Mosquito Magnets which are a name brand mosquito repellent work very well to combat those nasty little critters that are about to take over the Glades.  If you really want to get mosquitos under control once and for all, we can tie it into your main gas supply and no more hauling 20# tanks to the local dispensers.

 

What is the big deal about Social Media?

    Just what is the big deal about social media anyway?  Who has time to learn how to set up a Fan Page or set up a YouTube or Twitter account?  Personally, I have accounts all over the place and spend a lot of time working on each one.  I think each media has its own benefits.

     YouTube is a fantastic way to share a "how to" lesson.  You can go to YouTube and learn how to do just about anything you want.   You can learn things you never even thought about learning before!  Did you know that it is the 3rd largest search engine??  It is the fastest, cheapest way to do video marketing.

     In business, Twitter can help you reach new markets and increase sales but only by building relationships.  It is a great way to publicize your business and build a strong brand.  You send 160 character Tweets to your Followers and let them know what is happening in your world or share advice., or just wish everyone a great week.  Twitter is about relationships, not sales.  It is fun to meet people on Twitter and learn from their Tweets.

     Facebook is the phenomenon of this decade for sure.   I believe our grand kids will be talking about it some day as I don't think it is going anywhere soon.  You can advertise a business, service or product for free by setting up a fan page, which literally takes about 5 minutes.  Fan pages are starting to look like web sites in that you can enter your email address and get on people's mailing lists.  It is growing exponentially by the day.  Ads pay for the company since signing up and having a fan page is free.  Facebook is a great way for grandparents to see what their families are doing hundreds or thousands of miles away.  It is a great platform for businesses to share important information with their customers on a daily basis.  And of course teens love talking to their friends in class on their cell phones while looking  up what movies are playing at the local theater.

     No matter which media you choose to dive into, they are all fun, free and only a click away.  If you have any questions how to use any of them, stop by the office....I love to share!

    

Propane Safety First! GAS Check

Launched in1985, GAS Check™ signified the beginning of an industry-wide effort to help reduce residential accidents involving propane. Developed by a team of industry volunteers, the revised GAS Check™ Inspection Program responds to changes in the propane industry and appliances.

What is GAS Check?
GAS Check is a completely voluntary set of guidelines for inspecting residential gas systems.
This inspection guideline covers propane containers, regulators, appurtenances, gas supply
lines and equipment visible and accessible to the person conducting the inspection and
represents the conditions existing on the date of the inspection.

Gas Appliance System Check (GAS Check™) is a voluntary inspection program developed by PERC together with the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) that provides guidelines to technicians on how to perform two important types of residential safety inspections:
•  A “Gas System Check” of the gas delivery system, including containers, regulators, and appurtenances.
•  A "Gas Appliance System Check" of both the gas delivery system and all propane-burning appliances.

Our technicians have been performing GAS Check since 1985 on all new installations.  Ask your propane supplier if they have done the same.

Happy Cinco de Mayo

Mexican favorites!

     Do you know what Cinco de Mayo really is all about?  Most people don't.  The Battle of Puebla took place on May 5, 1982 outside of the town during the French intervention of Mexico.  The Mexican Army defeated the French forces that were occupying the area at the time.  Today the victory is celebrated on the 5th of May every year.  See a map of Puebla, it is located in the Southern Mexico:   


