With warmer weather arriving soon, we’re facing a higher risk for severe weather such as thunderstorms and hurricanes.
That increases our risk of having the power go out in our homes.
As per the U.S. Energy Administration, in 2021 (the most recent year tabulated), customers of electricity endured an average blackout time period of seven hours and twenty minutes, with more than five out of those hours directly attributed to severe occurrences such as hurricanes, wildfires, and snowstorms. That seven-plus hour average blackout time is more than twice as long as it was in 2013.
Our aging, overburdened electricity infrastructure makes losing power in your home a problem that’s not only not going to go away, but one that will likely get worse over time.
Parker Gas has a solution that will help you keep you and your family safe and comfortable when the power goes out: propane whole-house standby generator installation! We are a Briggs & Stratton authorized dealer. We’re your one-stop shop when it comes to generators because we can also install the propane tank for your generator and provide dependable propane delivery, so your generator always has the fuel it needs.
Briggs & Stratton carries propane whole-house standby generators that range in power from 10kW to 26kW. Which one you use depends on factors such as the size of your home, what you need and want in terms of power, and your budget.
Most people buy generators somewhere in the middle of that range. They’ll use between 2.5 and 3.5 gallons of propane an hour when the generator is running at full capacity. Remember, although your generator will be running throughout the power outage, it might not be running at full capacity all that time.
A professional electrician is invaluable to determine the ideal generator for your home. They will be able to perform accurate load calculations that guarantee your family has sufficient emergency electrical power in case of an outage.
Propane is unmatched in terms of the advantages it provides over other fuel sources for whole-house standby generators. Unlike diesel or gasoline, propane won’t degrade over time, making it a better choice.
With proper generator maintenance, including annual tune-ups from Parker Gas, your propane standby generator can last 30 years or more, making it a superior investment in your home’s value and quality of life.
If a generator is left unused for an extended period, it can develop issues that could lead to its failure when you need it. Make it a monthly practice to turn on your generator and let it run for at least 20 minutes. Power it up to a full load and pay close attention for any problems. If you notice something isn’t performing correctly or sounds awry, contact us immediately so we can assess and resolve the issue before the next power outage.
With propane generator installation and reliable propane delivery from Parker Gas, you and your loved ones can weather power outages in safety and comfort. Contact us today to get started!
Winter is winding down, and many of us are looking forward to the coming grilling season.
If you’re looking to up your grilling game, Parker Gas is here for you! We sell top-quality propane grills from Bayou Classic and Wilmington. You can come to any of our six offices during regular business hours for propane tank refills!
Another option is that we connect your grill to your home’s propane tank and with our reliable propane delivery, you’ll always have propane for your grill.
Are you trying to decide between propane and charcoal for grilling? Here are three key advantages propane offers.
With life being so busy, who has the time to cook with charcoal? It’s a process—first you have to get out that bag of charcoal and fill up the grill or chimney. Then it takes about half an hour for your fire to be prepared enough for grilling.
Once your meal is finished, you’re still left with the dirty task of disposing of ashes that can easily leave soot on both your hands and clothing.
Propane grilling offers the convenience and ease of use that you can’t get with charcoal. All you need to do is open the gas valve, switch on your burners, push down an igniter button, and it’s ready for cooking in a few minutes! Cleanup is equally fast: just turn off all components after using them, quickly scrub away any remaining food pieces from your grates and voilà! You’re done!
Propane grills are unmatched in their precision and control. With just a simple twist of the knob, you can customize the flame to your desired temperature and grill whatever you like! No charcoal grill offers this kind of accuracy or convenience, making propane grills perfect for those who want to elevate their grilling experience.
Propane outshines charcoal in multiple ways when it comes to the mouth-watering possibilities of a grill.
By using precise temperature control, you can guarantee consistently superior grilling. Your steak will be cooked to perfection just the way you like it every time. The pork tenderloin also comes out perfectly succulent.
Let the natural flavors of your food shine through with propane grilling: no more overpowering them with smoke! With a propane grill, seasonings and flavors in fish, fruits, and vegetables become even brighter.
