Figuring out just how much propane you use in your home is a great way to better predict—and manage—your propane costs. There are a lot of variables that can affect how much propane you use, particularly if you use propane to heat your home. Looking over your propane statements from the previous year or two is a great place to start. You’ll be able to see how your use fluctuates and it can give you an idea of the big picture.
There are three main factors that influence your propane use. Here’s what you need to know.
The weather, your home and appliances, and your lifestyle each drive your propane consumption.
The weather is the one area where you have the least control. If the winter brings record lows and extended cold snaps, you’ll use more propane than if the season is average or mild.
Other variables will be different from home to home. Is your house well-insulated and less prone to drafts or heat loss? Is your heating equipment new, well-maintained, and highly efficient or older and less efficient? Do you have a propane-fueled space heater or a propane hearth that you use more often when it’s cold?
Finally, your lifestyle plays a role. The main factor is how warm or cool you like to keep your rooms. But other things can affect your fuel use, too, including having more people in your home, spending more time at home, or being away for a few weeks for an extended trip. If more people were living in your home last winter comparted to this winter—if your kids have gone away to college for example—your propane use could be lower. That can contribute to more or less hot water use, among other things.
There are also some general guidelines you can apply to see how you compare to typical users. For example, a propane furnace for a single-family home can burn between 500 and 1,200 gallons of propane annually for heating, depending on the climate. Heating water uses between 200-300 gallons of propane per year, and is less dependent on climate.
This chart can give you an idea of how much propane different equipment in your home can use. While these estimates are yearly averages, these appliances will probably use more of their total propane during the winter months as compared to the other seasons of the year.
| Appliance | Gallons Used Yearly |
|---|---|
| Propane furnace | 1000 |
| Propane water heater | 250 |
| Propane fireplace | 200 |
| Propane stove/range | 35 |
| Propane clothes dryer | 20 |
No matter how much propane you use, when you’re on automatic delivery you can eliminate the worry, hassle and expense of running out of propane. We calculate your needs using an algorithm based on the weather and your household’s typical propane usage. It allows us to accurately predict when you will need fuel and provide convenient and reliable automatic delivery. In addition to eliminating the hassle of watching your tank, this convenient option saves time and money: There’s no need to schedule and wait for propane deliveries, and you avoid the expense and hassle of pressure testing and relighting when tanks run to empty.
Whatever your propane needs are this season, the friendly pros at Superior Gas are ready to serve you. Need more information? We’re happy to answer all your questions. Contact us today.
Choosing the right propane forklift fuel system can help your business keep equipment running efficiently while minimizing downtime. Propane forklifts are a popular choice for warehouses, distribution centers, construction companies, and other businesses because they provide reliable power and can be refueled quickly. With a propane forklift cylinder exchange program, you can keep a supply of full cylinders at your facility, so your employees can refuel equipment without leaving the job site.
Superior Gas’s commercial propane fuel services make it easy to get the propane you need to keep your forklifts and other equipment running. Our customized cylinder exchange programs can help you spend less time worrying about fuel and more time focused on your operation.
If you’ve used a propane cylinder exchange for your grill, you’re already familiar with the basic idea. Instead of sending employees off-site every time a forklift needs fuel, you keep a supply of full propane cylinders at your facility. When a cylinder is empty, your team can quickly replace it with a full one and get back to work.
Let our team of experts assess your operation and recommend a cylinder exchange program based on your forklift fleet and fuel needs. We’ll set up safe, sturdy storage cages for your cylinders and provide training to make sure your employees handle and change propane cylinders safely. You’ll have the fuel you need on-site, ready when you need it.
Propane forklifts provide the power businesses need to handle demanding jobs. They perform well with heavy loads and on inclines, and they maintain consistent power as long as fuel remains in the cylinder. Electric forklifts can lose performance as their batteries run down, and recharging can take hours. With propane, changing an empty cylinder for a full one takes only minutes, minimizing interruptions to your workday.
Quick refueling means less downtime and greater productivity. Superior also offers bulk propane delivery and volume pricing to help make fueling your fleet more cost-effective. Unlike electric forklifts, propane forklifts don’t require dedicated charging stations that take up valuable space or require a significant upfront investment.
