Propane

What is propane?

Propane, also known as LPG (liquefied petroleum gas or LP gas) is a pressurized liquid fuel. It is the byproduct of both crude oil refining and natural gas processing. In most systems, propane vaporizes to a gas before leaving the tank. Propane is colorless, non-toxic, odorless, and flammable when mixed with oxygen. Skin contact with liquid propane can result in severe freeze burns or frostbite.

How does a propane system work?

A propane system consists of a tank or cylinder with one or more regulators, gas piping, and whatever gas appliances are in the home or business. The tank or cylinder stores the propane, and the regulators control the pressure. Gas piping carries the gas to the appliances. All tanks and cylinders have a main shutoff valve. Learning how the shut off the gas in an emergency is highly important.

Is propane safe?

Yes. Propane quickly vaporizes on contact with air, so it doesn’t spill out on the ground and can’t be ingested. It has a lower flammability rating than other types of fuel and will not ignite when mixed with oxygen until the source of ignition exceeds 940° F. Additionally, Propane is not harmful to the environment and is listed as a clean fuel in the 1990 Clean Air Act and the National Energy Policy Act of 1992.

What should I do if I smell propane?

Although naturally odorless, all propane contains an added chemical oderant for the purpose of leak detection. It usually smells like rotten eggs, skunk, or a dead animal. If you suspect a leak, do not risk a spark by using light switches or phones. Immediately put out smoking materials and open flames. Ventilate the area and then leave immediately. Call your local fire department and Palmetto Propane from a safe place and do not re-enter the area until it has been inspected by a professional.

How much propane will I need?

It depends on many factors, such as the size of your home or business, insulation in the building, and the number of appliances in use. Call or email us with your details, and we can provide you with a more accurate estimate.

How will I know when I need a fillup?

Keep an eye on your tank gauge to see how much is left in the tank. If you’re not already on a prescheduled delivery plan, a good rule of thumb is to give us a call when your gauge reads around 25%.

Do I need to be home for service, delivery, or installation?

There will need to be someone 18 or older present to let our technician in. In the case of an outside system like a pool heater or generator, no one needs to be home. However, if a problem is detected and you are unreachable, the technician will shut off the system for safety reasons, and another appointment will have to be made.

Why install a digital tank monitor?

Digital tank monitors allow you to check your propane levels at any time, and request service when you need it. By monitoring, our team can efficiently make delivery routes. You gain peace of mind, and we can focus on serving our customers to the best of ability. 

What are the costs to enroll in digital tank monitoring? 

Installing a digital monitor requires an initial $125 activation and installation fee. For the rest of your time as a Palmetto Propane customer, monitoring comes at no additional charge.

How do I read my digital tank monitor? 

You can use your smartphone to read your tank levels anytime, anywhere. Digital tank monitors can also connect to your MyFuelPortal account so you can access them from your customer portal. Not enrolled in MyFuelPortal? Contact us today to get started. 

If I am enrolled in AutoFill, do I still need a digital tank monitor? 

Yes! If you are currently enrolled in Autofill, a tank monitor helps you track your levels. If you are going through a higher amount of propane than normal, you can request a fill-up when you’re running low. 

How do digital tank monitors contribute to Palmetto Propane’s environmental efforts?

Digital monitoring helps us create efficient delivery routes, reducing our carbon footprint. Propane is a clean-burning, environmentally-friendly fuel but we are always looking to improve. 

Fuels

How often is gasoline delivered?

Delivery to a retail gasoline filling station could be anywhere from every day to every week, depending on the size and customer base of the station. We will work closely with you to ensure that your station never goes dry.

What size fuel tank do I need?

How much fuel you will need for your home or business depends on factors such as the size and insulation in the building, the climate of your area, the length of the winter season and/or the needs of your customers. Call or email us, and we can help you to determine the best fit for your situation.

Are ethanol and biodiesel available?

Yes, these products are available.

What tax incentives are available for alternative fuels?