Never store propane cylinders indoors or in a garage, shed, carport, sunporch, or any other enclosed space.
Store propane cylinders outdoors in a shady spot on an even and dry surface. When the ground is damp, rust may form on the cylinder.
Keep your propane cylinders away from any source of fire or anything that could produce a spark.
Always keep your propane cylinders in an upright position when taking them for refilling or exchanging. Even though you may assume a cylinder is empty, liquid propane gas could still leak out if it’s on its side.
Avoid leaving a cylinder inside your vehicle for extended periods of time, particularly in the hot summer months. It is highly recommended to drive straight home after filling up or exchanging cylinders, so make it the last errand before heading home.
With refill stations at all six Parker Gas offices, you can be assured that you’ll always have propane for your grill! Find the cylinder refill station nearest you.
Parker Gas is dedicated to providing dependable propane delivery to our Eastern North Carolina customers.
That is why we offer Automatic Delivery. It uses the latest software and an accurate calculation that allow us to predict when you will need more propane. We take that information and schedule a delivery to your home before you run low. It’s our most popular delivery option as our customers no longer need to worry about checking their propane tank gauge levels or remembering to contact us to request a delivery.
What if you want even more precision when it comes to your propane deliveries? Many customers do, so we offer wireless propane tank monitors from TankWatch®.
Wireless propane tank monitoring offers the utmost comfort, convenience, and security when it comes to your propane supply. You no longer need to brave the cold and wet weather for checking your propane tank gauge levels. Worry no more about your propane tank going empty: Wireless propane monitoring takes the stress out of it by automatically keeping tabs on your supply!
Once you enroll in wireless propane tank monitoring, your work is done!
Tank monitoring is for everyone because it takes the work and worry out of getting your propane. Some people, however, can really benefit from it.
People who manage affairs for elderly parents or relatives. Being a caregiver can be a full-time job at times, but wireless propane tank monitoring lightens the load by taking some of that work off your plate.
Owners of second homes or income properties. From country cabins to shoreline short-term rentals and multi-family homes, wireless propane tank monitoring ensures your other properties will always have a consistent supply of gas. You can also track the propane supply at those sites because the Parker Gas TankWatch app lets you track all the tanks in your account.
People who travel frequently or live elsewhere part of the year. Prolonged absences from home can lead to inconsistent propane usage. Fortunately, with wireless propane tank monitoring, you can get propane delivered only when necessary!
Never worry about running out of propane again! Contact Parker Gas today to sign up for our TankWatch wireless propane tank monitoring.
While we may not get the icy arctic blasts that our neighbors to the north are receiving this winter, it can still get chilly enough here in North Carolina to enjoy a fire in the fireplace when we get home.
What’s not enjoyable is the work involved with a wood-burning fireplace. Once you’re done schlepping in the wood, you must build and light the fire. Then, when you’re done, you have a mess of ashes to clean up.
Or, worse, you may not have a fireplace.
Parker Gas can help with both of these issues! We sell, install, and service propane fireplaces and hearth products from top makers including White Mountain Hearth, Realfyre, HeatMaster, Monessen, and Buck Stove.
If you’re searching for a way to bring warmth and atmosphere into your home, then look no further than a propane fireplace. You may be curious about how much fuel it requires. As a general rule, every 100,000 BTUs uses approximately one gallon of propane. For example, if you have a 50,000 BTU fireplace then you can expect it to use one gallon every two hours that it is in use.
Making a comparison between the effort and money you invest in your wood-burning fireplace to that of a propane fireplace, will make many people astonished about how economical and simple it is to have a propane hearth in their home!
Choosing a propane fireplace to add warmth and ambiance to your home is the smarter, simpler option compared to constructing a masonry fireplace. The installation will take only an entire day or less, plus you can install it wherever best suits your space!
Transforming a wood-burning fireplace to propane is an effortless process with the help of gas logs and propane fireplace insert!