Propane forklifts can also require less maintenance and downtime than gasoline- or diesel-powered models. Because they produce fewer emissions than diesel forklifts, propane models can be used both indoors and outdoors when operated in accordance with applicable ventilation and safety requirements. They also perform reliably in a variety of outdoor conditions.
Propane can be a practical choice when your business requires equipment that can move easily between indoor and outdoor applications. And your propane supply can do much more than fuel forklifts. Depending on your operation, propane can also power:
Construction companies, warehouses, distribution centers, and other businesses can benefit from a propane fueling solution designed around their specific needs.
Contact us today to learn how our forklift cylinder exchange program and other commercial propane services can help keep your operation fueled and productive.
When your grill tank is running low, a propane cylinder exchange may seem like the quickest and easiest option. But convenience doesn’t always equal value. With an exchange, you’re paying a retail price for a replacement cylinder, even if there’s still propane left in the tank you’re dropping off.
When you refill your own cylinder, you pay for the propane you actually need, and you keep the tank you already own. Over time, that can make refilling a much better value for regular grillers.
When you opt for a refill over an exchange, you’ll save on the price of the propane. The difference can be up to $1.75 per gallon. That’s because with an exchange, you’re paying a third party who charges a retail markup for all their overhead: buying propane, maintaining and filling tanks, and more. When you refill your tank from a propane dealer like Superior, you aren’t paying that markup.
In addition, with a refill, you’ll pay only to replace the propane you’ve used. With a propane grill tank exchange, you’re charged for all the propane in the cylinder, including the propane that was left in the tank when you take it to be exchanged.
Think about it: When you see your propane cylinder is starting to run low, your instinct is to take it in to exchange before you run out. So unless you run tanks until they’re completely empty, you could be wasting half a tank or more over the span of a few tanks.
Most portable propane cylinders used with gas grills don’t have built-in gauges, but you don’t have to rely on guesswork to know when you need a fill-up. Here are four easy ways to check how much propane remains and avoid running out halfway through dinner.
Whether you need a cylinder refill or you want to buy an extra tank so you always have a spare, let Superior be your go-to. With 10 convenient locations across East Central Alabama and Northwest Florida, it’s easy to get a quick fill-up.
We provide quick and easy, no-wait portable propane tank fill-ups at a competitive per-gallon rate. Contact us today for more information.
If your water heater is nearing the end of its life, replacing it is an opportunity to improve both comfort and efficiency. Any new model will be more efficient than an older unit, but you have more choices than ever before, even if you stick to a traditional tank-style water heater.
Tankless water heaters offer more flexibility, as well as excellent efficiency, plus virtually unlimited hot water. Heat pump systems can also be an extremely efficient option for some homeowners.
While all these water-heating systems can provide reliable hot water, they work in very different ways and offer different advantages depending on your home, your budget, and your family’s hot water needs. Here’s what you should consider before you make a decision.
For homeowners who use propane, a gas water heater can be an excellent choice because propane heats water quickly and efficiently. Tank-style water heaters use propane or natural gas to heat water that’s stored in a tank. When you turn on a hot water tap, heated water flows from the tank while fresh water enters to be heated for the next use. They recover quickly and continue producing hot water even during periods of high demand.
Tankless water heaters save energy by instantly heating water when you need it. When you turn on the tap, water flows through the unit and is heated instantly by a propane-fueled heating element. When you turn off the tap, the unit stops heating water. Compare this to the cost of operating a traditional water heater, which requires you to keep a tank holding many gallons of water hot and ready to use all the time. As a result, you can enjoy virtually unlimited hot water while seeing savings of up to 40%.
You’ll save space as well as energy. Tankless water heaters are compact, about the size of a suitcase, and can even hang on a wall, freeing up room in your basement or utility room. That said, there are different sizes designed to fit different needs. Rather than total gallons, their output is measured in a flow rate of gallons per minute. The more hot water you need at the same time, the higher flow rate you will require.
Although the upfront investment is typically higher, the return is in long-term energy savings, comfort, and convenience.
Heat pump water heaters use electricity to pull heat from the surrounding air and transfer it to the water inside the tank. Because they move heat instead of creating it directly, they can use less electricity than a standard electric water heater.