Some alternative fuel use is exempt from federal fuel taxes if the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) deems it nontaxable. These uses include farming purposes, in certain municipal and local buses, and in school buses. This may also be the case if alternative fuels are used exclusively by nonprofit educational organizations or by the state.

Ice

What size boxes are available?

Merchandising ice box sizes range from 30 to 150 cubic feet and are constructed of durable steel.

Is filtered water used to make the ice?

Reddy Ice products are filtered and produced by the most exacting standards and sanitary conditions. To ensure that our water source meets our quality standards, the water used to make our ice is often filtered for use in the ice-making process. We use low micron filtration, carbon filtration, water softeners, ozone generators and reverse osmosis as needed to achieve the proper water quality required to produce a clear product. All of our ice-manufacturing facilities are NSF inspected and certified by the International Packaged Ice Association. This certification requires inspection of more than 50 areas of operations. Rigid adherence to these standards results in a clear, pure tasting product.

What size ice bags are available?

We sell 10 lb and 20lb bags of ice, as well as pallets of bulk ice (not bagged, in a big bin for agricultural customers).

How many bags of ice are there in each delivery?

It depends on the size of your ice box, the scope of your customer base, or the number of people attending your event. We are always willing to work with you to ensure that you are always fully stocked.

How do I prevent theft?

Unfortunately, the honor system doesn’t always work, but if ice theft becomes a real problem for your store, your ice box is lockable with a padlock of your choice.

Troubleshooting

My tank gauge reads 45%, so why is my appliance not working?

Check to see if your other gas appliances are operating normally. If they are, the problem is most likely with the appliance itself. It will need to be fixed accordingly. If none of your gas appliances are working, call us for service as soon as possible.

Why isn’t my tank filled to 100%?

Propane liquid expands readily with temperature changes, almost 17 times more quickly than water. For this reason, propane tanks and cylinders are filled between 80 and 85% capacity for safety. Fluctuations in your tank gauges are completely normal.

Do I need a safety check?

Safety checks are mandatory prior to your first propane delivery regardless of how recently your last propane company performed one. Propane systems must be periodically inspected for proper operation, leaks, and National Fire Protection Association guideline compliance.

Can my system become clogged?

Yes. Gas lines can become clogged with any kind of debris, so it is important to ensure that any disconnected pipes or hoses are properly capped or plugged. It is also vital to check that vents are always clear of blockages to prevent deadly carbon monoxide buildup.

Billing & Payment

How can I update my account information?

Click on the Online Bill Pay button at the top of the page. You will be prompted to log in. Once you are logged in, you will be able to edit all of your account settings and information.

Are payment plans available?

Our EZ Pay Plan allows you to budget your propane energy costs with monthly payments. It is not a finance plan; other charges and purchases are  not  included. We determine your monthly payment by multiplying your annual fuel usage by this year’s projected price, plus adjustments, then we divide that total by the remaining number of months in the plan year. If you choose to lock in your price with a contract, we multiply the usage by that contracted price. You will receive a monthly statement showing your balance and the payment amount due. We make every effort, based on information available, to figure these plans as closely as possible with the goal being to balance your payments with the usage and have a zero balance at the end of May. Call or come in. If you qualify, we’ll be glad to set you up with on our EZ Pay Plan and/or Price Contracts so you can better manage your energy cost.

How are prices set?

Propane and other fuels are commodities and are traded on the market. Fluctuations in price can be a daily occurrence. As a by-product of crude oil and natural gas, the price changes are often indicative of one another.

What forms of payment are accepted?

Checks, cash, and major credit cards are accepted. You may also wish to set up an automatic bank draft to pay your monthly bill if your propane, fuel, and ice needs are fairly regular.

Are tanks leased or bought?

Propane tanks are leased, and Palmetto Propane provides all the maintenance on the leased tank. If you, as a customer, use 100 gallons of propane per year, there is no cost for the leased tank.