If you own a home in Kingman or another city in Northern Arizona, you know the challenges of maintaining your loved ones’ comfort in our changeable climate. From sweltering summers to chilling winters, ensuring your home remains comfortable requires thoughtful decisions.
Propane can fulfill many of your needs. This versatile, efficient and reliable energy source powers a wide array of home appliances — all from a dedicated propane tank situated on your property. At Superior Propane, we are well-versed in our fuel’s numerous advantages. Here are some amazing benefits of propane appliances.
Stay cozy and warm in the winter without breaking the bank with propane heating. From furnaces to space heaters, propane home heating products offer consistent heat that’s unmatched by electric alternatives. These heating systems have fuel efficiencies of up to 98.5%, and propane itself delivers a robust 91,452 Btu of heat energy per gallon (the equivalent of roughly 27 kWh of electricity). So you get a lot of comfort for your energy dollar.
Imagine a plentiful supply of hot water at a moment’s notice. Propane water heaters have roughly double the hot water recovery rate of comparable electric units. Tankless propane systems supply endless hot water on demand, and they do this with even less fuel than a traditional unit.
Home chefs — like over nine out of 10 professional chefs — prefer the precision and control offered by gas cooking ranges and ovens. Unlike electric stoves, propane ranges provide near-instant heat, extremely accurate temperature adjustments and even heat distribution to achieve perfect culinary creations. These stoves cool down quicker than electric elements, reducing the risk of burns. Propane ovens generate a slightly moist heat, so your Thanksgiving turkey is never dried out.
With shorter drying cycles and state-of-the-art moisture sensors, propane clothes dryers work more efficiently than electric ones. They also produce fewer wrinkles, cutting down on your ironing time. It all adds up to a quicker, less strenuous laundry day!
Grid outages are no match for propane standby generators. These systems kick in swiftly when your electricity goes out, keeping your home’s essential systems running seamlessly. Because they are automatic, you don’t need to be home to keep your refrigerator and home security system running. You can size your generator to provide backup power to your whole house or only select rooms, appliances, outlets, and lighting. And since propane has an unlimited shelf life, your fuel will be ready to go when your generator needs it, no matter how long it’s been sitting in the tank.
You can elevate your outdoor leisure with propane-powered products like grills, firepits, outdoor fireplaces, patio heaters, pool heaters and outdoor lighting. These outdoor amenities keep your al fresco gatherings going even when the evening is chilly.
The experts at Superior Propane are here to help you explore your propane appliance options, facilitate installation for them and potentially help you qualify for equipment rebates. We also provide the most dependable propane delivery in the region.
Talk to us today about adding propane service to your Kingman home. Contact us to start your journey to superior home comfort.
The quest for alternative transportation fuels has never been more pertinent than it is today. There’s a global push for more environmentally friendly vehicles, and the volatile energy prices of the last several years have many commercial operations seeking viable alternatives to gasoline and diesel.
This is where propane autogas comes in. As the third most widely used transportation fuel in the U.S., propane can be a game-changer for businesses looking to become more sustainable while keeping a tight grip on their budgets. And Northern Arizona fleets are turning to Superior Propane for their autogas.
Here are three compelling benefits of propane autogas that could make a valuable impact on your commercial operations.
A major hurdle for many companies considering a switch to cleaner energy options is the upfront expense. Electric vehicles (EVs) receive a lot of press these days, but they come with hefty conversion costs. The manufacturing of EVs requires expensive, high-tech components and infrastructure that can be prohibitively costly. The infrastructure for 10 electric vehicles with five level 3 fast EV chargers costs up to $480,000.
By comparison, a fuel tank and dispensing equipment for the same number of propane vehicles will only run about $60,000, and transitioning a fleet to propane autogas is significantly less expensive overall. For businesses, it’s not just about finding cleaner alternatives; it’s about finding cost-effective, clean alternatives — propane autogas fits the bill.