If you’re looking for an aesthetically pleasing, life-like flame, propane fireplaces are the way to go over electric fireplaces. You’ll be able to choose from a variety of gas logs with styles ranging from traditional oak to rustic birch and coastal driftwood that look just like real wood. And modern technology has made it so you can enjoy this beauty without sacrificing any comfort or convenience!
Enjoy the convenience of a cozy fire at your fingertips with a propane fireplace: just press one button and you have fire! When finished, simply turn it off without having to worry about any cleanup.
A propane fireplace offers more efficient and effective heating than a wood-burning fireplace, so your room can quickly become warm and stay that way for longer. An outstanding efficiency of up to 80% can be achieved by installing a propane fireplace insert, far surpassing that of an ordinary wood fire. Surprisingly, almost 90% of the heat produced by a wood-burning fireplace is drawn out through the chimney! Consequently, when your fire starts to lose its intensity, you might find your room getting colder pretty quickly.
With expert propane fireplace and hearth product installation along with dependable propane delivery service from Parker Gas, you can relax in front of a fire in your home’s fireplace with ease, convenience, and comfort. Get in touch with us today to get started!
While we may not get the blizzards that people up in the Great Lakes or Upper Midwest do, winter weather can still play havoc on our lives here in eastern North Carolina. Cold rains, wind, and occasional sleet and freezing rain can make getting around difficult.
Winter weather can also pose challenges for the propane delivery drivers at Parker Gas. We are dedicated to upholding stringent safety standards, and that applies to our propane delivery as well. If our drivers cannot safely get down your driveway or do not have safe access to your propane tank, we will not be able to make the delivery and you’ll be without the propane your home needs for heating, water heating, cooking, and more.
There are some things you can do to ensure that your propane delivery is made. The first is to make sure that your driveway is navigable. If the driveway is icy, please use ice melt or sand as our delivery trucks are much heavier than most vehicles that use your driveway. This is especially important if your driveway is on an incline.
Many of our customers use our Automatic Delivery service to get their propane. We use the latest software along with a tried-and-true calculation that uses your propane usage and current weather. With that information, we know when you’ll need a delivery and make it before you run low.
If you are an Automatic Delivery customer, we ask that you inform us if you’re going to be away from home for more than a week as your prior usage is a factor in calculating when you’ll need a propane delivery. Letting us know ahead of time that you’ll be away can prevent an unnecessary delivery.
Parker Gas offers TankWatch® wireless propane tank monitoring for people who want absolute precision when it comes to managing their propane supply. Here’s how it works.
Our TankWatch wireless propane tank monitoring is ideal for anyone who wants peace of mind when it comes to always having propane. There are some customers, however, for whom tank monitoring is ideal.
Owners of second homes or income properties. You no longer need to check your propane tank gauges in person or rely on tenants to ensure your properties have propane because TankWatch does it for you.
People who manage affairs for elderly relatives. Caregiving is a lot of work. With TankWatch wireless propane tank monitoring, the work of managing your loved one’s propane supply is off your to-do list.
Frequent travelers or those who live elsewhere for part of the year. When you’re away from home for extended periods of time, it can be difficult to predict your propane usage. Fortunately, with TankWatch wireless propane tank monitoring, you’ll never have to worry about running out. The monitor insures you’ll get your propane delivered precisely when you need it!
Looking for the best propane delivery in eastern North Carolina? Become a Parker Gas customer for dependable Automatic Delivery and wireless propane tank monitoring!
Look around your home, and there’s not a space in your home that can’t be made better with propane!
Parker Gas offers expert propane appliance installation and service. Check out some of the ways we can help improve the quality of life in your home while improving energy efficiency.
Water heaters are the second-largest users of energy in your home, second only to home heating. Heating water accounts for on aver 20% of a home’s annual energy costs.
Using energy-efficient propane for water heating gets you superior comfort while cutting your water heating energy costs. A 40-gallon propane storage water tank can deliver the same amount of hot water in the first hour as a 50-gallon electric model, allowing you to enjoy significantly more practical and cost-effective energy use in your home.
Want to get even more comfort and convenience with drastically lower energy costs? A propane tankless water heater gives you endless hot water on-demand and can reduce your water heating energy costs by 40%!
