. The National Weather Service provides us with this information daily. After we fill your tank, we keep track of the degree days to ensure we deliver propane when you need it.
The easiest way to explain this concept is using your car and how it uses gasoline as an example. Your car uses gasoline as you drive. How much gas your car uses is measured in Miles per Gallon (MPG). By knowing how many gallons your car’s gasoline tank holds, and how many miles per gallon your car provides, you can estimate when you will need to refuel your tank.
Automatic Delivery uses the same concept. We know how much fuel your tank holds when it is full, and we multiply it by the K-Factor (similar to Miles per Gallon) of your house. This tells us “how far” your house can go before you will need more fuel.
What is Will-Call Delivery?
Will-Call Delivery means that you will continue to monitor your own tank and call us when your tank reaches the ¼ mark. With Will-Call, you accept responsibility for monitoring your own tank and calling to schedule a delivery. Please note that it may take several business days for delivery, depending on truck routing and time of year.
If you run out of fuel and need a special delivery to be made, we will be happy to accommodate. However you will incur an additional delivery fee.
How will I know when I’ve had a delivery?
We will leave a delivery receipt on your door.
How do you calculate how much fuel I will use?
Your Allied Propane & Allied Energy account representative will review your current needs as well as evaluate other factors in order to provide you with an estimate of your fuel consumption.
If you run out of fuel and a special delivery must be made, you will incur an additional delivery fee.
Propane Gas Information
Is propane gas clean and efficient?
Yes, Propane is both clean and efficient. Propane has long been recognized as the “green” energy. By using this energy, homeowners can help cut emissions and protect the environment.
- Propane, on average, costs about half as much per BTU as electricity.
- It burns hotter and more evenly than many other fuels.
- Propane appliances have a shorter energy savings payback period than other types of appliances.
Is Propane safe?
Propane has a remarkable safety record, due in large part to the stringent codes and regulations developed by the propane industry and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
May propane tanks be buried?
Since propane is environmentally friendly, most towns and municipalities allow underground tanks. Your Allied Propane & Allied Energy account representative can coordinate this with local fire officials.
What has the Industry done to safeguard Propane use?
GAS Check® (Gas Appliance System Check) is an award-winning preventive maintenance program developed by the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) and funded by the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) that trains technicians and educates homeowners on the safe handling of propane and the maintenance of propane appliances.
The Certified Employee Training Program (CETP) developed by NPGA and funded by PERC is a training program used extensively throughout the country by people involved in the handling of propane, equipment and appliances.
How much does it cost to have Propane gas installed at my home?
Propane gas installation prices vary depending on what needs to be completed at the home as well as what size tank will be needed.
How close can a propane tank be placed to my home?
There are numerous regulations on tank placement. Please call our office for information.
How do I read the gauge on my propane tank?
Most tanks of 47 gallon capacity or higher have a gauge. If your tank does have a gauge it will be located on the top of the tank, under the liftable hood. The tank gauge reads in percentages from 0% to 100%, with 85% being considered full to allow for gas expansion.
How long will a propane tank last for my fireplace?
The size of the fireplace and the number of hours you use it every day will dictate the overall life of the tank. On average, you should get 300 to 400 hours of operational time from a 100-gallon tank.
What size tank do I need?
The size tank that you need depends on your total BTU load. For example, a gas range could use just a 50-gallon tank, while a home with central heating, hot water heater, gas range and gas dryer could use up to a 1,000-gallon tank.
Will my propane-consuming appliances require routine service?
Manufacturers recommend that gas-burning heaters, furnaces and boilers have an annual maintenance and safety check. We recommend that you schedule service during the summer, when demand on your system is likely to be minimal.
Service Information
Do you have a service department?
Yes, we have many strategically located, seasoned service professionals who are licensed and ready to help when you need them.
Do you offer service contracts?
Service contracts are available through our outside vendors.
How soon can I get a tank installed?
Generally, tanks are installed within 10-21 days after our account representative visits your site, depending on the time of year. Rush or emergency installations are available at an additional cost.
Is there anything I can do to troubleshoot my furnace before calling for a technician?
Yes. Follow the suggestions below.
Burner does not run:
- Check the thermostat. The temperature might be set too low. Turn the thermostat five degrees higher than usual.
- Check the main switch and make sure it is not turned off.
- Check to see if the circuit breaker or fuse is blown.
- Unit might be off on safety. Press the reset button ONE time.
- Unit seems to run too often:
- Check the filter and replace if clogged.
What should be done if my chimney smokes?
A cold chimney flue causes this when the unit first fires. However, if it persists this can indicate incomplete combustion or another problem. Do not attempt to troubleshoot or fix on your own. Call for service.
Carbon Monoxide Information
Can my heating system produce carbon monoxide?
Yes. Carbon monoxide is a natural byproduct of combustion. During normal combustion, each atom of carbon in the burning fuel joins with two atoms of oxygen, forming a harmless gas called carbon dioxide (CO2). When there is a lack of oxygen to ensure complete combustion of the fuel, each atom of carbon links up with only one atom of oxygen, forming carbon monoxide (CO) gas, a colorless, odorless and toxic gas. Any fuel-burning appliance that is not adequately vented and maintained can be a potential source of carbon monoxide (CO).
The most important safeguard against CO risks is a properly working carbon monoxide detector. Battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors are relatively inexpensive and easy to install. They may be purchased at almost any store that sells home supplies.
What do I do if my carbon monoxide alarm sounds?
Contact your local fire department and evacuate your home.