Beyond the initial conversion and infrastructure costs of converting a fleet to a greener energy source, you need to consider its long-term financial viability. Propane traditionally costs less than diesel and gasoline. Additionally, because propane is readily available and mostly sourced domestically, it’s less subject to market fluctuations that affect gasoline and diesel prices.
Propane also burns cleaner than diesel and gasoline, so you can expect extended engine life and reduced maintenance costs, too!
Finally, businesses need to consider their environmental footprint. Here’s where propane autogas genuinely shines. It releases fewer harmful combustion byproducts— including carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide, sulfur and nitrogen oxides and particulate matter — than diesel and gasoline. Cleaner emissions mean a smaller ecological impact, compliance with increasingly stringent regulations, potential access to financial incentives and better air quality for your drivers.
It’s also important to note that propane’s carbon intensity (the amount of CO2 produced to generate a given amount of energy) is over 40% lower than Arizona’s grid-based electricity. Our state’s grid still relies heavily on coal and natural gas to generate electricity, which is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
Commercial operations in Prescott and throughout Northern Arizona have a partner in the transition to cleaner, cost-effective fuel alternatives — Superior Propane. We can install propane autogas tanks and filling equipment right at your premises. In addition to the benefits listed above, you can say goodbye to having your drivers line up at an off-site service station every day. Your fleet fuel will be right at your business!
Contact Superior Propane today, and we’ll guide you through every step of the way, from setting up your autogas filling station to maintaining a stable and eco-friendly fuel supply.
When you think about the warm season in Jerome, Flagstaff and elsewhere in Northern Arizona, a well-functioning propane grill with a full grill tank can seem nearly as essential as a working air conditioner.
Okay, that might be hyperbole, but it’s safe to say that once you start grilling with propane in your backyard, it’s hard to be without this fantastic outdoor amenity. There’s a good reason that 61% of grillers use propane as their fuel. Propane generates quick, robust and precisely adjustable heat that emits little to no smoke and leaves no chemical taste. Whether you’re slow-cooking sauce-slathered ribs or searing a lightly seasoned salmon filet, you can feel confident that propane will get the job done effectively, and the flavors of your food will shine through.
Plus, there’s very little cleanup with a propane grill. You don’t need to risk ruining your outfit while you douse and clean ashes and coals. Just turn off your burners, close the service valve on your propane cylinder and run a brush over the grate.
At Superior Propane, we’re happy to set up your propane grill and provide fuel for it, too.
Some customers ask us if they can connect their grill to the same tank that supplies fuel to their home’s heating system, water heater and other indoor appliances. This can be a great option, especially if you have a built-in grill or outdoor kitchen. Your grill’s fuel will be replenished whenever you receive a propane delivery.
If you have a freestanding grill, though, you might experience some issues with connecting to your stationary propane tank:
These are some reasons why many grill owners prefer using portable propane cylinders.
Propane cylinders are easily portable and simple to install in your grill. Most grills have storage compartments that can accommodate a 20-pound tank. Here are some steps for switching out a grill tank. Before changing out propane cylinders, ensure your grill is off and the current cylinder’s valve is closed.
It’s time to replenish your grill fuel before spring arrives. Superior Propane supplies fuel for cylinder refill stations in Flagstaff, Parks, Williams, Seligman and other Northern Arizona communities. Refilling your propane cylinder is almost always more affordable than trading it in as a grill tank exchange. So, come to a Superior Propane cylinder refill station with a portable tank for your grill, patio heater, RV, firepit or other outdoor appliance.
Interested in exploring options for a new propane grill? Contact our team today.
As one of the most trusted propane distributors in Flagstaff and elsewhere in Northern Arizona, we appreciate that no two customers are the same. This is true of the many households and families that Superior Propane serves. It’s also the case for the businesses, commercial projects and municipalities that count on us.
Here is a rundown of the kind of commercial sectors we serve and how they use the commercial propane we deliver.