However, heat pump water heaters work best in warm spaces with plenty of surrounding air, such as unfinished basements or utility rooms. They also make a little more noise than propane water heaters. They generally heat water more slowly than propane models, which may not be a problem in smaller households. But for larger families, it can mean not everyone will get a hot shower on busy mornings, and you may have to stagger chores like laundry and dishes.
Your water heater works hard for you. The best water heater depends on your home’s needs and your priorities. The typical American household uses between 60 and 65 gallons of hot water a day for bathing and showering, washing dishes, laundry, cleaning, and other tasks. That’s a lot of hot water.
If your goal is maximum energy efficiency, a heat pump water heater deserves consideration. But if you want fast hot water and dependable performance, a propane water heater remains one of the best all-around investments. Our team has the experience to help you assess your options and install the best model for your home, your needs, and your budget.
Contact us for more information today.
As far as winter weather goes, we don’t have it too bad. We avoid most of the lowest temperatures, but we still get to feel like we have “seasons.” On most jobsites, that means adding a fleece and getting on with the job. But some work can be temperature-sensitive, particularly paint, spackle, and stucco work. Propane space heaters are ideal for helping ensure climate-sensitive work isn’t affected by the weather and keeping projects on schedule and on budget.
Here’s how propane space heating can keep all your jobs on track in cooler weather.
Keep your projects on schedule and on budget by preventing problems or damage resulting from the cold.
Delays cost money. Propane space heaters not only help you keep projects on track and prevent weather-related delays that can increase labor costs, but they can also be more cost-effective than other types of temporary space heating on construction sites.
Don’t let cold weather sideline your projects. Talk to the team at Superior Gas about your needs. We can help you keep your jobsites and your people warm and safe. Whether you need temporary heating for one job or for multiple locations, for roofing, welding, painting, or other work, we have decades of experience. We can tailor a temporary heating solution to the specific needs of your project and set you up with a delivery schedule that meets your needs, whether you need bulk propane or portable cylinders. And we’ll set you up with a lockable storage cage and make sure you know how to handle cylinders and refuel safely.
Don’t wait for cold weather to throw your jobs off track. Contact us for more information today.
Imagine being able to enjoy your deck, yard or patio a little earlier—or a little later into the season. When you add propane-fueled appliances for outdoor living, you can create a welcoming space that’s inviting for friends and family, and comfortable to use well beyond the traditional summer season. From cozy evenings around a fire pit to poolside gatherings and backyard cookouts, propane makes it easier to get more enjoyment from your outdoor spaces.
One of the biggest reasons people love propane is its versatility—indoors and out. A single propane supply can fuel everything from grills and patio heaters to pool heaters and outdoor kitchens, delivering reliable performance whenever you need it.
For many families, the centerpiece of outdoor entertaining is the grill. Propane grills remain the favorite choice for backyard cooking because they heat quickly, provide even cooking temperatures, and offer precise control. There’s no waiting for charcoal to heat up and no dealing with leftover ashes when the meal is finished.
But propane also opens the door to fully functional outdoor kitchens. In addition to fueling a grill, propane can power side burners, pizza ovens, cooktops, and other appliances that bring the convenience of indoor cooking outdoors. An outdoor kitchen creates a natural gathering place for entertaining, so you can spend more time with guests instead of being stuck inside preparing meals.
As the sun goes down and temperatures begin to drop, propane patio heaters and fire pits help keep everyone comfortable. Unlike wood-burning fire features, propane models provide instant heat with the push of a button and don’t produce smoke, sparks, or piles of ash.
The benefits don’t stop there. Propane can power decorative lighting features, lanterns, and flame accents that add warmth and ambiance to patios and gardens. It can also be used with mosquito traps that provide chemical-free pest control by attracting insects away from outdoor living areas. These systems help make evenings outside more comfortable without relying on sprays or other treatments.
If you have a swimming pool or spa, propane can help you enjoy them earlier and later in the season—or even year-round. Propane pool heaters warm water quickly and maintain comfortable temperatures even when the weather turns cool.
Because propane heaters recover temperature quickly, they’re great for heating up a spa when you’re ready to relax at the end of a long day.
