Kitchen ranges come in electric, natural gas, or propane configurations. People from amateurs to professional chefs have their preference when it comes to cooking fuels and appliances. There’s not a lot of difference between cooking with natural gas vs. propane. If your home is already equipped with natural gas for home heating, it’s easy to add a kitchen range or other appliances to that same energy source. When you don’t have access to natural gas, perhaps if you live in a rural area of North Carolina such as Eden, propane is an excellent alternative for home heating and other appliances. Consider the many advantages of a propane cooking range.

• • Even-Heat. When it comes to cooking, having an even distribution of heat is important. Propane allows you to cook food evenly over a flame on the stovetop as well as in the oven.
  • Save Money. A propane range may cost more up front, but the propane is a more cost-effective energy source. You’ll save more over time by cooking with propane.
  • Power Out? No Problem. Your propane range will still operate if the power goes out, making it possible to cook meals even when you don’t have electricity. In rural areas when the power goes out, it can take days to be restored. In the meantime, enjoy hot meals by candlelight.
  • Environmentally Friendly. Propane is a green gas, meaning it is non-toxic and does not release harmful emissions. Electricity is still primarily created by burning coal, which is much more harmful to the environment.
  • Instantaneous Heat. While electric ranges take longer to heat up, a propane range is ready in seconds. You’ll have heat right away so you can make meals quickly and efficiently.
  • Better Heat Control. Cooks like that the temperature on propane ranges can be adjusted more quickly. You have better overall temperature control than you do with electricity.
  • Safety. When you turn off your propane cooktop the heat goes away immediately, unlike electric ranges that stay hot for much longer, creating a potential burn hazard.
  • Keep your Kitchen Cooler in Summer. The second you turn off a propane range it cools quickly, which can be a life saver in the summer. Your kitchen cools off faster and your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard.

Carolina Fuels Provides Eden Propane and HVAC Services

Do you like the sound of all these advantages to cooking with propane? If you’re not already using propane in your home, there’s no time like the present to start. Carolina Fuels can deliver Eden propane to any home or business. Tanks come in a variety of sizes depending on the predicted usage per household or commercial building. Experts will recommend a refill schedule that will ensure your propane never runs out. You can enjoy all the benefits of cooking with propane even if you only have experience cooking with an electric range. Propane can also power other appliances such as clothing dryers, water heaters, and of course, furnaces. Call Carolina Fuels today to get more information about Eden propane: (336) 623-9741.

On a cold winter night or snowy day, a fire in the fireplace makes your home feel cozier. And if your power goes out, it may become a necessity. But when you go to turn it on, nothing happens. No flame, no warmth, nothing. Before you get all fired up, try these troubleshooting tips from your propane supplier in Greensboro.

• Check Your Propane Tank: Is it possible your tank is empty? You may need to check. How do you know how much propane is in your tank? If you have an upright propane tank where the valve is on top, simply pour hot water down the side. Then run your hand down the side where you poured the water and you should feel a distinct spot where the temperature changes from hot to cold. That’s the level of propane in your tank. If you have a larger horizontal tank you may need your propane supplier in Greensboro to help you read the gauge and determine if a refill is necessary.
• Make Sure the Propane is Turned On: During the off-season, you may have completely shut off the propane and not remember doing so. Check that the propane is turned on to your gas logs.
• Purge the Air out of the Pilot Tubing: If the pilot won’t light, air may be trapped in the pilot tubing due to lack of use. You can purge this air by simply holding the pilot light down for a few minutes. Then try to light the pilot again.
• Check the Igniter: When gas is coming out of the pilot (you should be able to smell it) but the pilot still won’t light, it could be a problem with the igniter. Try clearing out any debris between the igniter and the thermocouple. If your gas logs still won’t light, you may need a new igniter.
• Check the Thermocouple: If the pilot lights but won’t stay lit, you likely have worn out thermocouple that needs replacing.

If you’ve tried all of these easy fixes and still can’t get your fireplace to light, it’s time to call in a propane supplier in Greensboro.