The restaurants, resorts, hotels, event spaces and other hospitality businesses we serve depend on propane to keep patrons and guests comfortable. The systems and sundry equipment they rely on include:
With so much development and renovation happening in our service region, construction sites and other outdoor work sites rely on propane for a range of essential functions. Propane-fueled temporary heat keeps building crews safe and comfortable on frigid nights. It also ensures stable temperatures so cement, paint, spackle and joint compound dry correctly.
The propane we deliver also powers forklifts, excavation equipment, flooring equipment, power generators, hybrid lighting and water-heating equipment.
One of the most crucial needs for warehouses, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers is a functional forklift fleet. Propane forklifts can work inside without negatively impacting air quality. They can work outdoors in the rain without malfunctioning. One 33-pound propane cylinder can typically power a forklift for a full shift, and the vehicle won’t lose lifting and moving capacity even as its fuel runs low. Plus, refueling a propane forklift is easy, taking only a matter of minutes.
Whether we’re talking about schools, hospitals, nursing homes, daycares, or public buildings, propane plays a vital role in keeping people comfortable and safe. It powers cafeterias and heats water for cleaning, bathing and sanitation. It warms up classrooms and living spaces for older adults.
Perhaps most crucially, propane standby generators keep lights, HVAC systems, refrigeration, communication channels and medical equipment running when the power grid fails. Propane has a virtually unlimited shelf life, and these generators switch on automatically when a building loses power. They are the gold standard for dependable backup electricity.
Commercial clients and municipalities know that they can trust our team to arrange on-site fuel storage and a customized bulk propane delivery schedule. We will ensure that you always have the propane you need to keep your essential systems and appliances running year-round.
Get in touch with Superior Propane to discuss your business’s needs and get started arranging tailored reliable propane deliveries. Our team members are ready to help.
Portable propane cylinders provide fuel to grills, patio heaters, gas firepits, recreational vehicles and lots of other outdoor products. These 20-pound cylinders allow for a ready supply of propane that’s also easily transportable and refillable (especially at a Superior Propane refill station).
However, there are specific guidelines for the requalification and upkeep of propane cylinders, and it’s crucial that you dispose of any propane cylinder that is no longer safe to use.
If your propane cylinder is dented or showing signs of excessive corrosion, you should stop using it and dispose of it safely. You should also cease usage of any propane cylinder that you know is leaking. There is a fairly simple at-home leak test you can perform on a grill tank when you attach it to your freestanding grill.
One key component of ensuring safe propane cylinder usage is keeping up with your cylinder requalification schedule.
Portable propane tanks like the one you use for your grill are regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Indeed, you might hear people call them DOT tanks. The DOT has specific guidelines for propane cylinder inspection and requalification.
Generally, you are required to have any portable propane cylinder inspected and requalified by an authorized DOT facility 12 years after its manufacture date — then every five years after that. You can typically find the manufacture date on the cylinder’s neck or handle.
Propane refill stations should not fill any propane cylinder they know to be expired.
How you dispose of an old or damaged propane cylinder in Kingman, Flagstaff or other cities and towns that Superior Propane serves depends on your local codes and ordinances. Pretty much all counties in Northern Arizona offer some drop-off locations for old propane containers. For example, Coconino County residents can drop off their cylinders at the Hazardous Products Center in Flagstaff, and Mohave County partners with private businesses to accept these items for disposal.
You should contact your local services department to find out exactly where you should take your old cylinder. You can also reach out to Superior Propane. If we can’t accept the old propane tank, we’ll help you find the proper point of disposal.
If you have a grill, space heater, firepit or RV that needs propane, Superior Propane has a convenient option that saves you money and time. Come to one of our local propane cylinder refill stations, located at businesses throughout Northern Arizona. You can fill up your empty propane tank for less and support a local business in the process!
Feel free to contact Superior Propane for information about safely using propane in your home.