Parker Gas is a Rinnai-certified ACE dealer and installs top-quality Rinnai tankless water heaters, and can help you to secure rebates on your new Rinnai tankless water heater.
While you may know that propane is great for whole-house heating, it’s also great for unheated and underheated spaces you’d like to be able to use year-round, like workshops, sunporches, and garages.
We install top-quality space heating equipment from HeatStar, Rinnai, and SunStar.
There’s not much more cozy and comforting than curling up beside a fire in the fireplace with some cookies and a mug of coffee or tea. Propane hearth products from Parker Gas let you enjoy that comfort with just the push of the button and none of the work, hassle, and smoke of a wood fire.
With both harsh summer and winter weather, power outages can make life in your home inconvenient at best and dangerous at worst.
Parker Gas installs and services Briggs & Stratton propane whole-house backup generators. You can keep the lights on, your electronics charged, the food in your fridge safe, and essential medical equipment like CPAPs and electric wheelchairs operating.
Often, wanting gas for cooking is a major reason why people decide to add propane to their homes. Propane allows you to enjoy gas cooking wherever you live, without having to be in a neighborhood with natural gas service.
Cooking with propane offers many benefits. You get precise and instant temperature control that helps cook food perfectly. Electric ranges take much longer to heat up and cool down, meaning the steak you want to cook medium-rare may end up closer to medium-well. The heat in a propane oven is moister than in an electric oven, so your roasts and Thanksgiving turkey are less likely to dry out.
Doing laundry is not an exciting activity. Most of us want to get it done as quickly as possible. Propane helps make laundry day easier thanks to propane clothes dryers!
Using a propane clothes dryer gets your laundry dry 25% faster than comparable electric models. Not only that, the moister heat from a propane clothes dryer reduces wear on your clothes while also creating fewer wrinkles. Not only is your laundry done faster, but you also have less ironing to do!
Propane isn’t just great inside your house, but outside it as well. Let’s start with propane grills. They are ready to grill in mere minutes, instead of the half-hour it could take to build a charcoal fire and wait for it to be ready. They offer on-a-dime temperature control that can cook a wide range of foods beautifully.
Propane can elevate your back yard living in many ways with propane pool and patio heaters, deck and patio heaters, outdoor fireplaces, firepits, insect traps, and outdoor lighting.
Are you ready to enjoy superior comfort and energy efficiency? Contact Parker Gas today to learn more about adding propane appliances to your home!
If you’ve never used propane in your home and are considering converting to propane or moving to a propane-using home, you have a lot to look forward to!
Thanks to propane, your home will be more comfortable and efficient than ever before. Here are some of the perks you can look forward to:
With Parker Gas, you don’t have to worry about a thing when it comes to propane! We offer dependable delivery with our Automatic Delivery and wireless propane tank monitoring. Plus, we provide safe and expert installation of propane tanks. And if you’re looking to lease a tank, we offer that, too!
Parker Gas carries a wide range of propane tank sizes. This guide will give you an idea of the tank size you may need for your home.
120-gallon tank. If you only use propane for one appliance such as a range, a fireplace, or a clothes dryer, this size tank will work for you.
330-gallon tank. If you have multiple propane appliances in your home such as a water heater, range, fireplace, and clothes dryer then this tank size is perfect for you. Additionally, it’s the right size for a propane whole-house backup generator. If you have a small home, under 1,000 square feet, it may suffice for whole-house heating.
500-gallon tank. Most people who heat their homes with propane will need this tank size.
1,000-gallon tank. Tanks such as these are most often found in commercial and industrial settings, but they can also be used for larger homes that are heated with propane and also have numerous high-BTU propane appliances like pool and spa heaters.
Even though you use propane gas, it is stored in your tank as a liquid. This occurs because propane must first be compressed into a liquid and then stored at below -44° F until you are ready to use it.
Propane is turned into a gas by opening the valve and lowering the internal pressure, which then exposes the propane to outside temperatures. The liquid propane (LPG) vaporizes, providing power to all of the propane appliances in your home.