http://www.sacred-destinations.com/mexico/puebla-map

Clean Coils Save $$$$$
The coil on the left is extremely dirty vs. the new coil on the right.                                            Maximizing the efficiency of your Air Conditioning (HVAC) system makes sense with the rising costs of energy. Both condenser (outdoor) and evaporator (indoor) coils are made to provide optimum heat transfer required for the area needing cooling. The air being transferred, in most cases, contains a mixture of dust, dirt, pollen, grease and moisture. These contaminants settle on the surface of the coil and impact the ability to transfer heat. They also affect the quality of the air within your home or building. The cost of operating dirty air conditioning equipment is greater than you might expect!
Power Costs
Equipment operating with dirty coils may use as much as 37 percent more energy than equipment with clean coils. Restricted heat transfer causes the compressor to work harder, increasing the head pressure. Rising head pressure will result in a loss of cooling capacity of up to 30 percent. (Example: If our 4-ton system with a 30 percent loss is now only providing 2.8 tons of cooling). The system will cost more to operate and provide less cooling. This loss will be noticeable on the hottest days, when cooling is needed the most!
Life Expectancy
Higher operating pressures caused by a dirty coil may reduce your equipment's life expectancy. The restriction of heat transfer and strain placed on the compressor can lead to equipment failure. Compressor failure means no cooling. Compressor replacement cost is out of sight compared to a cleaning! Caution:  Do not judge the cleanliness of a coil by its visual appearance. Air conditioning cooling coils provide moisture, cool temperature and food from dust; all which contribute to contamination growth which affects the cooling coil in the following ways: • Reduced heat transfer. The contaminants on the coil surface act as an insulation media between the air and the cooling coil. The air flowing through the coil is not reduced in temperature adequately enough to allow the system to cool the building efficiently. Therefore, the compressor will run continuously to compensate for the poor temperature transfer. In a system where the air is cooling the building efficiently, the compressor will cycle in and out of service as required. Poor heat transfer results in poor energy savings. • Blockages in the coil. This decreases the amount of air passing through the system. This in turn affects the air conditioner's ability to cool the air. To compensate, the compressor is running at longer durations. Effective maintenance on the cooling coil provides cost savings in energy consumption. • Corrosion of the coil. Contaminants attach themselves to the fins of the cooling coil. Over time, they become etched into the surface to provide a secure holding. This eats away at the cooling coil and over time degenerates the cooling coil's ability to perform efficient heat transfer. The solution for coil corrosion is to remove contaminants through maintenance. The alternative is to replace the cooling coil, which comes at a greater cost than coil maintenance.
So you are asking what is the best way to keep my coils clean?  The answer is to change or wash your filter like clock work every month.  We wash our's when we pay the electric bill.  If you suspect your coil is dirty, call for a coil cleaning before the real heat sets in.  It will save you money over the course of the summer.  Be kind to your AC and it will be kind to you:)

Southeastern Convention International Propane Expo

  We just returned from the one of the largest trade shows in the South in Atlanta, Georgia.  The National Propane Gas Association sponsors the show every year just before Easter.  We have been attending it for over twenty-five years.  There are wholesale distributors and retailers involved in every facet of propane imaginable.   The show had less exhibitors this year, only two hundred and thirty compared to over five-hundred in the past....The shrinking economy roars its ugly head.  It still is an incredible show with new state of the art propane toys.
       One particular toy that really caught our eye were these glass beads put out by RH Petersen.  We have been selling their gas logs for over twenty five years.  They are second to none in terms of a realistic looking gas fire place logs.  They are called Fyre Stones and Fyre Glass.  You can check them out at:  Peterson Logs  

May have to replace our traditional logs with the Stones...they are really different. 

We have always been a member of the National Propane Gas Association.  Their mission is:

     "To advance safety and to increase the use of propane through sound public policy"

Black Gold Weekend

The 33rd annual Black Gold Festival will be held on Torry Island at the Belle Glade Marina this weekend.  Here is the schedule.  C'mon out and enjoy the fun!


Schedule of Events:
6:45 a.m. – Registration for the 5K Walk/Run at the Torry Island Campground and Marina. All participants will receive a free t-shirt.
7:30 a.m. – 5K Walk/Run – Torry Island Campground and Marina
11:30 a.m. – Opening ceremonies
Noon – Kernel Contest
11 a.m. – 6 p.m. – Art & Photography Exhibits, Dunking Booth, Volleyball Tournament, Children’s rides and games, Glades style food booths, and Arts and Crafts booths
11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. – Continuous Entertainment, Airboat and Car show
4:30 p.m. – Dave “Gator” Bressmer Concert
6:00 p.m. – Ryan Walker Concert
6:45 p.m. – Wild Blue Concert
Grand Finale – Fireworks