Take a stroll down a major street at lunchtime in Sedona, Flagstaff or other cities in Northern Arizona, and you will see an unbelievable lineup of cuisines: barbecue, tacos, sliders, loaded hot dogs, vegan delicacies and much more.
The food truck scene has exploded recently. At Superior Propane, we’re proud to supply the fuel these mobile eateries need to feed hungry customers. We refill food truck propane tanks at multiple locations, and our commercial propane team is always available to speak with you about how we can make your business sizzle more efficiently.
There are several compelling reasons why Arizona food truck proprietors turn to propane for their energy needs.
Food trucks generally use 100-pound propane tanks. These tanks can be handled by two workers and can power your appliances for several hours. You can attach tanks to food trucks in two ways:
Please be sure to train your employees on how to identify the smell of odorized propane (the smell of rotten eggs, spoiled meat or skunk spray), how to locate your truck’s gas lines and how to contact emergency services to address a propane leak.
If you own or manage a food truck in Northern Arizona, our commercial propane team can work with you to develop a fueling plan that meets your business’s needs. And if you need to refill your truck’s 100-pound tanks quickly and safely, drop by one of our convenient propane refill stations!
Need help getting propane for your food truck fleet? Reach out to Superior Propane today.
January has brought some glacially cold evenings to Jerome and other cities in our northern Arizona service region. Homeowners in our region are facing night after night of temperatures in the teens and single digits. It’s reasonable to wonder whether you’re getting the best bang for your buck when it comes to home heating. After all, space heating makes up a significant chunk of your home’s energy budget. And having substandard home heating can be a comfort and safety issue at this time of year.
Not all fuels generate the same amount of heat. At Superior Propane, we can help you determine whether propane is the best option for keeping your loved ones warm.
Certainly, you can use temperature to determine how hot a given fuel burns. Propane and natural gas both burn at a temperature of approximately 3,560˚ F, but this does not tell the whole story.
A more accurate way of measuring heat generation is in British Thermal Units (Btu). One Btu is the amount of energy needed to increase one pound of water by 1˚ F. This metric can tell you how much heat energy is generated with a given amount of fuel.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, propane generates about 91,452 Btu per gallon . This is a lot of heat, especially compared to natural gas and electricity.
Natural gas generates less than half the heat of propane per cubic foot. You would need roughly 88 cubic feet of natural gas to produce the same number of Btu that a gallon of propane does.
You would also need about 27 kilowatt hours of electricity to get the same amount of heat energy.
We know that propane gas can produce a lot of heat, but what about the equipment that uses it? Here’s a rundown of propane products and how they stack up efficiency-wise:
Households throughout Arizona are discovering the efficiency, high performance and reliability of propane heating systems and home appliances. For over a quarter-century, Superior Propane has helped homeowners convert to this versatile, American-made fuel. We can also help you install and maintain premium appliances that will keep your family comfortable and your energy bills low.
Are you interested in receiving propane delivery service from us or adding propane products to your home? Take a moment to contact the Superior Propane team today.
According to the National Propane Gas Association, over 50 million American homes use propane in some capacity. About 11.9 million households use it for heating, cooking, standby power, laundry drying and hot water generation. And those are just the start of its household uses.
Propane is a green, efficient, economical and versatile fuel for homes in Flagstaff, across Northern Arizona, and throughout the U.S. We’re happy to provide world-class propane delivery and propane appliance services to families in the Grand Canyon State.
Here are five reasons that our customers love using propane appliances in their homes.
Do you want to get the most bang for your energy buck? Propane appliances have some of the best fuel efficiencies around, which can keep your family comfortable while reducing energy costs. Consider these efficiency facts:
The propane tank on your property can supply fuel for a range of home systems and appliances. In addition to furnaces, water heaters, ranges and clothes dryers, propane also powers many home amenities, including:
Additionally, you can enjoy true energy independence with a propane standby generator. These products keep lights, refrigerators, and medical and mobility equipment running even when the power grid fails.