Berico Can Make your Home Feel Cozy Again with Expert Propane Fireplace Repair  

So when you’ve tried everything and you still don’t have a fire blazing, pick up the phone and call in the experts. Re-wrote the sentence to make it less DIY, but it still teeters on the brink of violating the rule and “experts” and “professionals” are awfully close. Berico specializes in propane and has decades of experience with propane fireplaces. A trained technician will inspect every aspect of your fireplace as well as your propane tank and gas line to locate the problem and repair it. Whether you simply need a tank refill or your thermocouple has gone bad, Berico can have your fire burning in one short visit.

Call Berico and get your fireplace working, day or night.

Berico provides emergency service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Routine maintenance is also available to keep your propane fireplace operating properly and safely. Don’t get left in the cold on a winter day. Call Berico today (or tonight) at (336) 273-8663.

Do you experience uneven heating and cooling in your home? It can be frustrating and downright uncomfortable. And it’s probably costing you more in energy as your HVAC system attempts to maintain your desired temperature. This problem can be corrected by your HVAC service in Eden, increasing your home comfort and decreasing your monthly energy bills.

Getting to the Bottom of the Issue

What causes these hot and cold spots in your home? There’s a variety of possible causes, and getting to the source of the uneven temperatures is the first step in correcting the problem.

• Low air flow. Stand under one of your vents while the air is on. Can you feel air coming out? If not, or even if you have to stand on a stool to feel it, you are experiencing low air flow from your HVAC system. Low air flow is most often caused by dirty or clogged filters. Change your filters first. If you don’t feel an improvement in airflow, it may be a mechanical issue instead.
• Outside air getting in. It could be that outside air is getting into your home through cracks or holes in your walls, foundation, or roof. Air can also seep in around doors and windows that aren’t properly sealed. Insufficient insulation could also be failing to keep outside air out of your home. If outside air is getting in, it lowers the efficiency of your HVAC system and forces it to work harder than necessary to achieve the desired indoor temperature.
• Your HVAC system is aging. If your heating and cooling system are old it may be starting to fail. Older systems are also less efficient than newer systems, which means they don’t heat and cool as evenly.

Preventing/Correcting the Problem for Optimal Home Comfort

Now that you have an idea of what may be causing the uneven temperatures in your home, here are some solutions to the problem.

• Change your filters often. If you haven’t changed your filters in a few months, it is definitely time. Replacing dirty filters with new could correct the lack of air flow through your system. Changing your filters often, at least every 3 months, can help prevent airflow issues from ever starting. If filters aren’t the problem, call your HVAC service in Eden to inspect your system for other possible issues.
• Seal up cracks and upgrade insulation. If you find any cracks or holes where outside air may be getting in, seal them up. Add weather stripping to windows and doors. Upgrade or add insulation if you feel yours may be insufficient. If your home has old windows you can save a lot of energy by replacing them with new insulated windows.
• Consider replacing your HVAC system. An old HVAC system may be the cause of uneven heating and cooling. Have your system evaluated by a reliable HVAC service in Eden who can make a recommendation about a replacement.

Tired of hot and cold spots in your home?

When you’re ready to have this issue resolved, Carolina Fuels can help. Expert technicians can diagnose and repair the problem so your home will be more comfortable all year round. Call (336) 623-9741.

Propane is an excellent alternative home heating fuel for furnaces. Clean burning and non-toxic, propane is just as safe as other heating fuels in Greensboro, if not more so. But getting the highest level of efficiency and safety from your propane furnace requires a little bit of action on the homeowner’s part. Follow these tips to get peak performance from your furnace and eliminate safety risks.

