What does winter mean to you? For some it is tobogganing with their children, for others it could be the social time with friends and family, or even sitting by a fireplace on a quiet evening with a cup of hot chocolate.

Winter can be a lot of different things to different people, but for everybody it is also a time when your furnace is working extra hard to keep your home or business warm. For those that depend on propane to keep their furnace going, EDPRO is working diligently to ensure your propane system is doing its job every day of the winter season. Whether through safe and timely deliveries, system safety inspections, or new tank installations, EDPRO is always focused on ensuring a steady and safe supply of propane for our customers.

However, our valuable customers also play an important role. The following tips can help ensure timely deliveries and keep your propane system running safely and efficiently throughout the winter season.

Keep your propane system equipment clear of snow and ice

This is important to ensure your propane system continues to run safely and efficiently throughout the winter. To do this safely:

• – Gently remove snow and ice from your propane tank and regulator, using a brush or broom. Never use sharp tools that could damage your propane equipment.
• – Ensure external vents for your furnace, fireplace, water heaters or other appliances are always clear of snow and ice.
• – Do not shovel, plow, or blow snow against the propane tank, gauge, regulator or piping.
• – Never kick your propane tank, vents or other equipment to clear ice or snow, as this may damage the equipment.
• – Always consult your appliances’ manufacturer instructions and user manuals to understand proper maintenance for your equipment.

Monitor your propane levels, especially prior to forecasted winter storms

For customers on routine, regularly scheduled deliveries, rest assured EDPRO will ensure your propane is delivered. That being said, it is never a bad idea to self-monitor your tank levels from time to time and check your propane levels. This is especially true ahead of forecasted major weather events like snow and ice storms. It never hurts to consider requesting a delivery ahead of inclement weather if you are worried access to your tank may be limited for a time. With our convenient, live answer 24/7 service, you can contact our office any time day or night to request a delivery should the need arise.

For those on will-call, please ensure you call and schedule your delivery well before you run low, ideally contacting us once your tank is at approximately 30%. This will help avoid potential runouts during peak delivery times or in case of harsh winter storms, providing enough lead time for us to get there to complete your delivery.

Finally, for customers who make use of their propane system for back-up power, it is absolutely crucial to contact us when you switch to generator power. Generators are a heavy consumption appliance, so it is very important we are made aware of when you are running on generator power so we can ensure we are delivering in time to keep your heat and power going for as long as you need it.

Maintain easy access to your propane tank(s)

This is important so our drivers can access your tank to complete deliveries in a safe and timely manner:

• – Ensure your driveway is cleared of snow and salted for ice so the propane delivery truck can access to reach your tank(s).
• – Ensure there is a clear path free of snow and ice to allow delivery personnel to easily access your tank.

If our driver can’t get to your tank, they may not be able to complete your delivery. This will cause unnecessary delays and potential runouts. When we work together, we are at our best!

Keeping our customers warm and safe is our #1 priority. If you have any questions, please contact us at 1-877-693-3776 or info@edproenergy.com.

Propane is a very versatile fuel. Because of its versatility and easily transportable nature, propane is used in many applications throughout Canada and around the world. Propane is a non-toxic, colourless and odourless gas. Odourant is added at the supply source such that propane can be readily detected. Propane is stored and transported as a liquid and burned as a gas. Propane is a safe, clean and reliable energy form with abundant supply in Canada.

Propane Supply

Canada has a surplus of propane with about 70% of annual production being exported. Propane is produced from natural gas processing and oil refining. About 85% of Canada’s propane is produced from natural gas. Over the past five years, propane supply has averaged 11.9 billion litres, with domestic consumption averaging 3.3 billion litres, and exports to the United States averaging 8.6 billion litres. A well-developed and robust infrastructure of pipelines, rail and road transport ensures secure supply to consumers and businesses throughout Canada.

Propane Safety

Propane is a safe fuel and propane storage, handling and use are governed by stringent codes and regulations put into place by government and industry. The industry maintains a high level of safety with ongoing inspections, maintenance programs and employee training. Propane is odourless and a stench, similar to “rotten eggs”, is added such that the gas can be readily detected.

Propane & The Environment

Propane is more environmentally friendly than conventional fuels such as gasoline, diesel or fuel oil. In vehicles, propane green house gas (GHG) emissions are up to 26% less than gasoline emissions and propane emits significantly less criteria air contaminants and air toxics that negatively impact air quality and human health. Storage of propane, unlike other liquid fuels, has limited impact on water or soil as any releases dissipate to the atmosphere.

Propane when used in heating applications emits less GHG emissions than fuel oil and less particulate emissions that contribute to poor air quality. In space heating applications propane has 37% less GHG emissions than fuel oil and up to 64% less GHG emissions than electricity (United States data on a lifecycle basis–on site emissions plus upstream emissions).

Propane Uses & Applications

Residential

In addition to the backyard barbeque, propane has many uses around the home. Residential customers use propane for heating their homes and water as well as for clothes drying, cooking and pool heating. Increasingly, propane is being used in back-up generators to provide electrical power in the event of power disruptions. Propane as a gas is similar to natural gas and appliances designed for natural gas are easily adapted to utilize propane. Propane customers enjoy the same clean, modern and high efficiency appliances that urban customers use.

Forklift

Propane is the fuel of choice in the manufacturing, warehousing and distribution sectors for powering forklifts. Propane is clean and offers more power and lifting capability than electric forklifts with no down time for charging.

Agricultural

Propane is used in the agricultural sector for crop drying and heating brooder barns. Greenhouse operations use propane as a source of heat for their temperature sensitive plants. Propane is also used to power wind generators and irrigation systems.

Commercial

Customers use propane for heating their premises with radiant heaters and unit heaters. Commercial water heaters provide businesses with large quantities of hot water more quickly and efficiently than electricity. Propane is also used in restaurants for cooking and industrial processes for heat-treating of metals and alloys.

Fleet

There are over 10 million vehicles worldwide using clean burning propane as a vehicle fuel. With today’s modern fuel injected technology propane provides cost savings in the order of 25% in relation to gasoline for high consumption fleet vehicles. In addition, propane offers environmental benefits with reduced GHG emissions and lower air toxics and criteria air contaminants than conventional fuels.

Industrial

Uses of propane include mine air heating, aggregate drying and powering generators. Propane is also widely used in temporary heating applications during construction of residential, industrial and institutional facilities.