Propane’s carbon intensity (the amount of carbon dioxide emitted to generate a given amount of energy) is way lower than gasoline and diesel. Because Arizona’s electric grid relies on natural gas and coal for over half its generation, our grid power’s carbon intensity score is nearly 70% higher than propane’s. Propane contains no methane (a potent greenhouse gas) and virtually no particulate matter (a carcinogen).
Propane is also nontoxic. Even in the rare event of a tank leak, this fuel doesn’t pose a threat to soil and water.
Not only are propane appliances generally efficient, but propane itself tends to be remarkably affordable. Virtually all the propane used in the U.S. is domestically made. This insulates it somewhat from global energy market fluctuations.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) enforces strict rules about propane handling, so few accidents occur each year. Moreover, today’s propane appliances are equipped with safety shut-off mechanisms. They also typically have electronic ignition systems to give you years of trouble-free operation.
Reach out to Superior Propane to explore your propane appliance installation and service options.
The transportation sector is the single largest contributor to America’s carbon emissions. It’s no surprise that businesses, non-profits, municipalities, activists and civic leaders are focused on how to move vehicles away from the two big traditional petroleum fuels: gasoline and diesel.
While you’ve likely heard a lot about electric vehicles (EVs), there’s another tool for decarbonizing vehicles of all sizes: propane autogas.
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) says there are more than 60,000 propane autogas commercial vehicles on U.S. roads right now. These fleets enjoy cleaner operation, lower maintenance costs and affordable, American-made fuel. Propane autogas powers light-duty and medium-duty trucks, school buses, taxis, shuttles and more. There are autogas refill stations in every state.
Here are some advantages of choosing propane autogas for your northern Arizona business.
An autogas fleet conversion yields some significant cost benefits for businesses and municipalities. Alliance AutoGas notes that propane is consistently 30-50% less expensive than gasoline or diesel because it’s an overwhelmingly U.S.-made fuel. Even accounting for a slightly lower fuel economy for propane, you can still expect to see lower fuel expenses.
Autogas engines tend to be longer-lasting and less expensive to maintain than diesel and gasoline engines.
Propane engines need less oil by volume than diesel engines and also don’t require the same costly diesel emissions fluids (DEF) and diesel particulate filters (DPF) to run clean. DPFs require professional cleaning every 200,000 miles, potentially costing tens of thousands of dollars for a cleaning machine or mechanic fees.
Gasoline vehicles can experience fuel degradation and accelerated wear of engine components, which isn’t a significant issue with autogas engines.
One major obstacle to converting a vehicle fleet to electricity is the expense of recharging stations. The estimated cost to set up infrastructure for 10 electric vehicles with five level 3 fast EV chargers can reach $480,000. By contrast, the estimated cost to install infrastructure for 10 propane autogas vehicles with a single 1,000- to 2,000-gallon tank is around $60,000. Meanwhile, a Class 4-7 EV can cost up to four times more than a comparable propane autogas vehicle.
Propane vehicles also outpace EVs for range. Class 4-7 propane autogas vehicles achieve distances of around 350 miles. Electric trucks can only travel approximately 120 miles on a charge.
Let’s take a moment to compare propane autogas emissions and other popular transportation fuels.
The Argonne National Laboratory’s Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) model has demonstrated that powering a vehicle with propane can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 13% compared with gasoline and diesel, and autogas sourced as a co-product of natural gas production (as over two-thirds of U.S. propane is) can reduce petroleum use by 99%. There are also significant reductions in nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide emissions.
It’s also worth noting that PERC has found that propane’s carbon intensity is over 40% lower than Arizona’s grid electricity, which relies heavily on coal and natural gas for generation.
Fleet operators can also save money with the Alternative Fuel Tax Credit. This part of the federal Inflation Reduction Act may allow you to claim a credit for every gasoline gallon equivalent of propane autogas purchased. This credit is available through December 31, 2024, and extends back to January 1, 2022.