1. Schedule Routine Maintenance. This is always the number one safety and efficiency tip for propane furnaces. Keeping up with maintenance, which means a professional inspection and tune-up once a year, will ensure that your furnace is operating properly. A furnace in disrepair can cause a variety of safety issues from fire risk to carbon monoxide poisoning. A well-maintained furnace will also heat your home more efficiently, using less propane and making your home feel warmer. Always schedule a maintenance appointment towards the end of summer or in the early fall before the weather gets cold enough to require the use of your furnace. 
2. Keep your Propane Filled Regularly. Running out of propane and even letting the amount of propane in your tank to fall too low can cause a variety of problems and safety issues. A propane tank that is nearly empty has a lot of space for air, condensation, and unwanted moisture to build up inside, which is potentially harmful to the tank itself. A tank in disrepair can leak or lead to other problems. If your tank gets completely empty, there are extra measures that must be taken when it comes to the refill process. An empty tank can become leaky upon refill due to internal pressure issues. Your propane supplier can repair any leaks and provide an automatic delivery schedule for future refills to prevent your tank from running out again.  
3. Your Propane Tank Should have an Overfill Prevention Device. A propane tank should never be filled completely. There should always be room for the liquid to expand as it warms. Otherwise, the pressure in the tank is too great, which can cause leaks or even an explosion in extreme cases. The overfill prevention device, or OPD for short, ensures that this won’t happen. 
4. Change your Filters Regularly. Experts recommend monthly, or at least quarterly filter replacement. At the very least you should have your HVAC service replace them twice a year during maintenance appointments. Dirty or clogged filters are one of the biggest causes of inefficiency in your furnace.  
5. Get a Programmable Thermostat. One of the best things you can do to improve HVAC efficiency is to use a programmable thermostat. You can set the thermostat to call for different temperatures at different times of the day or night, so that when you’re not home, your house won’t have to be as warm, saving a significant amount of propane.  

Berico Provides Furnace Maintenance and Heating Fuels in Greensboro  

To keep your furnace operating efficiently and your propane tank full and in good condition, you need regular service and deliveries from a reliable propane supplier. Berico is a complete home comfort service providing all of the necessary maintenance and products to keep your home comfortable year round. Call (336) 273-8663 to request furnace maintenance or heating fuels in Greensboro.  

Hot water may not be an official necessity, but it’s a modern convenience that is pretty hard to live without. If you enjoy warm showers, clean dishes, and white laundry loads, hot water is important. Your water heater is probably what uses up a significant portion of your home energy after your furnace, especially during the winter. Whether you have an electric or gas water heater, there are ways you cut your hot water energy bill back a little bit or even a lot, depending on how far you’re willing to go toward conservation. Carolina Fuels, a reliable company offering air conditioning and furnace repair in Eden as well as delivery of many types of heating fuels, suggests these 10 ways to cut your hot water energy bill.

• • Take shorter, cooler showers. This one is hard, because a hot shower is such a luxury, especially when it’s cold outside. By shortening the length and temperature of your showers you can help your water heater use less energy. And besides saving energy, there are other reasons a shorter, cooler shower is beneficial. It’s also better for combating dry skin that so often plagues us during dry, cold winters. It also helps to prevent dry scalp issues that can lead to dandruff.
  • Replace shower heads and faucets with low flow models. A low flow shower head reduces the amount of water used during each shower. Low flow faucets can conserve a lot of water too in the kitchen and bathrooms.  
  • Do most of your laundry in cold water. When it comes to your multi-color loads, there’s really no advantage to using hot water and it could cause your colors to run. When it comes to white loads, if you use bleach, wash in hot water but rinse in cold to save some energy.
  • Set your water heater to a lower temperature. Aim for around 120 degrees and your water heater will save a lot of energy it would normally expend to heat the water to a higher temperature and preserve that temperature in the holding tank.
  • Run your dishwasher less often. Wait until you have a full load of dishes before running your dishwasher.
  • Fix leaky plumbing. Letting a faucet drip can waste an amazing amount of water, and sometimes it’s the hot water that’s leaking, meaning your hot water heater is working overtime.
  • Add insulation to your water heater. Water heater insulation can be purchased and applied on your own, but make sure you follow the directions to avoid problems. Consider having a professional apply the insulation.
  • Get a new water heater. Upgrading to a new energy-efficient water heater will save you a lot in energy costs. Especially if you purchase an on-demand or tankless water heater.
  • Get a new dishwasher. An older dishwasher will use much more water than a newer one will. Newer dishwashers also have more advanced heating elements so that it self-heats and doesn’t require as much hot water.
  • Get a new washing machine. A high-efficiency washing machine will also use less hot water when you do need to run a warm water load. 

Call Carolina Fuels for Water Heater and Furnace Repair in Eden

If you need a professional to evaluate your water heater’s condition and energy usage, Carolina Fuels can help. In addition to furnace repair in Eden, Carolina Fuels provides a wide range of energy audit services. If you currently have an electric water heater, you may find that you can save the most money by switching to a propane water heater. Call Carolina Fuels to find out how you can save energy today: (336) 623-9741.