Whether your goal is creating a backyard retreat, extending your outdoor season, or building the ultimate entertainment space, propane provides a reliable, clean-burning energy source that can help create your dream space for outdoor living.
If you’re considering adding outdoor propane appliances to your home, the licensed and experienced pros at Superior Gas can help you explore your options and ensure everything is installed safely and properly. From connecting a new fire pit to helping install an outdoor kitchen, we’re here to help you make the most of your outdoor living spaces.
Contact us today to learn more.
A house or business exploding because of a gas leak will make the news, sometimes national news. But that’s because it doesn’t happen very often. Although propane is a highly flammable gas under certain conditions, propane tanks are designed to store propane safely, and propane is a safe and clean-burning way to heat your home and water, and run many of your appliances. As with any fuel, there are certain steps to take to ensure you, your family, and your property are safe.
The best way to prevent a propane explosion is to be able to recognize the signs of a gas leak and know what to do if you detect a possible leak. Here’s what you and everyone in your household should know.
Propane has a distinct rotten-egg smell to help you quickly notice leaking gas. Make sure everyone in your home can recognize the odor. If you smell gas:
Propane storage tanks of all sizes are designed and certified to be safe. That said, you should be on the lookout for dings, dents and excessive rust on your aboveground propane storage tanks. Our techs also keep an eye on this when they fill your tanks.
There are regulations as well as mechanisms to ensure that a propane tank is not overfilled. There are safety valves that will open to release propane gas if pressure increases above specified levels. When it’s hot, propane expands. If you ever hear hissing coming from your propane tank on a hot day, it’s likely because your pressure valve opened. It will close again when enough pressure is released.
To avoid pressure problems, propane tanks are only filled to 80%, and aboveground storage tanks are painted white, silver, or other light colors to reflect, rather than absorb, heat from the sun.
Propane storage tanks should be sited away from windows; the specific distances vary based on the size of the tank. Portable tanks should not be kept in enclosed spaces, and you shouldn’t store cleaning fluids and flammable substances near your propane tanks.
Safety is our top priority at Superior. We invest in regular training to keep our technicians up to date on the latest technologies and safety protocols for propane delivery and installation work.
If you have any questions about this information or any other propane safety issues, contact us today.
Shopping for a new clothes dryer or laundry pair? Energy efficiency is usually one of the most important criteria when you’re buying any appliance for your home. And it’s a big consideration for a clothes dryer, which relies on heat to get the job done.
Whether you’re shopping for a sturdy machine that will get the job done or you’re looking for a dryer with deluxe features like steam cycles for removing wrinkles and smart controls that let you monitor a load from anywhere, you need to consider how you’re powering your clothes dryer. Bells and whistles aside, the choice comes down to propane or electric. Here’s what to know.
One factor in your decision is whether you have access to propane or the correct voltage of electricity.
While most everyone is connected to the electric grid, you can’t simply plug a clothes dryer into any electric outlet. Because of the power required to run an electric dryer, you may need to upgrade your electric panel. That can be expensive.
If you already have propane for your kitchen stove, water heater or other appliances, you know how efficient and versatile it is as an energy source. And adding another line to connect your dryer is easy. Just let us know when you’re adding new propane appliances, especially if you’re on automatic delivery. Because you only need to plug in a propane dryer to power the control panels, not the heating element, it can be a convenient and efficient choice.
If you don’t have propane, it’s easy to add, and inexpensive unless you want to bury your storage tank. Adding propane can open up a range of other efficient options for making your home more comfortable, too.
If you’re looking for a clothes dryer that will save you both time and money, a propane-fueled dryer is the smart option. Propane-powered clothes dryers are super-efficient because they heat up faster. That means they dry faster, so you spend less to get the job done—and less time doing laundry. That’s a win-win.
The main drawback of a propane dryer is that they tend to be more expensive up front. But over time, they’ll save you more on energy costs.
Electric dryers are generally less expensive. But a fully electric dryer requires a 240-volt outlet, which can really raise your up-front costs unless you’re replacing an old dryer and the necessary outlet is already in place.
Electric dryers take longer to heat up, so they take longer to dry. That will run up your electric bill—and it means laundry day can take, well, all day.