Fleet managers and businesses in Flagstaff, Jerome, Sedona, Prescott, Bullhead City and other communities we serve have said goodbye to lining up at service station pumps and reconciling driver receipts. Superior Propane sets up safe and intuitive autogas pumps for businesses so employees can refill their tanks on-site. Our dependable propane delivery team will ensure you never run out of autogas.
Take a moment to see how an autogas fleet can shrink your carbon footprint and lower your costs. Contact our team today.
Sources:
https://www.npga.org/news-resources/operating-costs-for-electric-vehicles-higher-than-gas-powered-vehicles/
https://www.fleetowner.com/emissions-efficiency/article/21240990/propane-education-and-research-council-perc-considering-an-alternative-energy-source-get-the-facts-on-propane-autogas-compared-with-electric
Many things go into ensuring profitability for your commercial venture, and a significant responsibility of any business owner is keeping costs down without sacrificing safety or productivity. At Superior Propane, we appreciate that energy costs can affect your bottom line considerably.
Business owners in Williams, Flagstaff, Sedona, Prescott and surrounding areas are always looking for dependable energy that’s safe and cost-effective. They often ask us if propane or electric equipment is best for their workplaces. Let’s compare commercial propane and electric systems.
If you want to supply heated air to individual spaces in your commercial property, you might be choosing between a propane furnace or a heat pump system. Both systems have zoned heating capabilities with individual self-contained units, but the propane system is generally more efficient and effective. Commercial propane furnaces have heating capacities from 44,000 up to more than 1 million Btu/hour. They boast fuel efficiency levels as high as 98.5%. Heat pump systems struggle to produce that level of comfort that efficiently.
And propane has a carbon intensity score (how much carbon dioxide is generated to produce a given amount of energy) that’s more than 40% lower than Arizona grid electricity, which relies heavily on coal and natural gas for generation.
When comparing traditional storage tank water heaters, you’ll find that new, properly-sized propane units can typically heat twice as much water per hour than comparable electric units. Commercial propane water heaters have capacities of 100 gallons or more, plus the ability to heat water to 180 degrees Fahrenheit!
Tankless propane water heaters offer even better efficiency. The U.S. Department of Energy says they can be up to 34% more efficient than storage-tank products. Tankless water heaters are smart investments with a lifespan often exceeding two decades.
Over 90% of professional chefs prefer gas cooktops, ranges and ovens over electric alternatives — and with good reason. These products offer instant, powerful heat that you can adjust to exactly the right temperature. Propane-powered fryers, griddles, steam cookers and other commercial kitchen products can save you money with Energy Star-rated efficiency.
Propane-powered commercial clothes dryers can have burner capacities ranging from 18,000 to over 550,000 Btu/hour. They generally boast much shorter drying times than equivalent electric units. Many commercial propane dryers also have perforated drums to create more balanced airflow and air recirculation to save you money on energy use.
So many worksites, manufacturers, distribution centers and other commercial projects depend on a reliable indoor and outdoor forklift fleet. Propane forklifts offer functionality and adaptability you won’t find with electric forklifts.
While both propane and electric forklifts can work indoors safely, electric models can become damaged in rainy outdoor conditions. Propane vehicles keep rolling in the rain without problems. Electric forklifts also tend to lose power as their battery is depleted. There’s no “fade” with propane, though. Your forklift keeps going at 100% capacity until the last drop of fuel.
And while you might lose hours waiting for an electric forklift to recharge, all you need to do is exchange an empty propane forklift cylinder for a full one, and you’ll be back to work right away.
Whatever commercial propane systems or equipment your business uses, the Superior Propane team has the skills, experience and dedication to keep it running. We offer commercial-grade propane tanks, a customized bulk propane delivery schedule and plenty of other fueling solutions.
Reach out to us today to discuss your commercial propane needs. We’re ready to create your tailor-made fuel plan.