Although propane is naturally scentless, an odorant, usually ethyl mercaptan, is added during production so that people can easily identify leaks. This smell has been described as similar to rotten eggs.
It’s very important to know how to turn off the propane supply to your home in case of a leak, during severe weather, or if you need to evacuate your home. We can help you learn how.
The reasoning behind the color choice of a white or beige propane tank may not be apparent, but it is important to know that you should never paint it a darker color in order to help it blend in with its surroundings.
Excessive pressure levels inside propane tanks are often caused by heat. Liquid propane expands much quicker than water, at a rate of 17 times greater. A light-colored tank reflects heat better, keeping the liquid safe from expanding too quickly. On the other hand, dark colors absorb heat and can cause a dangerous expansion of the propane in your tank.
Become a Parker Gas customer for safe, reliable, expert propane delivery and service.
If your water heater is 10 years old or older, it’s time to start planning for a water heater replacement. The average lifespan of a storage-tank water heater is only 10 to 12 years.
At Parker Gas, we provide top-tier water heater installation, maintenance, and repair services. We are a Rinnai-certified ACE dealer and can help you get any rebates or specials your new water heater qualifies for, saving you money!
Not sure which type of water heater is right for you? Here’s a breakdown of the different kinds available so you can make the best decision for your needs and budget.
A tank water heater stores and heats a large amount of water so that it will always be available whenever you need it. The pipe that brings hot water to wherever it is needed, such as the dishwasher or washing machine, is located above the tank.
Water heaters have come a long way in terms of energy efficiency and replacing an old model with a new one can be a great way to save money. Tank water heaters are affordable and easy to install, making them popular among homeowners.
A tank water heater stores all of the hot water your home has available at any given moment. This type of heating system regularly heats and reheats the water throughout the day and night so that you always have access to hot water.
You can save up to 40% on your water heating energy costs by switching to a tankless water heater. This appliance only heats water when you need it, so you’ll never have to worry about running out. For most people, heating water makes up 20% of their total energy costs every year.
Although a traditional tank water heater only lasts for about 10 years, investing in a tankless model will provide you with 20 or more years of hot water.
Indirect water heaters are water heating systems that heat water using your home’s heating system.
Indirect water heaters are more energy efficient and can help reduce your water heating bill, especially during the colder months. However, they need to be connected with your home’s heating system, which makes installation more involved than a conventional or tankless water heater would be. Consequently, indirect heaters tend to cost more than other types of heaters overall.
Replacing your water heater before it begins to fail gives you the opportunity to compare different models and find the best one for you. You’ll feel much better knowing that you made a proactive decision.
Water heater malfunctions can often be prevented by checking it on a regular basis for any early signs of failure. If you see any of the following, call Parker Gas immediately:
Contact Parker Gas today to get started on upgrading to a new, high-efficiency water heater!
Here in Eastern North Carolina, we see a lot of bad weather, from summer hurricanes to coastal winter storms that bring wind and ice.
That bad weather, along with electrical grid failures and car accidents that bring down power lines, can cause power outages in your home. The longer the power is out, things get more uncomfortable and potentially dangerous.
Parker Gas can keep your home safe and comfortable during power outages by installing a top-quality Briggs & Stratton propane whole-house generator. In addition to generator installation, we also install propane tanks for generators and provide dependable propane delivery.
A whole-house generator is also sometimes called a standby generator because it’s on standby until you need it. The generator activates as soon as the electricity goes off and starts supplying power directly to your house’s circuit breaker box.
This is one of many ways that whole-house generators have a big advantage over portable generators. You won’t be home to turn it on or have to go outside in the cold and ice to turn it on, as you do with a portable generator. You also don’t have to run extension cords around your house.
Once the electricity comes back on, it automatically shuts off again.
The propane appliance experts at Parker Gas will help you through the process of selecting your whole-house generator. We’ve put together some things for you to think about as you get started.
Capacity. How much power do you want your generator to provide for your home in an outage?