If you’re already using propane at home, you know the benefits. If you’ve never lived in a propane-fueled home before, you might be surprised to know how versatile it is and how many ways it can be used in your home. Not only does propane provide steady, reliable heat energy at a competitive price, but it also offers exceptional performance and efficiency in a wide range of home appliances at a much lower cost than electricity.
The experts at Superior Gas have the experience and knowledge to answer all your questions and help make adding propane—or simply hooking up a new propane dryer—easy. Contact us to learn more and become a customer today.
Some people appreciate the swap-and-go convenience of a cylinder exchange. But savvy customers love the savings they get by refilling their propane grill tanks. Sure, it’s tempting to grab a quick replacement at a nearby exchange cage and be on your way. It’s fast, convenient, and easy to find. But if you’re looking to get the most value for your money, refilling your propane cylinder is often the smarter choice—and it’s just as easy as exchanging tanks.
When you own your propane grill tank and get it refilled, you can save money in a few ways. First, you’ll save on the price of the propane. The difference can be up to $1.75 per gallon!
That’s because when you refill your tank, you are just paying for propane. When you use an exchange cage, you’re covering the overhead costs of handling, transportation, and the maintaining and restocking the exchange program. Plus the cost of propane.
You also save because when you choose to refill your propane tank, you’re only buying the propane you need to fill the rest of your cylinder. Because think about it: When you know your propane cylinder is starting to run low, your instinct is to exchange for a full tank before you run out.
But with propane grill tank exchanges, you don’t get credit for the propane left in the tank you drop off. So unless you run them until they’re completely empty, you could be wasting half a tank or more over the span of a few tanks. Instead, keep a spare on hand so you always have a full tank. It’s your own personal cylinder exchange.
Refilling your cylinder is a snap. Bring your empty tank to us during business hours whenever you need a refill. We provide quick and easy, no-wait portable propane tank fill-ups.
With 10 convenient locations across East Alabama, West Georgia, and Northwest Florida, Superior replaces the cost of the tank-exchange middleman with our competitive per-gallon rate.
Remember to handle propane cylinders safely:
If you’ve been thinking your grilling game is ready for an upgrade, now’s the time to get set up to make outdoor gatherings fun and easy. Whether you’re looking to create a deluxe outdoor kitchen and entertaining space, or just need to replace your old grill, we’ve got plenty of options when it comes to adding some new sizzle to your deck or patio.
Whether you need a cylinder refill, or you want to buy an extra tank so you always have a spare, Superior offers neighborly service and convenient portable grill tank refill service.
Contact us today for more information and locations.
From muscle on the warehouse floor to quick, no-hassle refueling, propane forklifts deliver the kind of reliable performance that keeps productivity high—often at a lower overall cost than diesel or electric options. They’re built for efficiency, but like any piece of heavy equipment, they demand respect. Propane is a safe, dependable fuel when handled correctly, yet safe outcomes always come down to well-trained operators and consistent habits.
Make safety part of your daily routine, not an afterthought. Regular check-ins and hands-on training help reinforce best practices for both experienced operators and new hires alike.
Here are 10 essential tips for the safe operation of propane forklifts:
Keeping your forklift equipment in good condition is critical for safe operation. Maintenance should include regular inspections of key components, such as the brakes, steering and propane system, to ensure they are working properly. Any problems should be addressed promptly by a qualified technician.
Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for a tune-up schedule. Generally, propane forklifts should receive a thorough tune-up annually or every 2,000 hours, whichever comes first. Your team should also perform a check each day before starting the engine—like a pilot before every flight.
When it comes to refilling cylinders, the safest and most efficient option is to use a cylinder exchange program that ensures your cylinders are filled properly and are in good condition. The pros at Superior will evaluate your needs and set up a customized program and delivery schedule—daily, weekly, monthly, or will-call—and provide sturdy, safe storage cages for your cylinders. We’ll also thoroughly train your workers in the safe handling of propane cylinders.
Having a strong support team—both internal and external—can make a big difference in safety. The team at Superior has the expertise and experience to understand your specific needs and tailor a program that will grow with your business. From powerful performance advantages to time-saving convenience and efficiency, we’ll show you how propane forklifts can keep your operation running smoothly and safely, with significant savings over diesel or electricity.
Contact us for more information today.