Generators have a vast array of capabilities, from small units that can power only a few appliances to large commercial-grade models. For example, an 8-kilowatt (kW) generator is easy to place and can operate essentials like lights and a refrigerator. A 25-kW generator, however, could easily run a home HVAC system in addition to other items.
Make a list of two categories. The first is for the essentials such as lights, refrigerators, furnace fans, small appliances like a microwave or multicooker, sump pumps, medical equipment like a CPAP, home security systems, electronics like TVs, gaming systems, and computers, and chargers for phones, laptops, and tablets. The second list is for high-wattage items such as central air conditioning, heat pump, washing machine, dryer, water heater, and range. These lists help you determine your priorities.
Placement. Depending on the level of power output, whole-house generators can be just as big as—or even slightly bigger than—the outdoor unit for central A/C systems.
Generators must be installed to meet local flood, noise, and electrical codes, as well as regulations for safety. These codes, regulations, and standards are why determining the placement of and installing a whole-house generator aren’t DIY projects but must be done by trained professionals like the team at Parker Gas.
Costs. The national average price range for propane whole-house generators is between $3,000 and $10,000, depending on the capacity of the generator.
Like other propane appliances, propane whole-house generators need annual professional generator maintenance to operate smoothly. Our service technicians will tune up your generator and provide a thorough inspection to spot and fix any potential problems before they get worse.
There are ways to keep your generator running properly in between tune-ups. If you don’t use your generator regularly, it can start to develop problems that could prevent it from working when you need it. Avoid this by starting your generator and letting it run for around 20 minutes once a month. Power it to a full load and pay close attention to how it’s running. Contact us for a service call if you notice any problems.
Parker Gas can help your home stay safe and comfortable during power outages with our propane whole-house backup generator services. Get in touch with us today to learn more.
If you’ve been thinking about the best energy source for keeping your North Carolina home comfortable and safe, it’s a wise idea to take a good look at propane delivery and equipment services from Parker Gas!
Let’s walk through all the ways propane can make your home more comfortable and energy efficient.
Home appliances like ranges, furnaces, and water heaters that use propane are more energy efficient than electric ones. For example, a propane water heater can heat water faster and at a lower cost than an electric one. Also, your laundry will dry in 25% less time with a propane clothes dryer as opposed to an electric one.
Although people might think that electricity is “cleaner” than propane, it actually isn’t. In the U.S., 50% of electricity annually comes from coal-fired power plants, which produce a lot of smog and acid rain. Also, making electricity in power plants is one of the biggest drivers behind greenhouse gas emissions in America, second only to transportation. Propane produces close to zero greenhouse gas emissions!
Did you know that around 60% of electricity is lost to resistance when it runs through power lines? This makes transmission very inefficient. In fact, it takes three units of source energy just to get one unit from the power plant into our homes. To provide enough electricity for all households, there’s no choice but to burn more greenhouse gas-producing coal. However, because propane is kept in close proximity to your home in your propane tank, there is little-to-no loss between the fuel and appliances.
Propane gas furnaces are more cost-effective for home heating than electric systems, according to the Department of Energy. Propane heats air to 130° to 140° Fahrenheit and operates in shorter intervals, so you stay warmer longer. Electric heating only brings air temperature up to around 98.6°, which explains why it feels cooler when you place your hand near the vent.
Propane fireplaces are becoming increasingly popular due to the multiple advantages they offer compared to electric models. Propane flames look more natural and realistic, for example, and heat your space faster than electric flames do. Additionally, propane fireplaces cost much less to operate than electric ones.
Propane furnaces last approximately 5-10 years longer than electric heat pumps, saving you money in the long run. They are also cheaper to maintain because they consist of fewer moving parts. In addition, propane tankless water heaters could save you $175 or more annually on your water heating costs.
Propane can make many appliances work more efficiently in your home. For instance, with a propane range, you have greater temperature control than with electric ranges which makes it easier to cook food perfectly. Also, tankless water heaters that use propane will allow you to enjoy all the hot water you want with no risk of cold showers. Lastly, propane pool and spa heaters heat water much faster and more effectively than electric models.
Become a Parker Gas customer and enjoy the benefits of propane in your North Carolina home!